Early look at Florida State football's opponent North Carolina Tar Heels
Week 10 of the 2024 season begins in November. It is also Florida State Football's final ACC showdown, with three nonconference games remaining on its schedule.
This will be the first time in three years that the Seminoles will take on the North Carolina Tar Heels. It's also been four years since the Tar Heels have played at Doak Campbell Stadium.
This is after FSU went to a tough four-game stretch with back-to-back road games at Duke and Miami. At this point, FSU should know where it stands on a national scale as it completes its last ACC matchup.
Let's take a look at the Tar Heels.
Who is UNC's head coach?
Mack Brown will be entering the fifth season at North Carolina.
Brown has a winning pedigree in his 46-year career. He was widely known for his 35-year career in Texas (1998-2013), including leading the Longhorns to the 2005 BCS National Championship.
This is Brown's second stint at UNC. After two seasons in Tulane (1985-87), Brown coached nine seasons for the Tar Heels (1988-1997) before leaving for the Texas job.
Brown is 282-149-1 in his career, ranking him seventh on the FBS all-time list and most among active coaches. His firs head coaching job was at Appalachian State in 195.
All-time record between FSU vs. North Carolina
17-3, FSU
Last FSU vs. North Carolina
FSU beat UNC 35-25 on Oct. 9, 2021.
UNC's top players
Offense: RB Omarion Hampton, 1,504 rushing yards, 15 TDs; TE Bryson Nesbit, 41 rec. 585 receiving yards, 5 TDs; OL Willie Lampkin, PK Noah Burnette, 19 of 20 in FG;
Defense: Edge Kaimon Rucker, 61 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, LB Power Echols, 102 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, 1 interception; DB Alijah Huzzie 42 tackles, six passes defended, three interceptions, one tackle for loss
UNC's key loss, additions
Key Loss: QB Drake Maye, WR Devontez Walker, OL Spencer Rolland, OL Corey Gaynor, DL Myles Murphy, LB Cedric Gray
Key Additions: QB Max Johnson, QB Jacolby Criswell, TE Jake Johnson, OL Jakiah Leftwich, OL Zach Greenberg
Mack Brown, a former player and coach at Florida State
Before Brown started his coaching career, he made a short stop at FSU as a former running back after transferring from Vanderbilt in 1972-73. At the time, Larry Jones was the head coach.
A year later, he transitioned into coaching after his battle with knee injuries. While a student, he coached wide receivers for the Seminoles in the 1973 and 1974 seasons.
Outlook on UNC
The Tar Heels are in the middle of a quarterback battle after Drake Maye's departure. The three candidates are Max Johnson, Conner Harrell, and Jacolby Criswell. Harrell is the lone returning quarterback from last season.
The sophomore appeared in four games and threw 270 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. he made his first start in the Duke's Mayo Bowl, where he completed 18 of his 27 passes for 199 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.
"Conner has played enough now that he gets it," Brown said about his quarterbacks during the ACC Kickoff. He's got a chance to be really good. Max has thrown 900 balls in the SEC.
"I think they're both really good. Then we have Jacolby Criswell coming back. He competed with Drake Maye down to the last week. "
Criswell returned to UNC after his one-year stint at Arkansas. The senior played for the Tar Heels in his first three seasons. In his career, he appeared in 14 games and threw for 347 yards and TDs.
Johnson is the most experienced quarterback out of the three. This is also Johnson's third stop in his four-year career. In his first two seasons, he played at LSU, and his last two were at Texas A&M.
In his career, the senior started 22 of his 30 games. He completed 60 percent of his passes for 5,852 yards and 47 TDs.
Johnson is the father of former FSU and NFL quarterback Brad Johnson, who led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl victory in 2003.
The Tar Heels open their season at Minnesota on Aug. 29.
The next three non-conference games are against Charlotte, North Carolina Central, and James Madison. Before facing FSU, the Tar Heels will take Duke, Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech, and Virginia.
Depending on how the season goes for FSU, a win against the Tar Heels can clinch a spot in the ACC Championship for the second straight year in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Florida State football schedule 2024
Aug. 24 vs. Georgia Tech *Dublin, Ireland at noon., ESPN
Sept. 2 vs. Boston College at 7:30 p.m., ESPN
Sept. 14 vs. Memphis
Sept. 21 vs. California
Sept. 28 at SMU
Oct. 5 vs. Clemson
Oct. 18 at Duke
Oct. 26 at (U) Miami
Nov. 2 vs. North Carolina
Nov. 9 at Notre Dame
Nov. 23 vs. Charleston Southern
Nov. 30: Florida
Dec. 7: ACC Championship
BOLD = ACC
* = Neutral Site
Peter Holland Jr. covers Florida State athletics for Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at [email protected] or on X @_Da_pistol.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Sneak preview of Florida State vs. North Carolina matchup
