CHAPEL HILL– The 2014 Tar Heel football schedule will feature six home games in Kenan Stadium and UNC’s first-ever ESPN Thursday night game at Duke on Nov. 20.

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The ACC released the schedule on Thursday, and the Tar Heels face a tough slate that includes nine teams that played in bowl games last season and five squads that won at least nine games.

Conference matchups in Chapel Hill against Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh and a season ender against N.C. State on Nov. 29 should provide an entertaining home menu for Tar Heel fans.

The Tar Heel Sports Network’s Lee Pace says he thinks it’s one of the most exciting schedules he’s seen in a while.

“I think it’s one of the most interesting schedules the Tar Heels have had in some time. Clemson is a cross-divisional game for the ACC. Any time you got Clemson, Florida State or Wake Forest, I think that amps up the schedule a little bit when you’re going across divisions. And then a great end to the season with the Thursday night game at Duke. I think there’s a lot of interesting stuff. It’s going to be a terrific fall for Carolina,” Pace says.

Also of note, Carolina will travel to South Bend, Ind. to face Notre Dame on Oct. 11 for the first time since 2006. The Tar Heels have failed to capture a victory in 11 previous tries at Notre Dame.

But all eyes will certainly be on Wallace Wade Stadium for the nationally televised showdown against Duke right before Thanksgiving. And this year, Pace says Carolina will be extra hungry to reclaim the Victory Bell.

“I think there’s a lot of excitement around the Duke rivalry the last two years. It was sort of dead in the water for about two decades, and then Duke has won the last two years. Carolina will have the emotional edge I would hope that night. It will be interesting to see what sort of atmosphere we generate for a week night game like that,” Pace says.

Carolina returns 17 starters from last year’s team that finished with a flurry to win six out of the last seven games and capture the Belk Bowl trophy. And it won’t be long before the 2014 team will be back in action in Chapel Hill.

Spring practice begins March 5 and the Spring Football ‘Blue & White’ Game is scheduled for Saturday, April 12 at 3 p.m.

The Tar Heel football season kicks off Aug. 30 with a home opener against the Liberty Flames.

You can view the complete 2014 schedule here.