By Joseph Ochoa, WRAL multiplatform producer

North Carolina Tar Heels
Minnesota Golden Gophers
FOX | Thursday, August 29th 8:00 PM EDT

The University of North Carolina Tar Heels start the 2024 season Thursday night.

For the first game of the year, they will travel north and take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers in a prime-time matchup to kick off the college football season.

A look back at the Tar Heels’ 2023 season

Going into 2023, the Tar Heels had all the makings for a New Years’ Six bowl game appearance. A top prospect a quarterback, a coach with big-game experience and a top-college receiver returning to North Carolina to be closer with his family.

Then the Virginia Cavaliers happened.

The Cavaliers went into Chapel Hill on Oct. 21 and upset the Tar Heels at home, 31-27, The Tar Heels then followed that performance up by a four-point loss to the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets on the road.

The Tar Heels went on to win two-straight games after that, but the team never fully recovered, losing their final two regular season games to Clemson and rival NC State, and then were thoroughly thumped by the West Virginia Mountaineers in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.

The defense struggled throughout the year, ranking 94th in the country in total yards allowed, 94th in passing yards allowed per game and 72nd in points allowed per game.

While the Tar Heels lost quarterback Drake Maye and Tez Walker on offense to the NFL Draft, the defense took a bigger hit, losing Cedric Gray, Amari Gainer, Tomari Fox and Myles Murphy.

The Tar Heels are looking to turn their defensive misfortunes around this season, hiring former Yellowjackets coach Geoff Collins to replace defensive coordinator Gene Chizik, who did not return to the team after the 2023 season.

What to watch for the Tar Heels on Thursday

Aside from the defense, many eyes will be on the quarterback position for the Tar Heels. As of Tuesday, the Tar Heels have not decided if Texas A&M transfer Max Johnson or Conner Harrell will be the starter this season.

Head coach Mac Brown didn’t disclose who would be the starter during his press conference, and even suggested both quarterbacks could play this season.

“Depending on how the game goes, we’d like to play two quarterbacks and we’d like to do it for the season,” Brown said.

It will also tell who will be starting where on Thursday, as the Tar Heels are not releasing their depth chart ahead of their matchup against the Golden Gophers. Minnesota said they are not releasing their depth charts either.

While we may not know who’s going to start under center, we know who will be toting the rock in the backfield.

Leading the charge in the backfield is Omarion Hampton, who was named to the ACC’s All-Conference team and accounted for 1,504 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns on 253 rushing attempts in 2023.

Regardless of who’s under center Thursday night, expect Hampton to get the bulk of the work running the ball.

UNC vs. Minnesota: When, where and how to watch

• When: 8 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 29
• Where: Huntington Back Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota
• How to watch:
  • On TV: On FOX

Source: wralsportsfan.com