Virginia Travels to No. 10 North Carolina on Saturday

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Coming off its bye week, Virginia (1-5, 0-2 ACC) will continue ACC play on Saturday (Oct. 21) when it takes on No. 10 North Carolina (6-0, 3-0) at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill. The contest is scheduled to kick at 6:30 on The CW Network and the Virginia Sports Radio Network.

GAME DETAILS
Date: Saturday, Oct. 21
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Television: The CW Network (Tom Werme, James Bates, Treavor Scales)
Radio: Virginia Sports Radio Network, TuneIn App, SiriusXM Channel 383, Sirius SM App 973

INSIDE SATURDAY’S MATCHUP

• Dubbed as the South’s Oldest Rivalry, Saturday marks the 128th all-time meeting between Virginia and North Carolina, a series that was first played in 1892. It is tied with Georgia/Auburn (128 games) for the second-most played rivalry in FBS. Only Wisconsin/Minnesota (131 games) have played more games against one another in FBS history.
• Virginia squares off against its second nationally-ranked opponent of the 2023 season. The Tar Heels are the first top-10 opponent UVA has faced since squaring off against then No. 7 Notre Dame at Scott Stadium in 2021. UVA’s last victory over a top-10 opponent came against then No. 4 Florida State, 26-21 in 2005.
• North Carolina (6-0) and Florida State (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.
• Saturday will be a matchup of the ACC’s top passing offense in North Carolina (317.0 yards per game) and a UVA defense allowing 202.8 yards per game through the air, the fifth fewest in the ACC. The last time on the field, Virginia allowed just 72 passing yards against William & Mary on Oct. 7, the fewest allowed by the Cavaliers in a game since the 2021 season.
• The Tar Heels are ranked in the top-10 in their meeting against Virginia for the first time since 1997. The Cavaliers upset North Carolina as the No. 6 team in the country in their 1996 clash, 20-17 at Scott Stadium.

TOP STORYLINES

• No. 10 North Carolina is one of three nationally-ranked opponents left on UVA’s schedule – No. 16 Duke (11/18) and No. 21 Louisville (11/9). Including UNC, the combined record of UVA’s final six opponents is 27-11. Four of last five opponents have been either unbeaten or had one loss coming into the contest against UVA.
• Saturday will be the fifth time ever UVA has played UNC coming off a bye week. The Cavaliers are 2-2 against the Tar Heels after a bye week. Virginia has won three of its last four games coming off a bye, including a 16-9 win at Georgia Tech last season, Tony Elliott’s first ACC win as head coach at UVA.
• Virginia has owned double-digit leads in four of its six games this season. The Cavaliers have been on the wrong end of three games decided by three points or less this season. In the first 16 games of Tony Elliott’s tenure, the Cavaliers have been a part of seven games decided by a field goal or less and are 1-6 in those contests.
• Five true freshmen, CB Dre Walker, WR Jaden Gibson, QB Anthony Colandrea, WR Suderian Harrison and LB Kam Robinson have started games for the Virginia this season. A total of 10 true freshmen have seen action this year and 25 Cavaliers have made their collegiate debuts.
• In Malik Washington and Malachi Fields, UVA has one of the most productive wide receiving duos in the country. Their combined 1,086 receiving yards are the seventh most of any combo in the country. Washington and Fields have teamed up to catch 75 passes, including 44 from Washington, the third most of any ACC wideout.

Complete Game Notes Available: https://static.virginiasports.com/custompages/sports/m-footbl/gamenotes/2023/102123-UNCGameNotes.pdf