Mack Brown wasted little time getting North Carolina to the top of the ACC, and now fans are thinking playoff. In their way stands a team hoping to turn things around quickly. North Carolina vs. Virginia Tech won’t be a big game in Week 1 overall, but it has plenty of entertainment value. One thing’s for sure: the atmosphere in Blacksburg will be electric. Let’s look at how to watch this ACC matchup.
North Carolina vs. Virginia Tech | Week 1
How to watch this week’s game between the Tar Heels and Hokies, and what time is it on?
How to watch North Carolina vs. Virginia Tech | Live streams, TV channel, and start time
- Start: 6 PM ET, September 3
- TV Channel: ESPN
- Live Stream:
- SlingTV
- YouTubeTV
- WatchESPN
Sam Howell returns to an offense that will look entirely different from last year. Four players totaling 4,168 yards and 42 touchdowns departed to the NFL, meaning new faces must step up. Josh Downs gives the Heels a future star at receiver, and there’s plenty of talent to fill those shoes. North Carolina’s defense should be much better as well, taking some pressure off Howell and the offense.
Justin Fuente came to Blacksburg with a ton of excitement, but that quickly died. After winning 19 games in his first two seasons, he’s won the same over the past three (including two losing seasons). His defense took a step backward last year, allowing 32.5 points per game. If Fuente wants to stick around, he needs to find a way to revive that side of the ball.
North Carolina vs. Virginia Tech really comes down to Brown vs. Fuente. Brown has the clear advantage so far, and it doesn’t seem like Fuente will close the gap anytime soon. Stopping Howell and the offense won’t be easy no matter who’s in it, and it’s tough for the Hokies to have such a big game this early in the season.