Carolina Kickoff: Week 2

Setting up this weekend in college football

Jeremy Brevard - USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to the Friday Kickoff, where we’ll take a quick look at Carolina’s matchup and set up the rest of the college football weekend in the ACC and around the nation.

Carolina (1-0) vs. Miami (0-1)

Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill

8 p.m., ACC Network (PxP: Dave O'Brien; Analyst: Tim Hasselbeck; Sideline: Katie George)

Carolina game notes | Miami game notes | Series History

BetOnline Spread: Miami -5 | O/U: 47.5

What they're saying...

Probably the best in the country; it and Clemson’s, again, are the best in the country. It’s so unique; Manny (Diaz) and Coach Richt recruited those two guys and I called their games and I watched them and I said they’re maybe the best combination of linebackers in the country and they are. They’re the spirit, they make plays all over the field, they’re tough and they’re smart. Very uniquely, both of them could have left and gone to the Draft last year and both of them decided to stay. They’re the kingpins of that team, I think, but specifically that defense. — Mack Brown on Miami linebackers Shaq Quarterman and Michael Pinckney

I think they’ve got some real, real skill at wide receiver and I think the two tight ends are both NFL guys and the tailback is a great player; tough, competitor. Willed them; you could just see him pulling the team along in the first game, (DeeJay) Dallas, No. 13, so we’ve got to do a great job covering him. The quarterback is really talented, he’s a young kid. Florida has got a bunch of really good players up front on defense and they played like it in that first game.

I think we’ve got a real challenge on our hands. I think the wide receivers are really skilled. That one kid, No. 2, (K.J.) Osborn, he was at Buffalo last year, we played him at Army and they threw a little now screen and I think everybody on our defense missed him. I’ve got a lot of respect for their skill. — Jay Bateman

I would say they’re very skilled everywhere. Their running backs are good; starting No. 13, DeeJay Dallas, he’s good. Their receiving corps, Jeff Thomas, Mike Harley, the tight end, (Brevin Jordan) No. 9, he’s really good. If you watched the game at Florida, they’re explosive, they do a lot of screens. Their transfer, No. 2 (Osborn) from Buffalo, he’s fast; he’s a good kid.

They’ve got players; they’re Miami, they’re The U, they always have players and they’re going to have players every year. They come and be explosive, they make quick throws and try to get you in space and try to make their players work. We have to do a great job tackling in space, we have to do a great job finding their players and knowing where they are on the field. — safety Myles Wolfolk

Pregame reading

After special teams mistakes against South Carolina, Tar Heels looking to veterans vs. Miami.

Film Study: Assessing Sam Howell's first start for the Tar Heels

Dominant ending meant more for much-maligned Tar Heel defense

Mack Brown hasn't forgotten Larry Fedora

Brown says coaches "all over" Heels in Tuesday's practice

UNC's first taste of the Air Raid included plenty of ground support

Redshirt tracker

In the Footprint

Charles LeClaire - USA TODAY Sports

FRIDAY

Wake Forest (1-0) at Rice (0-1), 8 p.m. (CBS Sports Network)

The Deacs offered plenty of entertainment last Friday, so might as well tune in again to check out the offensive fireworks.

William & Mary (1-0) at Virginia (1-0), 8 p.m. (ACC Network)

Mike London returns to Charlottesville with the Tribe. William & Mary has long been a strong FCS program, but it probably doesn't have the firepower to pull this one off.

Joshua S. Kelly - USA TODAY Sports

SATURDAY

Ohio (1-0) at Pittsburgh (0-1), 11 a.m. (ACC Network)

No. 21 Syracuse (1-0) at Maryland (1-0), 12 p.m. (ESPN)

The Orange took care of business in Week One while the Terps put up 79 points on Howard. Doesn't matter the level of competition; that's a pretty darn good offense.

Old Dominion (1-0) at Virginia Tech (0-1), 12 p.m. (ESPNU)

If Justin Fuente thought losing to the Monarchs was bad last year, this would be catastrophic. Expect the Hokies to roll in this one.

Western Carolina (0-1) at N.C. State, 12:30 p.m. (ACC Network)

South Florida (0-1) at Georgia Tech (0-1), 2 p.m. (ACC Network)

No. 12 Texas A&M (1-0) at No. 1 Clemson (1-0), 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

Trevor Lawrence didn't have his best outing in the Tigers' opener. The Aggies could have probably done without getting Clemson's attention with a victory guarantee.

Richmond (1-0) at Boston College (1-0), 3:30 p.m. (ACC Network Extra)

Louisiana-Monroe (1-0) at Florida State (0-1), 5 p.m. (ACC Network)

Don't forget your water bottle!

N.C. A&T (1-0) at Duke (0-1), 6 p.m. (ACC Network Extra)

The Aggies have taken down an FBS opponent in three straight seasons. Are the Blue Devils next?

Eastern Kentucky (1-0) at Louisville (0-1), 7 p.m. (ACC Network Extra)

Derick E. Hingle - USA TODAY Sports

Notable nationally

This week's television schedule + grid

FRIDAY

Marshall at Boise State, 9 p.m. (ESPN2)

Two of the better Group of Five programs in the nation with a late kick on the blue turf. The Broncos showed plenty of grit in last week's comeback at Florida State.

SATURDAY

Cincinnati at No. 5 Ohio State, 12 p.m. (ABC)

Buckeyes QB Justin Fields made an early Heisman statement last week, completing 18 of 25 attempts for 234 yards and four touchdowns along with rushing for 61 yards and a score. 

No. 25 Nebraska at Colorado, 3:30 p.m. (FOX)

Scott Frost has the Huskers back on track while the Buffs have the best player that isn't getting big headlines nationally in receiver Laviska Shenault.

BYU at Tennessee

Luckily for the BYU fans in attendance, Vols fans will be more focused on banishing the coaching staff if the Cougs pull off the win in Knoxville.

No. 6 LSU at No. 9 Texas, 7:30 p.m. (ABC)

DBU vs. well, DBU? Already a great matchup, the Longhorns have spiced it up this week by declaring themselves as DBU. Too bad we won't have both Mike the Tiger and Bevo on the sideline.

Nevada at No. 16 Oregon, 7:30 p.m. (Pac-12)

Nevada had a heck of a win last week over a pretty solid Purdue team. Can they put a scare in the Ducks, too?

No. 23 Stanford at USC, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)

The Trojans lost QB JT Daniels last week and Coach Clay Helton's future likely rests on the arm of freshman Kedon Slovis.