CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WNCN) — After a rough stretch in the middle of the season, a bye week helped rejuvenate the North Carolina football team and has put them on the verge of becoming bowl eligible.
The Tar Heels (5-4 overall, 2-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) host Wake Forest (4-5, 2-3) in Chapel Hill on Saturday night. Kickoff at Kenan Stadium is set for 8 p.m.
After losing four games in a row, UNC has bounced back and has now won their last two matchups at Virginia and at Florida State. In Tallahassee on Nov. 2, star running back Omarion Hampton scored five total touchdowns — the only Tar Heel to find the end zone that day — in a 35-11 win over the Seminoles.
The Demon Deacons are coming off a 46-36 loss to Cal last week. Wake Forest quarterback Hank Bachmeier threw for 274 yards and two touchdowns in a losing effort. With three games left, including Saturday night in Chapel Hill, the Demon Deacons still also have a chance to earn bowl eligibility.
After Saturday night, Carolina has just two games remaining. Next week, they head north to play Boston College, followed by the traditional matchup against rival NC State the Saturday after Thanksgiving to end the regular season.