ACC Football: UNC vs Charlotte Preview – Sat Sept 6th 2025

UNC is 0-1 after the blowout loss to TCU.  Next up for the Tar Heels is a trip to Charlotte to face off against the 49ers in what has quickly become a HUGE game for UNC. Falling to 0-2 before playing USF and Clemson still over the next few weeks wouldn’t be very good.

While the Tar Heels are double-digit favorites, this game will be no pushover.

It’s a road game against a team that will be fired up after a loss in Week 1 as well. The 49ers will be looking to pull off the upset and keep UNC reeling. They will try to do so with some familiar faces as well.

Charlotte’s starting quarterback is Conner Harrell, a player who spent three years at North Carolina. 

On the defensive side of the ball, former Tar Heels defensive back Ja’Qurious Conley is a standout for the 49ers who could impact the game. In all there are seven former Tar Heels set to face off against UNC this weekend. In a battle of head coaches looking for their first wins, who will prevail?

Key to Victory

Defense.. The Tar Heels were gashed by TCU, giving up 48 points and 542 total yards on offense in the game. UNC had poor tackling, poor coverage and limited pressure on the quarterback.

This week’s opponent isn’t as tough but can’t let Harrell get into a rhythm. 

Prediction: UNC 31 – Charlotte 21

Notes: 

• In 2025, Carolina begins its 135th season of football (138th year).

• Entering the matchup with Charlotte, the Tar Heels hold an all-time record of 751-577-54.

•• Belichick became the 40th coach in program history, the 12th to lead the program since joining the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1953.

• Belichick’s ties to UNC date back to his father, Steve, who was an assistant coach for the Tar Heels from 1953-55.

• With the coaching transition, the 2025 Carolina Football coaching staff features more 240 years of combined NFL experience.: 

• Last weekend, Charlotte began the 2025 campaign with a 34-11 defeat courtesy of Appalachian State, in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl Kickoff Classic.

A Win Over Charlotte Would… 

• Be Carolina’s 752nd all-time victory in program history.

• Give Coach Belichick his first win at the college level and his first win at Carolina.

• Be Carolina’s second all-time win over the 49ers, the first in The Queen City.

• Give the Tar Heels their 11th all-time victory in the city of Charlotte, including the third consecutive in the regular season.

• Be Carolina’s seventh-straight non-conference victory over a fellow North Carolina program.

Series History: Charlotte 

• Saturday is the second all-time meeting between the two programs.

• The Tar Heels lead the matchup, 1-0, after a 38-20 victory in Kenan Stadium last September. 

Quotes: 

They’re probably feeling about the same as we did,” Belichick said. “They were in a really competitive game there late into the second quarter, kinda as we were, and then it got away from them a little bit against App State, kinda like our game did against TCU.”