Sports

UNC Tar Heels 2020 football schedule analysis: Toughest, easiest and can’t-miss games

By Emily Leiker

Updated August 7, 2020 9:48 AM

The University of North Carolina will play its first game of the 2020 football season at home against Syracuse on Sept. 12, the ACC announced Thursday. The Orange is one of three teams now on the schedule that wasn’t previously on UNC’s 2020 slate.

While most other schools had their nonconference game opponents already finalized, UNC and Clemson did not. Tar Heels coach Mack Brown recently told reporters he didn’t even know “what the options are.” UNC’s nonconference game will be played the second week of the season on Sept. 19.

Each team also has two open weeks. UNC’s are Sept. 26 and Nov. 21.

Sept. 12: Syracuse

UNC lost to Syracuse, 40-37, on the road in double overtime back in 2018. The teams weren’t scheduled to meet again until 2023.

While Syracuse lost last season to N.C. State, which UNC beat easily, it did beat Duke 49-6 and topped Wake Forest in overtime. Syracuse starting quarterback Tommy DeVito is set to return, but some of his top receivers graduated or left for the NFL. Howell still has an experienced wide receiving group, one that Brown has touted ahead of practice beginning. The game could go either way for the Tar Heels.

UNC’s Eric Ebron runs past Boston College’s Kevin Pierre-Louis during North Carolina’s 34-10 victory at Kenan Memorial Stadium on October 26, 2013 in Chapel Hill, N.C. News & Observer file photo

Oct. 3: at Boston College

UNC hasn’t played Boston College since 2013, when Tar Heels beat the Eagles 34-10 in Chapel Hill. The Eagles are far and away the team that the Tar Heels haven’t seen in the longest, meaning there will be plenty to prep for. Luckily for Brown and early game-planning, Boston College was on UNC’s original 2020 schedule, unlike opponents such as Syracuse, Notre Dame and Florida State. UNC also has a bye week prior to the game.

The game will be one of three that UNC travels to by plane.

North Carolina’s Dazz Newsome (5) celebrates with Dyami Brown (2) after scoring on a 47-yard reception during their game October 19, 2019 at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg, Va. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com

Oct. 10: Virginia Tech (Can’t-Miss Game)

In a six-overtime game last season, UNC fell to Virginia Tech, 43-41. It was the first game to feature college football’s reworked overtime rules, which state that starting in the fifth overtime teams will run alternating 2-point conversion plays from the 25-yard line instead of having alternating offensive possessions.

Sam Howell threw for 348 yards and five touchdowns, two of which were to Dazz Newsome. He also recorded a career-long 68-yard pass.

Oct. 17: at Florida State

UNC had a narrow victory over Florida State when the teams last met in 2016, back when Mitch Trubisky was at quarterback for the Tar Heels. FSU is another team UNC didn’t originally have on its schedule for 2020. The two teams weren’t supposed to meet again until 2021.

Florida State finished last season 6-7 overall and 5-2 at home.

N.C. State quarterback Devin Leary (13) is sacked by North Carolina linebacker Chazz Surratt (21) during the second half of UNC’s 41-10 victory over N.C. State at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, November 30, 2019. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com

Oct. 24: N.C. State (Easiest Game)

Last season, the Tar Heels beat the Wolfpack 41-10. It was the first time UNC had beat N.C. State since 2015. Javonte Williams had three of the team’s five touchdowns, and Howell had a career-high 401 passing yards. With both star players set to return for the Tar Heels, along with most of the offense’s starters, this year’s results should be similar to last.

Oct. 31: Virginia

Virginia was one of five ACC opponents UNC lost to by one touchdown or less last season. Despite being tied at halftime, the Cavaliers topped the Tar Heels 38-31 after both teams were scoreless in the fourth quarter. Howell was neck-and-neck, stats wise, with Virginia quarterback Bryce Perkins, who was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Rams in April.

Howell finished the game with four passing touchdowns, three of which were for more than 40 yards.

Nov. 7: at Duke

The Tar Heels grabbed their win over Duke last season with a field goal in the fourth quarter to push the final score to 20-17. Howell was intercepted twice and had just two touchdowns. UNC’s final six points to give them the lead and a win came from a pair of field goals by Noah Ruggles.

UNC will be part of a six-game stretch for Duke to conclude its season following its second open week.

Nov. 14: Wake Forest

UNC fell to Wake Forest 24-18 last season after failing to score in the first half. The Tar Heels attempted to stage a comeback late in the game after getting on the board in the third quarter on a 49-yard field goal by Ruggles. Howell had two passing touchdowns — one to Michael Carter, the other to Dyami Brown — and completed a 2-point conversion to tight end Garrett Walston to bring the game within a field goal.

Nov. 27: Notre Dame (Toughest Game)

In the absence of Clemson from UNC’s schedule, No. 12 Notre Dame should be the Tar Heels’ toughest opponent. The Fighting Irish finished 11-2 last season, handily defeating several ACC teams. Ian Book will return as starting quarterback.

UNC last played Notre Dame in 2017 at Kenan Stadium, when the Tar Heels lost 33-10 against the then-No. 21 Fighting Irish. Chazz Surratt, now a linebacker, was at quarterback for the game and threw for 179 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

The two teams weren’t scheduled to meet again until 2021. One possible advantage for UNC might be that its defense has played against Book before, while Notre Dame hasn’t against Howell. Both UNC and Notre Dame have a bye week prior to the game.

Dec. 5 at University of Miami

The Tar Heels beat the Hurricanes by a field goal last season, 28-25. Howell connected with Newsome in the final two minutes of the game to secure the win, but UNC led for the entire game.

While UNC will have had a bye week just two weeks prior to its season closer, Miami will have faced four opponents ahead of this matchup, three of which it will face on the road.

This story was originally published August 6, 2020 at 11:50 AM.

Emily Leiker

The News & Observer

Emily Leiker covers all levels of sports as a summer intern for The News & Observer. She is a rising junior at the University of Missouri studying print and digital journalism with an emphasis in sports.