BOSTON, M.A. –– Under the leadership of interim head coach Freddie Kitchens, the Tar Heels have a chance to win their first bowl game since 2019 in tomorrow’s 11 a.m. Fenway Bowl against the UConn Huskies.
In three of the last four games, North Carolina has been blown out by its opponent – most recently in 2023 where the team suffered a 30-10 loss to West Virginia in Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
Saturday represents an opportunity to end the 2024 campaign on a positive note after UNC lost its final regular season game to the North Carolina State Wolfpack and finished with a 6-6 record. UConn finished their season 8-4.
The Huskies and Tar Heels have played each other just three times—1990, 2008, and 2009—and North Carolina has won each of those matchups. In 2009, the 19th-ranked Tar Heels earned a 12-10 come-from-behind victory in the Huskies home opener at Rentschler Field.
Playing on neutral ground at the home of the Boston Red Sox, the Tar Heels are 15-23 in bowl appearances whereas the Huskies are looking for their first bowl win since 2010.
There is a chance that newly-hired head coach Bill Belichick will be in attendance at the game, as he continues to integrate into and shift the UNC system. After tomorrow, the program is officially his and he is expected to continue reeling in transfer portal talent and evaluating recruits.
Belichick has also stayed true to his promise of having a strong NFL presence among the UNC program, including his son Steve and general manager Michael Lombardi.
His son Steve was most recently the defensive coordinator for Washington during the 2024 season. Steve also worked under his father, holding several positions within the Patriots organization and winning three Super Bowls. Lombardi’s NFL experience spans 30 years with six different teams. He’s worked alongside Belichick on both the Patriots and the Browns.
The bowl game tomorrow will air on ESPN at 11am from Fenway Park in Boston.