August 5, 2024 7: 00 am ET
We’ve formally made it to August – and if you’re a college sports fanatic like myself, you understand really well what August suggests.
August indicates the start of college football. All the winterseason, spring and summertime exercise will lastly pay off. Fans get to see their preferred gamers, brand-new guys increase up the depth chart and endedupbeing dealswith of the sport, we all get to make impractical hopes of winning the National Championship (unless you’re Alabama, Georgia or Michigan) and – after a long, tough work week, Saturdays are invested on the sofa.
On Thursday, Aug. 29 at 8 p.m. ET at Minnesota, our North Carolina Tar Heels start their mission for a much-improved season with a new-look lineup. UNC’s 2023 project mirrored 2022 – a hot start and high ranking – just for a late-season collapse to de-rail their opportunities at a muchbetter bowl videogame.
North Carolina made a significant training modification in the offseason, getting rid of previous Auburn head coach Gene Chizik, who – regardlessof winning the 2010 National Championship – was a terrible offending organizer. The Tar Heels changed him with previous Georgia Tech head coach (2019-2022) Geoff Collins, who inspiteof havingahardtime as head coach, has a track record with leading strong defenses.
UNC will have a brand-new beginning quarterback for the veryfirst time consideringthat 2022, as Duke’s Mayo Bowl starter Conner Harrell and Texas A&M transfer Max Johnson contend for the gig. J.J. Jones slots into North Carolina’s top broad receiver area, inhabited the previous 2 season by Devontez Walker and Josh Downs (both now in the NFL).
With so numerous stories in Chapel Hill ahead of the season-opener, what are the Top Five we must be looking at?
Who’s going to be the beginning quarterback?
UNC quarterbacks Conner Harrell, best, and Max Johnson at ACC Kickoff in Charlotte on July 25, 2024.
If there’s ever been a quarterback competitors you must pay attention to this month, appearance no evenmore than the one within the UNC football lineup.
Conner Harrell understands the North Carolina football program muchbetter. He’s just gettingin his sophomore project, however hasactually been in the program for 2 seasons currently.
As we discussed formerly, Harrell began the Duke’s Mayo Bowl versus West Virginia last December, finishing 18-of-27 passes for 199 lawns, one goal and 2 interceptions. Harrell shined much more versus Campbell last November, going a ideal 4-for-4 with 71 backyards and a passing goal, while including 61 hurrying backyards and another rating.
Johnson has far more beginning experience, though – and all of that is versus SEC competitors. Johnson invested the veryfirst 2 years of his profession at LSU, beginning 14 out of his 18 videogames with the Tigers, consistingof the whole 2021 season. Johnson then began 8 of 12 videogames in College Station.
Johnson’s profession amountsto consistof 5,853 passing lawns, 47 goals and simply 12 interceptions. Harrell has simply 270 passing backyards, 2 goals and 2 interceptions.
Can the Tar Heels surface strong?
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – OCTOBER 28: British Brooks #24 of the North Carolina Tar Heels is tookon by LaMiles Brooks #1 of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets throughout the 2nd quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium on October 28, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Until UNC can put together a total season, it will neverever be seen as a genuine football school.
North Carolina deceived us assoonas onceagain last year, beginning 6-0 and ranking as high as tenth. This put the Tar Heels on the edge of College Football Playoff factortoconsider, which – if UNC had made the CFP – would be the biggest thing to takeplace in program history.
North Carolina’s unbeaten season ended at home versus then-1-win UVA in October. The Tar Heels lost at Georgia Tech the following week, proving that Atlanta’s renowned college is UNC’s kryptonite.
North Carolina reacted from its 2-videogame losing streak with successive wins versus Campbell and archrival Duke, then continued with successive losses to Clemson, in-state competing NC State and West Virginia.
With a significantly-easier schedule that consistsof home videogames versus FCS power North Carolina Central and Conference USA bottom-dweller Charlotte, here’s to hoping the Tar Heels can infact piece together a more constant 2024 project.
How will the defense appearance under Geoff Collins?
Sep 24, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets head coach Geoff Collins responds to a call throughout the veryfirst quarter versus the UCF Knights at FBC Mortgage Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports
The whole of Tar Heel Nation is hoping its precious football group doesn’t offer up 500-plus lawns to 1-win group. We desire to see a muchbetter protective item – not always shutdown defense like Georgia (although, that’d be n