North Carolina plays in its biggest bowl game in 70 years as the Tar Heels face No. 5 Texas A&M in the Orange Bowl.
This is UNC’s first trip to this bowl game and first to any of the major (Rose, Sugar, Cotton, Orange) bowls since it ended a three in four year stretch in 1950.
Carolina faces A&M for the first time in its history, but the Tar Heels have plenty of experience with Aggies coach Jimbo Fisher, who coached Florida State for eight years, from 2010 to 2017. The Tar Heels went 2-0 against Fisher, winning in 2010 and in 2016 by twin 37-35 scores in Tallahassee.
UNC coach Mack Brown is no stranger to A&M, having faced the Aggies annually while coaching at Texas, going 10-5 against the in-state rival. Brown has never faced Fisher, however.
North Carolina will be short-handed, as four of its top players opted out of the bowl game to prepare for the NFL Draft. UNC will be missing running back Michael Carter and Javonte Williams, who were responsible for 87 percent of Carolina’s ground yards this season. The offense will also be without top wide receiver Dyami Brown.
British Brooks, Josh Henderson and Elijah Green will have to fill in for the missing backs, while Dazz Newsome becomes UNC quarterback Sam Howell’s top target at receiver.
On defense, the Tar Heels will be missing linebacker Chazz Surratt. Eugene Asante will replace him
A&M will be looking to prove it belonged in the College Football Playoff after being left on the doorstep, ranked fifth by the selection committee, who gave bids to the top four teams.
Cornerback Storm Duck, who has missed most of the year with injury, is out again. So is DE/LB Chris Collins. He's one of the young edge rushers who has stepped up this year.
UNC wins the toss and defers. About to kick off to A&M. Let's do this
Brutal start for the UNC offense. Run play loses yardage. Howell throws incomplete (after review), then throws an interception deep in his own territory.
UNC defense almost had a goal line stand. A&M RB Isaiah Spiller was hit in the backfield on fourth down, but he broke free and scored. 7-0 Aggies.
Asante (Surratt's replacement) gave up the completion on third and long to set up the fourth down play, then missed a tackle on Spiller's run. He seems to be struggling to get off blocks early.
UNC offense clicking a little better the second time around. Brooks, Henderson and Howell all gaining yards on runs. Tough taunting penalty on A&M keeps drive alive in red zone.
UNC reaches the 11, then gains 0 or loses yards on four straight plays. Heels settle for a field goal. 7-3 A&M
After UNC forces a 3 & out, Dazz Newsome gets loose on a punt return. UNC starting at midfield.
UNC faces fourth and 3 at the 44 as the quarter ends. Heading to the second, Mack Brown has a decision to make, down 7-3.
Howell keeps it and rushes for the first down to keep the drive going.
Heels settle for another field goal to cut the A&M lead to 7-6
A&M responds with a 31-yard pass, then Mond runs for 14 and Morrison gets hit for a horse collar. A&M in the red zone quickly.
UNC bends but doesn't break. Asante makes a third down tackle to force an A&M field goal. 10-6 Aggies
Dazz with three big catches on UNC's drive, the last a juggling sliding catch in the end zone. They're reviewing to see if he finished it, but it looks good here.
Ruling stands. Carolina takes the lead, 13-10. This now matches the most points UNC has scored in a major bowl (scored 13 in the 1950 Cotton)
This is the first time Carolina has led in a major bowl since 1/1/1947, when it led Georgia in the Sugar Bowl into the third quarter.
UNC pass rush had plenty of pressure on Mond that A&M drive, but the Aggies mixed in enough big plays to handle it. Spiller finishes off the drive with a TD rush. A&M back up 17-13 just before half.
Howell getting a bit of the happy feet under A&M pressure on this drive. Khafre Brown has made a couple big catches to set UNC up deep in A&M territory. Howell caught A&M with 12 on the field, which wiped out an interception in the end zone.
Howell to a wide open Downs for a touchdown and Carolina is up again, 20-17. Howell now has 67 touchdown passes through his sophomore year, most in ACC history, breaking a tie with Trevor Lawrence.
Nice drive for Grimes. He gets a PBU on first down and TFL on third to force an A&M punt.
A pair of costly UNC penalties take us through the end of the third quarter. Defensive offsides on third and five gives A&M a first down. Then Kyler McMichael gets flagged for a horse collar tackle, UNC's second of the game. A&M opens the fourth on the UNC 5 yard line
UNC defense holds. Grimes gets a pass defense that easily could have been flagged on third down in the end zone. A&M kicks a field goal to tie things at 20, 14:02 to play
Howell ... to Downs ... 75 yards. Carolina back up 27-20, 13:51 to play. Howell ties Darian Durant for most TD passes in a UNC career, with 68.
Now it's Mond's turn to throw deep, 54 yards puts A&M inside the UNC 10. And a Mond keeper ties the score. 10:11 left
Huge play for A&M: Achane gets loose up the sideline and goes 76 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. 34-27 A&M, 3:44 left to play
Henderson comes up short on fourth and short. A&M ball with 2:24 left.
More missed tackles by UNC gives A&M first and goal at the one and should just about be a dagger in this one. And A&M scores on the next play, now up 41-27
And that'll do it. Texas A&M beats UNC in the Orange Bowl, 41-27.
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