ACC Football – UCF takes down North Carolina 34-9

RECAP

North Carolina has been overmatched against power conference opponents so far this season. Bill Belichick’s Tar Heels fell to 2-2 with a 34-9 loss to UCF on Saturday afternoon at Acrisure Bounce House thanks to a dominant first half and multiple North Carolina turnovers.

Starting QB Gio Lopez was replaced in the second half by backup Max Johnson after the Tar Heels went three-and-out to start the third quarter.

Johnson led North Carolina on a 19-play touchdown drive after entering the game. But the game was out of reach at that point. UCF took a 27-3 lead before Johnson saw the field. 

The Tar Heels trailed 20-3 at halftime after UCF scored with 13 seconds to go in the second quarter. UNC cut UCF’s lead to 13-3 with 1:23 to go, but the Knights went 83 yards in six plays to extend the lead to 17.

Saturday’s game was further proof that North Carolina has a ways to go under Belichick to be competitive against power conference opponents. North Carolina has been outscored 75-23 in its two games against Big 12 teams after TCU blew out the Tar Heels 48-14 in Week 1.

The offense has struggled mightily in both of those games. Lopez won the starting job over Johnson after transferring from South Alabama. It’s enough to wonder if Belichick will make a quarterback change in the off week. The Tar Heels’ next game is in Week 6 as they host a Clemson team that also finds itself looking for answers. 

Many wondered if that Oct. 4 matchup between the Tigers and Tar Heels would be a pivotal matchup in the ACC. A loss for Clemson would drop the Tigers to 0-3 in the conference. 

This is UNC’s worst start to the season since 2021. Jackson ended the afternoon with 223 passing yards on a 78% completion rate and 66 yards rushing for the Knights.

Takeaways:

OFFENSE STRUGGLES AGAIN

Bill Belichick said Tuesday he felt he was getting closer with Lopez. “When the ball comes out on time, there’s confidence,” Belichick said Tuesday. 

On Saturday, Lopez looked helpless before he exited the game with a lower-body injury.

North Carolina, behind Lopez, recorded two total yards and -11 passing yards in the first quarter. The Tar Heels managed one first down during that stretch. One third down conversion. 

The second quarter didn’t go much better. UNC didn’t pass the 13-minute possession mark until late in the third quarter, and that was after Lopez exited the game.

LOPEZ GOES DOWN, JOHNSON TAKES OVER

Johnson entered the game for Lopez with 6:27 left in the third — the second time he’s taken the field through four games, both in relief of an injured Lopez.

The sixth-year veteran lacked Lopez’s dual-threat ability. But what Johnson lacks in athleticism he made up for in his reliability in the vertical passing game and relative patience in the pocket.

The Tar Heels ran the ball three times before attempting a pass play. Once they did Johnson eventually capping a 19-play, 80-yard drive for North Carolina’s lone touchdown of the afternoon. It came on an 8-yard catch by wideout Kobe Paysour to make the score 27-9.

DEFENSE NOT SO DEPENDABLE

At least one thing’s been consistent for the Tar Heels through four games this season: someone will score on an opening drive. The UNC secondary allowed UCF’s wideouts to run rampant. In that opening drive, for instance, Jackson found wideout Marcus Burke wide open for two pivotal receptions the first for a 20-yard pickup and the second for 15 yards before the quarterback marched into the end zone.

The Tar Heels’ defense committed three penalties during UCF’s final drive. 

Next: The Tar Heels will have a bye week before their October 4 meeting with the Clemson Tigers in Chapel Hill. 

UCF is at Kansas State next Saturday 9/27.