Only three games remain in what has been a nightmare of a season for the UNC football team, with Thursday night’s nationally televised road game at Pittsburgh representing the Tar Heels’ best chance to get a win against conference competition.
Sitting at 1-8 and 0-6 against ACC opponents in 2017, UNC is currently on pace to reach double digit losses for the first time since 2003.
The Tar Heels have a decent shot at another win when they take on FCS opponent Western Carolina at Kenan Stadium next week.
Without knocking off Pittsburgh on Thursday or No. 23 NC State in the final week of the regular season, however, UNC will finish winless in conference play for the first time since 1989.
Head coach Larry Fedora enters each year with the same goals for the Tar Heels—winning the ACC Coastal Division, the mythical state title and a bowl game.
Despite being stuck in a six-game losing streak—a skid that has all but destroyed any chances of reaching those goals–this UNC squad has still found a way to stick together in the locker room.
“Our goals were out the window a while ago,” Fedora told reporters after the team’s practice on Monday. “So really, it’s been more about what kind of legacy do you want to leave and how do you want to finish in November?
The UNC defense has been the team’s bright spot this season, but too many big plays allowed have cost the Tar Heels a few chances at victory. (AP Photo/ Gerry Broome)
“It starts with the seniors,” the coach added. “I met with them to find out what they wanted out of this. When they made it clear what they wanted, it set the tone for the rest of the team.”
With NC State spending much of the year as one of the nation’s top 25 teams, the odds seem to say UNC has a much better chance to get that elusive ACC win against Pittsburgh.
The Panthers enter Thursday’s game at 4-5 with a 2-3 conference record—which includes back-to-back victories the past two weeks against Duke and Virginia.
Junior tailback Darrin Hall averaged over 180 yards per game on the ground in those wins, but the Tar Heels are coming off an impressive defensive performance against No. 7 Miami before their bye week—one where they limited the Hurricanes to just 59 rushing yards on 32 carries.
UNC has also won all four of its games against Pittsburgh since the Panthers joined the ACC in 2013.
The difference in the game will likely come down to the quarterback position for the Tar Heels, seeing as Fedora has used three different players there this season and Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi has an affinity for high-pressure defense in the secondary.
“Defensively, they’re gonna be really sound, always, with Pat [Narduzzi]’s scheme,” Fedora said. “They’re gonna pressure you up on the corners and get the safeties up on the run. They’re gonna threaten you to throw the football.”
It’s unclear who Fedora will choose to start behind center on Thursday, but it was unheralded third-string quarterback Nathan Elliott who provided the team with a spark against Miami.
Whether it’s Elliott, Chazz Surratt or Brandon Harris that gets the call on Thursday, there’s no denying that the injury report now officially lists 18 different players out for the season.
With that in mind, it’s not crazy to think that UNC will repeat what it did last game and dig back into the bag of tricks—calling for more wide receiver passes and things of that nature.
It’s desperation time, for sure. Because for this Tar Heel team, there’s really only one goal left.
“Win this game,” Fedora said. “That’s our goal. To be 1-0 this week. And that’s really all we’re doing is just [saying], ‘Let’s be 1-0 this week.’”
Broadcast Information:
Thursday night’s game between UNC and Pitt is set to kick off at 7 p.m. and will be televised live on ESPN and also broadcast on WCHL.
Cover Photo via Gerry Broome (Associated Press)
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