Holding Court: Notre Dame Is Dominating Again, Just as It’s Historically Done to UNC
By David Glenn
Among opponents the North Carolina football program has played 10 or more times, the Tar Heels have a winning record against most.
Historically speaking, the Heels have the edge — large or small — over, for example, fellow Atlantic Coast Conference members Duke, Miami, NC State, Pitt, Virginia and Wake Forest. Carolina also holds all-time advantages against a handful of other frequent gridiron opponents, including East Carolina, Maryland, South Carolina and Vanderbilt.
Meanwhile, among the regular (10 or more contests) opponents that have built the most lopsided records at UNC’s expense, perhaps only one is likely to surprise you. Clemson (42-19-1), Florida State (17-4-1), Tennessee (20-11-1), Virginia Tech (25-14-6) and — surprise! — Tulane (9-5-2) each have an all-time success rate of 62 percent or better against the Tar Heels.
No frequent opponent, however, has dominated the Heels on the gridiron quite like Notre Dame has, going back nearly 80 years at this point.
The Fighting Irish have played UNC 23 times in football, and they have beaten the Tar Heels 21 times, for a success rate of better than 91 percent. Ouch.
Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer (87) goes past North Carolina defensive back DeAndre Boykins (16) for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022 (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
In head-to-head contests played at Notre Dame Stadium in Indiana, UNC is 0-13.
On neutral fields against the Irish, UNC is 0-1. That game actually was the first in the rivalry, a regular-season clash played at Yankee Stadium in New York way back in 1949.
In head-to-head matchups played in Chapel Hill, the Tar Heels are a slightly more respectable 2-7 against the Irish. (Cue the Dumb And Dumber meme: “So you’re telling me there’s a chance.”)
On Saturday (noon, ESPN/Disney+), when Notre Dame once again visits Kenan Stadium, the Irish will arrive with a dominant 4-0 record, a #3 national ranking and yet another boatload of National Football League prospects.
“They’re sound all the way across the board,” second-year UNC coach Bill Belichick said Tuesday. “They score a lot of points, and they play fast.”
Thus far this season, Notre Dame has absolutely mauled everyone it has played. That 4-0 record includes a 41-13 victory over Wisconsin, a 52-0 annihilation of Rice, a 27-10 triumph over Michigan State, and a 49-10 win at Purdue.
The most lopsided aspect of the Irish’s matchup against UNC might come when the Tar Heels have the ball.
Carolina has struggled offensively this season against its Power Four opponents, managing only 15 points in the TCU win and 20 in the Clemson loss, and the Notre Dame defense ranks #1 nationally in many of the efficiency numbers, while yielding only about eight points and an FBS-best 199 yards per game.
Fifth-year Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, whose average annual record with the Irish is an impressive 11-3, led the Irish to an appearance in the national championship game just two years ago. He is a former Ohio State linebacker and a defensive-minded guy, and this year he has big-time NFL prospects such as cornerback Leonard Moore, safety Brauntae Johnson, defensive end Boubacar Traore and linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa on that side of the ball, although Johnson will miss the Carolina game with an ongoing foot injury.
Meanwhile, although the Carolina defense has yielded only about 14 points per game during the team’s 2-1 start, that same unit will be facing — by far — the most accomplished, dynamic QB it has seen so far this season.
A redshirt sophomore and another NFL prospect, Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr is now 14-2 as the program’s starter. He has completed more than 70 percent of his passes this season for about 240 yards per game and nine touchdowns, while throwing only one interception and taking just two sacks.
“It’s the same every week: Our performance is always about us,” Belichick said. “We have to be aware of who we’re playing and what their tendencies are. I’m sure (Notre Dame) will do some things that present some problems for us. In the meantime, all we can do is prepare for what they’ve done and maybe what we think they’ll do.”
Against most opponents, when the Tar Heels prepare wisely and execute well, they typically have a very good chance of winning.
Against Notre Dame, however, that certainly hasn’t been the case historically for UNC, and with this year’s Tar Heels a whopping 21-point home underdog, their record in the program’s all-time most lopsided rivalry seems highly likely to drop from 2-21 to 2-22 on Saturday.
David Glenn (DavidGlennShow.com, @DavidGlennShow) is an award-winning author, broadcaster, editor, entrepreneur, publisher, speaker, writer and university lecturer (now at UNC Wilmington) who has covered sports in North Carolina since 1987.
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.
Holding Court: Notre Dame May Dominate, Again, at Kenan Chapelboro.com.
Hence then, the article about holding court notre dame may dominate again at kenan was published today ( ) and is available on chapelboro ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Holding Court: Notre Dame May Dominate, Again, at Kenan )
Also on site :
- EU open to reversing Brexit after Burnham speech – but at a price
- Six Flags Magic Mountain Permanently Closes World-Famous X2 Roller Coaster Following Mounting Safety Concerns
- Jimmy Fallon Just Dropped a Brutal Title for Karoline Leavitt’s Hypothetical Memoir, and the Internet Is Having a Field Day