After a decisive victory against the South Carolina Gamecocks, the North Carolina Tar Heels football team will take on in-state rival Appalachian State. The Mountaineers, best known for their upset win against Michigan in 2007, present another tough test for the Tar Heels who are looking to cement themselves as the team to beat in a surprisingly wide-open ACC. Here are three things you need to know about this matchup
Tez Walker Remains Out, Named Captain
Yes, this has been covered ad nauseam, but this remains one of the hottest topics in all of College Football. And what a bummer that is, right? In what is shaping up to be one of College Football’s most balanced and exciting seasons, it’s an off-the-field controversy stealing the headlines.
Tez Walker was officially deemed ineligible for the entire 2023-2024 season by the NCAA this week. Walker, who only suited up for one team before transferring to North Carolina, expected to be granted a waiver due to a tremendous overhaul of the coaching staff at his prior school, Kent State. When you consider players like J.T. Daniels and Kedon Slovis have both played for 3 or more teams in their collegiate careers, the precedent is absolutely there.
Instead, the NCAA prioritized its “process” (whatever that means). As Head Coach Mack Brown alluded to, they do not care about the student-athletes in the slightest. But Brown does, and so it should come as no surprise it Tar Heeles fans that he decided to name Walker an honorary captain for today’s game.
Things Have Changed
In 2022, North Carolina traveled to Appalachian State’s campus and played arguably their most entertaining game of the season. The game, which North Carolina won by two, saw the teams combine to score 124 points and gain over 1,200 yards. Should fans expect a similar matchup?
Not so fast, my friends. As Tar Heel fans saw last week, the North Carolina defense has no interest in taking a backseat to Drake Maye and the rest of the offense. As Maye and company struggled out of the gate, the defense spent the night pressuring South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler into oblivion.
Another factor will be Appalachian State’s reliance on the run game. With College Football’s new clock rules (the clock doesn’t stop after first downs anymore), the offenses are simply seeing fewer possessions each game.
Needless to say, don’t expect another 63-61 final score.
Drake Maye Will Bounce back
How high has Maye set the bar that last week felt…underwhelming? Maye, one of College Football’s Heisman favorites, threw for just 269 yards and ran for 25 more. He also threw two uncharacteristic interceptions.
Sometimes uncertainty manifests shakiness. While the Walker situation hasn’t gone the way the Tar Heels hoped, there has to be some relief knowing the hand they’ve been dealt. I expect Maye and the rest of the Tar Heel offense to settle in and have a big day.
This showdown serves as the Tar Heels’ home opener. It will also be a litmus test for Brown’s squad. If they expect to make noise in the ACC, this is the type of game they have to win handily.
