By WRAL/AP

UConn Huskies
North Carolina Tar Heels
ESPN | Saturday, December 28th 11:00 AM EST

Interim head coach Freddie Kitchens will lead UNC in the Fenway Bowl Saturday, giving his new boss a chance to watch and learn about the Tar Heels he has inherited.

WHO: UConn vs. North Carolina
WHAT: Wasabi Fenway Bowl
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 28
WHERE: Fenway Park, Boston
TV: ESPN

UNC Basketball

Bill Belichick has already said he’d keep Kitchens on staff when he takes over, and the two, Kitchens said, have been in daily contact.

“He’s fully aware of everything dealing with this program,” Kitchens said.

Despite the distractions of the coaching change and player portal, Kitchens said he’s prepared the team to face 8-4 UConn.

“I think we’ve got a good group of kids. They’re good at the ability to, you know, stay where their feet are and stay focused on what they’re doing at that moment,” Kitchens said.

The 6-6 Tar Heels are looking to redeem their season with a win against UConn after falling 35-30 to rival NC State in the final game of the regular season, and the swan song for head coach Mack Brown.

“Next Saturday, we get to go out and, and try to see if we’ve gotten better,” Kitchens said.

But they will be without star running back Omarion Hampton, the ACC’s leading rusher with 1,660 yards. The junior declared for the 2025 NFL Draft and opted out of the bowl game.

Kitchens acknowledged that others will see the Fenway Bowl as a showcase for their next step.

“t’s a big opportunity for them to show what they can do. It’s a big opportunity for our seniors to get ready for the draft and put their best foot forward,” he said.

UConn comes in 8-4 in their third season under another former NFL coach, Jim Mora.

QB Joe Fagnano has 1,480 passing yards (148 per game) while completing 56.5% of passes (104 for 184), with 18 touchdowns and four interceptions. Cam Edwards has 129 carries for 756 rushing yards (63 per game) and seven touchdowns. He also has 13 catches for 148 yards and two touchdowns.

The Tar Heels and the Huskies have met three times in football. UNC won all three, but the two most recent wins were vacated as part of NCAA violations.

North Carolina has outscored opponents by 4.1 points per game this season, and UConn has outscored opponents by 8.5 per game.

North Carolina is totaling 189.5 rushing yards per game on offense this season (31st in college football), and is giving up 144.4 rushing yards per game (58th) on the other side of the ball.

At minus 2 UConn owns the 77th-ranked turnover margin in college football, with 14 forced (90th in college football) and 16 committed (52nd in college football).

Source: wralsportsfan.com