• Carolina improves to 3-0, while Minnesota falls to 2-1. The Tar Heels are 2-0 at Kenan Stadium this year.
• Mack Brown is 277-144-1, including a 102-68-1 record in 15 seasons as head coach of the Tar Heels.
• This was the first time UNC and Minnesota played in the sport of football.
• The Tar Heels improve to 13-9 against Big Ten teams, 6-2 in Kenan Stadium. The 13 points are the fewest allowed against a Big Ten opponent since a 23-6 win over Indiana in 1997.
• The Tar Heels have started 3-0 for the sixth time under Brown, the third such season since his return as head coach in 2019.
• North Carolina is now 53-22 as a ranked team in 15 seasons under Brown.
• The UNC offense converted 12 of 17 third-down chances today and has converted 65% percent on third down this season (28 of 43).
• The Tar Heel defense held on nine of 12 third-down chances by the Gophers.
• North Carolina is 13 of 15 in the red zone this season. The Tar Heels have scored nine TDs and have made four field goals when advancing into the red zone.
• Sophomore quarterback Drake Maye completed 29 of 40 for 414 yards and two touchdowns. He completed a season 29 and tied his third-most completions in a game in his career.
• Maye passed Mitch Trubisky for sixth all-time in passing touchdowns by a Tar Heel.
• 4. Marquise Williams, 2012-15 61 ○ 5. T.J. Yates, 2007-10 58 ○ 6. Drake Maye, 2021- 43 ○ 7. Mitch Trubisky, 2014-16 41
● Maye passed for 414 yards and passed Ronald Curry for sixth in UNC career passing yards. ○ 4. Bryn Renner, 2010-13 8,221 ○ 5. Marquise Williams, 2012-15 7,965 ○ 6. Drake Maye, 2021- 5,301 ○ 7. Ronald Curry, 1998-2001 4,987
• This was Maye’s eighth career game with 300+ passing yards and second with 400 yards (448 at Wake Forest last season). He tied Marquise Williams for the fourth-most 400-yard games by a Tar Heel.
• Maye has recorded eight 300+ passing games in fewer games than any other Tar Heel quarterback.
• Maye has recorded eight 300+ passing games in fewer games than any other Tar Heel quarterback.
• Carolina is 7-1 in games when Maye passes for over 300 yards.
• Maye’s 46-yard first quarter TD pass to McCollum was Maye’s longest TD pass of the season and the sixth longest of his career.
• Maye’s 46-yard touchdown pass to Nate McCollum with 11:47 remaining in the first quarter was the fastest touchdown to open a game in Maye’s career, and the fastest the Tar Heels have scored since 10/16/21 at Miami.
• Maye led the Tar Heels to an opening-drive score for the 11th time in 17 career starts.
• Maye is the only Tar Heel QB to start a season completing 20 or more passes in three straight games.
• This was Maye’s ninth career 25+ completion game and first of the season.
• Carolina gained 519 yards. It was the second game in a row the Tar Heels gained 500 or more yards. The Tar Heels have won the last nine times they gained 500 or more yards and 12 in a row when gaining at least 400 yards.
• Nate McCollum made a career-high 15 receptions for 165 yards, one catch shy of the single-game record by a Tar Heel. Three Tar Heels made 16 catches in a game – Charlie Carr vs. Air Force in 1966, Quinshad Davis at Virginia in 2012 and Ryan Switzer vs. Pittsburgh in 2016.
• This was the most catches in a game by a Tar Heel since Josh Downs had 15 at Virginia last season.
• McCollum’s previous highs were eight catches and 103 yards.
• McCollum’s 46-yard touchdown reception was the second-longest touchdown catch of his career.
• McCollum’s 11 first-half receptions were the most in a half by a Tar Heel since at least 1966. • McCollum’s 95 receiving yards in the first quarter were the most by a Tar Heel in the first quarter since Downs gained 96 vs. Virginia on 9/18/21.
• Kamari Morales’ 55-yard reception in the second quarter tied the longest of his career (last season against Georgia State).
• Bryson Nesbit’s second quarter reception was his first touchdown of the season and sixth of his Tar Heel career.
• Gavin Blackwell’s 38-yard reception in the third quarter was the longest of his career (previous: 37 vs. South Carolina, 09/02/23).
Defense:
• Power Echols’ first quarter interception was his first of the season and third of his career.
• DB Armani Chatman’s third quarter interception was his first since 2022 while playing for Virginia Tech. • Chatman led Carolina with three pass breakups.
• Jacolbe Cowan’s fourth quarter sack was his first of the season.
• This was North Carolina’s first game recording two interceptions since 11/6/2021 vs Wake Forest.
Special Teams/Miscellaneous:
• Noah Burnette’s 42-yard field goal in the third quarter was his first of the season. He is 16 for 22 in his career.