UNC looks to keep momentum going against FSU
by Sharon Thorsland
Finally! North Carolina snapped its four game losing streak last week with a huge win over Virginia. Now the Tar Heels look to keep that momentum going as they travel to Tallahassee to take on Florida State. The idea of going into Doak Campbell Stadium used to strike fear into opposing fan’s hearts, but not this season. The Seminoles are not just bad, they are downright awful – in spite of having a team loaded with talent. They are 1-7 on the year after a beat down at Miami last week, and the cries continue to get louder calling for coach Mike Norvell’s head. Kick-off is set for 3:30 on WBT.
No one expected the Seminoles to implode this season. Last year they were riding high at 13-0 until getting left out of the playoffs. They proceeded to lose a bowl game that nobody cared about, and opened the 2024 campaign with a stunning loss to Georgia Tech in Ireland. Things spiraled downhill from there, with their only win coming against Cal. So what’s been the problem? A horrible offense that can’t score is the main culprit. FSU is averaging just 14.9 points and 272 yards per game. The offensive line is dinged up and can’t protect whichever quarterback is on the field, be it starter Brock Glenn or freshman Luke Kromenhoek. The receivers have plenty of drops, and the run game is nonexistent. All of that would seem to be good news for UNC. But the Tar Heels have been having plenty of their own problems on defense, allowing close to 400 yards per game. But they apparently decided it was time to start sacking quarterbacks, the Heels picked up 10 of them against the Wahoos after having amassed only 15 the entire season.
The key to this game for the Tar Heels will be getting the ground game going. FSU’s defense has been pretty good against the pass, giving up just 200 yards per game, that’s third-best in the ACC. But the ‘Noles have not been able to stop the run, allowing over 180 rushing yards per game. Now they’ll face UNC star running back Omarion Hampton, who has over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns on the season. If Hampton can get rolling, it will be a long day for the Seminoles.
On paper this looks like UNC should win. But that almost never pans out for the Tar Heels against Florida State, who they last played in 2021. Coach Mack Brown has never beaten his alma mater, going 0-8 against the Seminoles while at UNC and 0-11 in his career. If ever there was a year to do it, this is it. Go Tar Heels!
