After an 11-point loss in which they played Top-5 Notre Dame closer than expected, the North Carolina Tar Heels should head into their next football matchup with a little confidence.
UNC (2-2, 0-1 ACC) was an early score away from facing a 3-touchdown deficit, but goal-line defense gave the football right back and preceded a 97-yard touchdown drive. North Carolina still lost, 38-27, but fought against a team many expect to win the National Championship.
The Tar Heels travel up to 25th-ranked Pittsburgh this weekend for a 12 p.m. kickoff, then to archival Duke on October 17. On Monday, UNC learned it'll be kicking off against its archrivals at 3:30 p.m.
North Carolina has 65 all-time victories against the Blue Devils, who have a 2-game winning streak
in this annual rivalry battle. Duke enjoyed a perfect September and should arguably be ranked, beating Tulane, Illinois, Stanford and William & Mary.
Kickoff is set for 3:30 at Duke pic.twitter.com/RDFPtrpN0o
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) October 5, 2026
The Tar Heels' last win against their hated rivals came during 2023, when Drake Maye scored the winning touchdown in a high-scoring, 47-45 double-overtime decision. UNC blew a halftime lead during 2024 in Durham, followed by another fourth-quarter collapse last fall in Chapel Hill.
If North Carolina wants to win back the Victory Bell, its porous run defense will have to neutralize Nate Sheppard, the Blue Devils' star sophomore who is arguably the nation's best running back. Sheppard surpassed 1,000 yards a season ago and has 100 yards in each contest this fall, punctuated by a 227-yard outing in Duke's opener vs. Tulane.
The Tar Heels need to get through Pitt first, which will be playing without starting quarterback Mason Heintschel. If UNC wins this coming weekend, they'l have much-needed momentum to challenge an early ACC contender in Duke.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC announces kickoff time for October 17 ACC football clash
