Tar Heels look for 2-0 start when they host Charlotte in an instate matchup for their home opener
North Carolina quarterback Conner Harrell (15) runs with the football during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Minnesota, Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024, in Minneapolis. Credit: AP/Abbie Parr
Charlotte (0-1) at North Carolina (1-0), Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ACC Network)
BetMGM College Football Odds: UNC by 22 1/2.
Series record: First meeting.
WHAT'S AT STAKE?
North Carolina faces the challenge of a quick change at quarterback after the season-ending injury to opening-night starter Max Johnson. Conner Harrell is set to earn his second career start. The 49ers lost their opener to James Madison after the Dukes outscored them 21-0 after halftime.
KEY MATCHUP
Harrell against Charlotte's defensive front. Harrell lost a preseason-camp battle to Johnson, then had to take over in the second half of a tight win at Minnesota. Harrell had played spot duty behind eventual No. 3 overall NFL draft pick Drake Maye last year and then started the bowl game after Maye declared for the draft. The 49ers made significant defensive strides last year in the Bowl Subdivision statistics and had two takeaways in the opener to go with a fourth-down stand inside their own 5-yard line against James Madison.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Charlotte: QB Max Brown. The former Florida player made his Charlotte debut against James Madison, throwing for 193 yards and a touchdown but also throwing two interceptions to go with a lost fumble.
UNC: RB Omarion Hampton. The preseason Associated Press All-American opened the with 129 yards rushing on a workhorse-level 30 carries to go with five catches for 17 yards. With Harrell being unproven, Hampton could see stacked boxes to eliminate rushing lanes by the 49ers.
FACTS & FIGURES
The teams were scheduled to meet in September 2020 but that game was cancelled two days before kickoff due to COVID-19 concerns. Contact tracing had depleted the 49ers' offensive line with multiple players in quarantine. ... UNC kicker Noah Burnette had four field goals in the opener, including the late winner from 45 yards. ... The Tar Heels' 19 points in the Minnesota game were the lowest in a win for the program since 2012. ... UNC hasn't lost its first home game of the season since 2017. ... Charlotte has 71 newcomers on the roster, including 44 transfers to tie Colorado for the most in the country. ... The 49ers launched their football program in 2013 and spent two years as an independent at the Championship Subdivision level before moving up to FBS. They're now members of the American Athletic Conference.
