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LOOK: North Carolina unveils uniforms ahead of rivalry matchup with Virginia

Wade-Peeryby:Wade Peery•11/03/22
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(Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)

The North Carolina Tar Heels are preparing to face their longtime rival, the Virginia Cavaliers this weekend in what is known as “The South’s Oldest Rivalry”. The first meeting between the two teams was on Oct. 22, 1892. On Thursday, the Tar Heels unveiled the uniforms they’ll be wearing in their road matchup with the Cavaliers.

These uniforms look like the classic North Carolina look with the light blue helmets and the white jerseys. Then, they’ll be going with the sky-blue pants. It’s a pretty traditional look for the ‘Heels, but it works.

The Tar Heels will have to figure out how to block one of the nation’s best pass rushers, Virginia Cavaliers defensive end Chico Bennett, Jr. He came to the Cavaliers via the transfer portal from the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Last season, Bennett didn’t appear in any games for Virginia after suffering a torn ACL. This year, he’s proved to be a dominant force for the Cavaliers–racking up seven sacks, tying him for 11th in the nation.

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The Cavaliers’ defense has undoubtedly been one of the biggest surprises of their 2022 season–they only surrender 21.5 points per game–ranking 30th in the country. Their pass defense has only surrendered 192.9 yards per game–ranking them 24th in the nation.

Both stats are massive improvements for a defense that ranked among the worst in college football in nearly every statistical category in 2021. Virginia allowed 240.2 passing yards per game last year–ranking 88th in the country. They also allowed 31.8 points per game–ranking them 103rd in the country.

North Carolina QB Drake Maye has put up incredible numbers

They’ll give North Carolina’s freshman quarterback Drake Maye one of his stiffest tests yet, but he’s posted prolific numbers in his first year in Chapel Hill. PFF certainly thinks highly of him, and they currently rank Maye as the highest graded quarterback in Power Five–ahead of Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker and Alabama’s Bryce Young. Last weekend against the Pitt Panthers, Maye became the first player in UNC history with five straight games of 300-plus passing yards.

He currently ranks third in the nation in passing yards per game (333.9). Maye’s 29 touchdown passes tie him for first in all of college football with Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. His stats have been flat out absurd and there’s no question he’s the biggest reason the ‘Heels currently sit at 7-1 overall. If he stays at North Carolina long enough, he’s bound to shatter numerous school records. That’s pretty obvious.

North Carolina and Virginia are set to square off on Saturday, Nov. 5. Kickoff is set for noon in Charlottesville, Va. As of Thursday evening, the Tar Heels are listed as 7.5 favorites.