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    • UNC Football vs Minnesota: Scouting Report, Score Prediction
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    UNC Football vs Minnesota: Scouting Report, Score Prediction

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    The UNC football season begins the 2024 season with a chance to end a drought that has lasted nearly 39 years.

    The Tar Heels, who haven’t won a season opener on the road since 1985, will try to end that losing streak in Minnesota on Thursday (8 p.m., FOX).

    UNC, which has lost five such games from 1988-2021, defeated Southern Cal in 1993 as part of the Disneyland Pigskin Classic. But that game was played at Anaheim Stadium, not Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the site of the Trojans’ home games since the stadium was built in 1923. That means if head coach Mack Brown’s Tar Heels can beat the Golden Gophers in Minneapolis, it will be UNC’s first non-conference road win in a season opener since a 21-19 victory at Navy in 1985.

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    The Heels and Minnesota first met last season, with UNC winning 31-13 at Kenan Stadium. The Gophers are 21-2 in non-conference play under eighth-year coach P.J. Fleck.

    Below is a summary of key things to watch and a score prediction for UNC’s final meeting and first game of the 2024 American football season.

    Will UNC wide receiver Nate McCollum go all out against Minnesota?

    Nate McCollum was the star for UNC in its win over the Golden Gophers last season. The senior wide receiver caught 15 passes — the fourth-most in a single game in UNC history — for 165 yards and a touchdown. McCollum won’t be throwing for Drake Maye, but the speedy wideout will certainly have plenty of confidence heading into the final game after last year’s performance.

    UNC quarterbacks Max Johnson, Conner Harrell vs. Minnesota QB Max Brosmer

    Max Johnson and/or Conner Harrell for the Tar Heels and Max Brosmer for the Golden Gophers will take the spotlight at quarterback. Brosmer, a sixth-year transfer from New Hampshire, led the FCS in passing yards per game (313.55) and total offense per game (325). As for the Tar Heels, Mack Brown said we could see both Johnson and Harrell in action. The quarterbacks combined for four interceptions in last season’s meeting, but the offensive lines look a lot different this year. Minnesota returns four starters and UNC replaces four starters up front. Protection, as always, will be key.

    New defensive coordinators for Tar Heels, Golden Gophers

    Former Rutgers assistant coach Corey Hetherman is Minnesota’s new defensive coordinator, and former Georgia Tech coach Geoff Collins is calling the Tar Heels’ defense. Both coaches come with a reputation for fielding aggressive defenses. Minnesota ranked 54th in total defense last season, 40 spots ahead of UNC (94th). The unit that builds confidence early will likely be celebrating late in the fourth quarter.

    UNC vs Minnesota Score Prediction

    UNC 24, Minnesota 20: The Tar Heels’ history in non-conference openers is troubling, but the Golden Gophers aren’t world-class. In a game that will likely be decided late, I’m going with the best player on the field — UNC running back Omarion Hampton — to make the difference. Hampton, who had 46 rushing yards against Minnesota in 2023, will help the Heels pull out a win.

    You can contact editor Rodd Baxley at [email protected] or @RoddBaxley on X/Twitter.

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