CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The 127th edition of the South’s Oldest Rivalry between Virginia (3-5, 1-4 ACC) and No. 17 North Carolina (7-1, 4-0 ACC) will take place on Saturday (Nov. 11) at Scott Stadium. The third-most played series in FBS history is scheduled for a noon start on ACC Network and the Virginia Sports Radio Network.
GAME COVERAGE: In addition to the ACC Network broadcast, authenticated subscribers can stream the game on the ESPN app and ESPN.com. The pregame radio show on the Virginia Sports Radio Network will begin at 11 a.m. Fans can listen to the game on the Virginia Sports App, the TuneIn App and any one of the VSRN affiliates across the commonwealth. For a list of expanded coverage visit: virginiasports.com/radio
INSIDE SATURDAY’S MATCHUP
- Saturday marks the 127th all-time meeting between Virginia and North Carolina, a series that began in 1892. Only Wisconsin/Minnesota (130 games) and Georgia/Auburn (127 games) have played more games against one another in FBS history.
- Virginia is in the middle of a four-game homestand, only the second time in the history of the program that UVA has played four-straight Saturdays at Scott Stadium and the first time since 1970.
- North Carolina will be Virginia’s first ranked opponent this season. The Tar Heels are No. 17 in the Associated Press poll and No. 15 in the USA Today coaches poll.
- Virginia has won two of the last three home games against ranked foes, including a 44-41 victory over the then-No. 15 Tar Heels in 2020.
- UVA is 23-7 in its last 30 games at Scott Stadium. The 23 wins since 2018 are the third-most by any ACC team, trailing Clemson (30) and NC State, and the most by any Coastal Division team.
- Virginia has won four of the last five meetings against North Carolina. UVA’s loss in last year’s meeting ended a four-game win-streak over the Tar Heels, the sixth time in series history the Cavaliers had won four-straight games against UNC.
- North Carolina (4-0) and Clemson (6-0) are the only two remaining unbeaten teams in ACC play this season. UVA hasn’t won against an undefeated ACC opponent with three wins or more since topping then-No. 12 Georgia Tech 24-21 in 2011.
TOP STORYLINES
- North Carolina comes in as the ACC’s top offense, averaging 502.0 yards per game. The Cavalier defense has not yielded an offensive touchdown in its last eight quarters. The last touchdown allowed came in the fourth quarter against Louisville on Oct. 8.
- UVA’s all-time leader in passing yards and total offense, Brennan Armstrong is on the verge of ACC lore. The southpaw sits just 101 yards away from 10,000 yards of total offense for his career. Only 14 players in league history have reached 10,000 yards in their careers.
- The last time Armstrong faced North Carolina he set the UVA single-game passing record (554 yards) and the program’s single-game total offense mark (538). It was the most ever passing yards by a UNC opponent since Dave Brown (Duke) threw for 479 yards in 1989.
NUMBERS TO KNOW
101 – Yards Brennan Armstrong needs to reach 10,000 yards of total offense in his career. Only 14 ACC players have reached the 10,000-yard plateau.
24 – Combined number of passes defended by cornerbacks Anthony Johnson and Fentrell Cypress, tied with Illinois duo Jartavius Martin and Devon Witherspoon for the most in the nation.
334 – Number of career tackles by linebacker Nick Jackson, the third most among active power-five defenders.
8 – Consecutive quarters the Virginia defense has not allowed a touchdown. The Cavaliers have held back-to-back opponents to less than 275 yards of total offense for the first time since 2019.
LAST YEAR VS. NORTH CAROLINA
- UVA had its four-game winning streak against then-No. 21 North Carolina snapped in Chapel Hill.
- After falling behind 21-7, Virginia rallied to take a 28-24 lead at the half. North Carolina went on to outscore UVA, 35-11 in the second half.
- Brennan Armstrong broke UVA’s single-game passing record with 554 yards breaking Kurt Benkert’s mark of 455 set in 2017 against UConn. He became the first Cavalier quarterback to throw for 500 yards in a game. He threw for 364 yards in the first half, also a program record.
- Armstrong accounted for 538 yards of total offense breaking the single-game school record set by Bryce Perkins (490 yards) against North Carolina in 2019.
- Fentrell Cypress recorded his first career interception taking Sam Howell’s pass to the end zone 66 yards. The return was the 11th longest in program history.
- Dontayvion Wicks caught seven passes for 183 yards, including a 40-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. It was the sixth most receiving yards in a game in program history.
- Noah Taylor led the Cavaliers with 12 tackles, his first double-digit tackling effort of his career.