EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW (2026): Louisville at North Carolina

Pregame Prep: Things to Know Before the Game

Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET (Saturday)

TV / Radio: ESPN2 / 93.9 The Ville

Uniforms:

Last Time These Two Met: 2017

No. 17 Louisville had a massive day on offense, led by Lamar Jackson’s 525 total yards (including 393 passing and 132 rushing), and accounted for six touchdowns (three passing & rushing apiece). Malik Williams added 132 rushing yards on the ground, and Jaylen Smith led the team with nine catches for 183 yards and two touchdowns, as the Cardinals outlasted the Tar Heels 47-35.

Notable Numbers:

• Head coach Jeff Brohm was previously an assistant under North Carolina offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino in Petrino’s first stint at Louisville (2003-06), serving as the quarterbacks coach. Louisville went 41-9 in that stretch, including two top-ten finishes in the AP Poll (2004 & 2006) and Louisville’s 2006 Orange Bowl victory.
• Treyshun Hurry had a career day last week, logging eight catches for 104 yards and a touchdown against Georgia Tech.
• Louisville leads the all-time series 5-3. This is only the second time that Louisville and North Carolina have played head-to-head in football since Louisville joined the ACC in 2014.

First Down: Meet the 2026 North Carolina Tar Heels

In the near decade since the last football game between Louisville and UNC, the Tar Heels have since fired head coach Larry Fedora after the 2018 season. UNC hired Mack Brown, which injected new life into the program, with the Tar Heels making six straight bowl games, and making the ACC Championship Game in 2022.

After Brown’s departure following the 2024 season, UNC made a stunning hire, luring former long time New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick to lead the program. Belichick’s first season saw the Tar Heels finish 4-8, including losing the last three games of the regular season to their in-state rivals (Wake Forest, Duke, and NC State).

2026, however, is an improvement on the field, despite off-the-field drama that has resulted in general manager Mike Lombardi resigning amidst an investigation from the university, as well as defensive coordinator Steve Belichick resigning. UNC is 5-4 entering this weekend, needing one more win to clinch bowl eligibility.

Second Down: North Carolina Offense

A familiar face appears for UNC at offensive coordinator, as former Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino is the playcaller for the Tar Heels. Petrino was signed after spending the last two seasons as Arkansas’s offensive coordinator, including a brief stint as the interim head coach last season.

UNC’s offense was statistically among the worst in the ACC last year, but with Petrino at offensive coordinator, they have been better (even if they are still among the bottom third in the conference in total offense, 15th at 353 YPG). The Tar Heels staff brought in Billy Edwards, Jr. to bolster the quarterback room after Gio Lopez transferred. Edwards was a former starter at Maryland, and was planned to start at Wisconsin last year before suffering a grade 3 PCL sprain that resulted in him missing action for all but one game. Edwards fits the mold for Petrino’s offense as a quarterback; big frame (6’3″, 220 lbs.), very decisive with his throws, and can push it downfield. Edwards has been hot in the last month, throwing ten touchdowns with just one interception (including a season-high 341 passing yards, four touchdowns, and completing 28-of-34 passes against #1 Miami two weeks ago).

Edwards does have better receivers at UNC than he did at Maryland, including Jordan Shipp and tight end Jelani Thurman. Both have been productive in the last several games for the Tar Heels; Shipp has a touchdown in each of his last four games, with Thurman having two in each of the last two games. Thurman also leads the FBS in touchdown receptions by a tight end (eight), and at 6’6″, he is a reliable target over the middle of the field.

UNC’s run game is split between two running backs, Benjamin Hall (69 carries, 377 yards, TD) and Demon June (87 carries, 349 yards, eight TDs). Both guys are big backs at 225+ pounds, with June getting more of the workload as both a receiver and goal line back.

Players to Watch:

• QB Billy Edwards, Jr. (65.2% completion, 2,127 passing yards, 18/6 TD/INT)
• WR Jordan Shipp (50 receptions, 642 yards, four TDs)
• TE Jelani Thurman (45 receptions, 625 yards, eight TDs)

Third Down: North Carolina Defense

UNC’s defense has slightly regressed on the statistical side of things (377 YPG allowed this year versus 336 YPG in 2025, and 3.78 TFLs versus 5.25 last year). But at the end of the day, it is still a Bill Belichick defense, and they have shown characteristics of that throughout the season. They’ve made timely plays when they’ve needed, and they played competitively against Notre Dame and Miami earlier this season.

Xavier Lewis has emerged as a breakout player this season, leading the team in sacks (seven) and TFLs (10.5). He’s already earned midseason All-American honors and likely could end up as an All-American at defensive tackle by next month. Lewis has a high motor and has been incredibly disruptive against both the run and pass, despite his size at the position (listed at 6′, 260 lbs.). Louisville will have to make efforts to double team him and keep Lewis from controlling the trenches. Melkart Abou Jaoude had 10.5 sacks last season and earned Second Team All-ACC honors last season, he adds another threat as an edge rusher that Louisville will have to account for. Jaylen Harvey (two sacks and 6.5 TFLs) is another solid piece that gives UNC one of the better defensive lines in the ACC.

Linebackers Derek McDonald and Peyton Seelmann could both end up with 100+ tackles by the end of the regular season, they are do it all players at the position that UNC relies on. UNC’s secondary has had an up-and-down year when it comes to stopping their opponents. UNC has held opponents to 5.8 passing yards per attempt and a 3/6 TD/INT ratio in their wins, but eight yards per attempt and a 10/1 TD/INT ratio in their losses. Greg Smith III leads the team in INTs (three) and has four PBUs, with Jaiden Patterson leading the team in PBUs (seven).

Players to Watch:

• DL Xavier Lewis (43 tackles, ten TFLs, seven sacks)
• DL Melkart Abou Jaoude (17 tackles, two sacks)
• LB Derek McDonald (90 tackles, two TFLs)
• LB Peyton Seelmann (82 tackles, five TFLs, 4.5 sacks, four PBUs)

Fourth Down: Keys to the Game

Can Louisville’s pass rush disrupt Billy Edwards, Jr. and Jelani Thurman?

Louisville’s pass rush will have to win the battle at the line of scrimmage again, and the secondary has to keep Jelani Thurman from making plays over the middle. Thurman is an athletic tight end that can run and get separation, and he could have a huge day if Louisville’s struggles in the passing game resurface.

Edwards hasn’t shown much as a run threat in his collegiate career (just 395 career rushing yards in five seasons), but he does have the ability to maneuver in the pocket if needed.

Can Louisville’s offense continue to generate big plays against North Carolina?

It’s undeniable that Louisville has been one of the best offenses in the country, and a huge part of that is their ability to generate big plays when they need to. But Bill Belichick has built his coaching career on taking away your biggest strength, and his ability to play and adapt multiple schemes to a team’s personnel.

That said, there has been a common trend among three of UNC’s most notable losses this season. Notre Dame, Miami, and Syracuse all averaged at least 7.5 yards per attempt, with Notre Dame and Miami averaging over eight. That bodes well for a Louisville passing game that averages 9.7 yards per attempt, tied for second-best in the ACC with Miami. Louisville’s passing game could also get a boost if Lawayne McCoy is able to return, adding another big play threat outside for the Cardinals.

But, Louisville’s offensive line will have to do its part and keep Kienholz contained in the pocket. North Carolina’s defensive line is a talented group that could pose challenges, and if their defensive line can win their battles at the line of scrimmage, the linebacker duo of McDonald and Seelmann could contain Louisville’s explosive run game.