Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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38 OCT. 30, 2021 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED GAME PREVIEW: NORTH CAROLINA SPECIAL TEAMS Following a nondescript start to this season, the Irish special teams are making valuable contributions. Sophomore return man Chris Tyree logged a 96- yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Wis- consin, and after a 48-yard game-winning field goal at Virginia Tech before the bye week, Irish graduate student placekicker Jonathan Doerer converted two game-winners in tough road environments, Florida State being the other. For North Carolina, graduate student placekicker Grayson Atkins, a former FCS All-American, went 12 of 18 last season and is only 6 of 10 so far in 2021. Big-legged junior kicker Jonathan Kim has blasted about 85 percent of his kickoffs for touchbacks during his career to routinely provide UNC's de- fense with good field position. Tar Heels senior defensive back Trey Morrison returned a punt 63 yards for a touchdown this season. UNC has not allowed a blocked kick, but it has recorded two blocked punts. Advantage: Even COACHING North Carolina's resurgence under College Foot- ball Hall of Fame head coach Mack Brown was dramatic through his first two seasons in 2019 and 2020, and even more improvement was expected in 2021 with 18 starters returning on a team that was ranked No. 14 nationally in the preseason. Before Brown's arrival, the Tar Heels went only 5-18 in 2017 and 2018, before tripling that win total (15-10) over his first two full seasons. UNC capped 2020 by playing in the Orange Bowl, its first major bowl game since 1950, and Brown re- turned 21 of 22 players who started in that game. Brown's quick turnaround and immediate culture change earned him a contract extension through 2024. But with a 4-3 record this year that includes no quality wins and bad losses to Florida State and Georgia Tech, Brown's team has not lived up to preseason expectations. Kelly counters with a history of success playing ACC foes. Since 2016, Notre Dame has lost only one regular-season game against an ACC opponent (Miami, 2017). The Irish under Kelly beat Brown's Tar Heels 31-17 last season. Advantage: Notre Dame INTANGIBLES With Howell expected to become a top-10 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, this season brought a sense of urgency to North Carolina with his era coming to an end. But that urgency hasn't translated into victories for a team picked in the preseason to win the ACC Coastal Division and play Clemson in the conference championship game. For Notre Dame — once its College Football Play- off hopes were essentially dashed after the loss to Cincinnati — chasing a fifth straight double-digit winning season, showing more steady improve- ment from a young team to build upon for next year, and earning a chance to win its first presti- gious postseason game since the 1993 Cotton Bowl remain attainable goals. Advantage: Notre Dame Staff Predictions Todd D. Burlage: Notre Dame 31, North Carolina 24 Third-year North Carolina head coach Mack Brown brought huge expecta- tions and a No. 14 preseason ranking into this season after returning 21 of 22 starters from his 2020 Orange Bowl team, including Heisman Trophy candidate Sam Howell at quarterback. Under-performance from Howell coupled with the loss of three NFL Draft picks who tallied 1,000-plus scrimmage yards last season leave the ornery Tar Heels a touchdown short of a prime-time upset. Irish head coach Brian Kelly has lost only one regular-season game to an ACC opponent since 2016 (Miami, 2017). Steve Downey: Notre Dame 38, North Carolina 27 The Tar Heels earned their highest preseason ranking (No. 10) since 1997, but have been maddeningly inconsistent from the start in 2021. Their Jekyll- and-Hyde season began with a 17-10 loss at Virginia Tech, and includes embarrassing losses at Georgia Tech (45-22) and home against Florida State (35-25). Still, quarterback Sam Howell — who has produced the most passing touchdowns (86) and yards (9,044) in the nation since 2019 — makes them a dangerous opponent. UNC's overall offensive numbers look good, but an un- der-performing offensive line that ranks 94th nationally and in tackles for loss allowed per game (5.86) and 124 in sacks allowed per game (3.86) should allow the Irish defense to slow down Howell and Co. That, combined with a mediocre UNC defense should allow Notre Dame to come away with a win. Patrick Engel: Notre Dame 34, North Carolina 29 The preseason media darling Tar Heels have disappointed, but that doesn't mean they're not capable of pushing the Irish. The passing attack is still potent, with early round quarterback prospect Sam Howell and All-America candidate wide receiver Josh Downs. Offensive line problems, though, will allow Notre Dame to throw North Car- olina's offense off-schedule enough to win a higher-scoring game. The Irish should find enough room to operate against a below-average defense too. Tyler Horka: North Carolina 31, Notre Dame 27 Something just didn't feel right about Notre Dame playing its biggest rival the same week the Tar Heels were at home resting up during a bye week before taking on the Fighting Irish themselves. Junior quarterback Sam Howell could control the game the same way Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder did. Senior running back Ty Chandler is a perfect complement to Howell, and sophomore wide receiver Josh Downs is as shifty a slot receiver as any. North Carolina's defense isn't great. Notre Dame will move the ball and score a few times. But this North Carolina team isn't one the Irish want to get into a shootout with. Mike Singer: Notre Dame 34, North Carolina 19 According to FanDuel, North Carolina's win total going into the season was set at 9.5, and the Tar Heels had the second-best odds to win the ACC cham- pionship. At 4-3 — with two losses against lowly Georgia Tech and Florida State — Mack Brown's squad has been a disappointment in 2021. Look for the Irish to cruise to a double-digit win against North Carolina. Graduate student outside linebacker Tomon Fox is a stalwart on defense this year, with 15 total stops, 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks. PHOTO COURTESY NORTH CAROLINA ATHLETICS