Carolina rallied from a 21-point deficit, which matches the largest comeback and is the largest second-half comeback, in UNC football history. Wake Forest led 45-24 with 4:44 to play in the third quarter before the Tar Heels scored 35 consecutive points to take a 59-45 lead. The Deacs scored a touchdown with 57 seconds remaining in the 4th, but a failed on-side kick attempt would seal the Heels win.
UNC quarterback Sam Howell put up Heisman trophy numbers in the Tar Heels 59-53 victory. Here’s a breakdown of his record-setting day:
- Sam Howell finished 32-45, for 550 passing yards and six touchdowns. He also added 21 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.
- Howell set UNC single-game records with 550 passing yards and six touchdowns. Marquise Williams held the previous yardage record with 494 against Duke in 2015; six other Tar Heels had previously passed for five touchdowns in a game (Bryn Renner did that twice).
- Howell’s 550 passing yards were the third most in ACC history. Only Clemson’s Deshaun Watson (580 vs. Pittsburgh in 2016) and Miami’s Steven Morris (566 vs. NC State in 2012) passed for more yards in a game than Howell.
- Howell’s seven total touchdowns are the most in Kenan Stadium history. Five players had previously accounted for six: Kelvin Bryant vs. ECU in 1981; Maryland’s Scott Milanovich in 1993; Maryland’s Scott O’Brien in 2003; ECU’s Shane Carden in 2013; and Louisville’s Lamar Jackson in 2017.
- Howell is just the third FBS player since 2000 to throw for 550 yards and six touchdowns and also score a rushing touchdown in a single game. Buffalo’s Drew Anderson accomplished the feat against Western Michigan in 2017. Texas Tech’s B.J. Symons did so vs. Ole Miss in 2003.