With wins in each of their first two football games to start 2026, the North Carolina Tar Heels feel confident heading into their ACC football opener this weekend.
On Saturday at 12 p.m., UNC (2-0) will battle Clemson in Death Valley. The Tigers (1-1), projected as a preseason conference dark horse, are scuffling after a blowout loss at LSU and closer-than-expected victory vs. Georgia Southern.
North Carolina will enter Saturday's game without former defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, who abruptly resigned on Thursday morning. The Tar Heels will also be down two receivers, freshman CJ Sadler and Keeyun Chapman, whom police pulled over during a recent traffic stop.
UNC could be getting a key piece to its pass rush back this weekend, with defensive
end Melkart Abou-Jaoude listed as questionable on the pre-game availability report. Abou-Jaoude missed North Carolina's home opener vs. ETSU, but the defensive line still made a noticeable impact.
Clemson isn't a friendly place to the Tar Heels, whose last win in Memorial Stadium came way back in 2001. UNC last beat the Tigers in 2010, but that was inside Kenan Stadium.
North Carolina is starting its fall red-hot, while the Tigers will be testing their true freshman quarterback, Tait Reynolds, against a strong defense. If there's every a year for UNC to win in Death Valley, 2026 is the perfect opportunity.
As you prepare for the Tar Heels' second and final September game, keep reading below for our game preview, which includes North Carolina's key to victory, something to watch, odds, statistical leaders and a season schedule.
Key to Victory
Get into the backfield and make life miserable for Tait Reynolds.
Nothing says getting your first collegiate football start like your team's conference opener. That's exactly what Reynolds, Clemson's true freshman quarterback from Queen Creek (Ariz.), will be doing Saturday.
UNC has one of the country's best pass-rushing groups, with its seven sacks tied for 11th nationally and second-most amongst ACC programs. Sophomore Xavier Lewis leads the Tar Heels in getting to the quarterback, with his 6.5 tackles for loss tied for the national lead, plus his four sacks second nationally and tied for the ACC lead.
Jaylen Harvey thrived with two sacks in the blowout win over ETSU last week, while Abou-Jaoude may be returning. If these three combine with the rest of North Carolina's pass-rushing unit for a big day, expect another upset victory.
Something to Watch
Who starts at running back for UNC.
Junior Benjamin Hall led the Tar Heels in rushing yards Weeks Zero and Two, but two other members of North Carolina's deep running back room, Demon June and Jaylen McGill, have all four rushing touchdowns.
June enjoyed the best game of his career vs. ETSU in Week Two, scoring three touchdowns on just seven carries. The Tar Heels have a deep, talented group, so he may not get the starting nod in Death Valley.
Truly, it doesn't matter who head coach Bill Belichick picks as his backfield leader, with each back perfectly capable of producing. After Saturday's head-turning performance, though, June deserves that nod at Clemson.
Statistical Leaders
Passing
UNC: Billy Edwards Jr. 31/48, 476 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
Clemson: Tait Reynolds 20/33, 200 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT
Rushing
UNC: Benjamin Hall 15 carries, 85 yards
Clemson: Gideon Davidson 21 carries, 82 yards
Receiving
UNC: Jelani Thurman 8 receptions, 165 yards, 1 TD
Clemson: T.J. Moore 11 receptions, 134 yards, 1 TD
What you need to know
WHAT? North Carolina Tar Heels (2-0) at Clemson Tigers (1-1)
WHEN? Saturday, September 19 at 12 p.m. ET
WHERE? Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C.
TV? ESPN
RADIO? SiriusXM (82 for Clemson broadcast, 234 for UNC broadcast)
WEATHER? 85 degrees, partly cloudy
LINE? Clemson -3
LAST MEETING? Clemson 38, UNC 10 on October 4, 2025 in Kenan Stadium
ALL-TIME SERIES? Clemson leads, 41-19-1
PREDICTION? UNC 24, Clemson 16
UNC Football 2026 schedule
August 29: vs. TCU in Dublin, Ireland (W, 15-10)
September 12: vs. ETSU (W, 35-3)
Sept. 19: at Clemson (12 p.m.)
October 3: vs. Notre Dame
Oct. 10: at Pitt
Oct. 17: at Duke
Oct. 24: vs. Syracuse
Oct. 31: vs. Miami (FL)
November 7: at UConn
Nov. 14: vs. Louisville
Nov. 21: at Virginia
Nov. 28: vs. NC State
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC football at Clemson Tigers game info, streaming, betting
