Miami Football at North Carolina on ACC Network indicative of both seasons
Disappointing seasons from Miami and North Carolina have relegated their 3:30 PM kickoff on Saturday to the ACC Network. The Miami football team is 2-3 after beginning the season ranked 14th in the AP Top 25 and 16th in the USA Today Coaches Poll. North Carolina is 3-3 after beginning the season ranked 10th.
Pittsburgh at Virginia Tech will also kickoff at 3:30 and will be televised by ESPN2. The Panthers and Hokies are the co-leaders in the ACC Coastal Division at 1-0. Pittsburgh is 4-1 overall and Virginia Tech 3-1. Miami is sixth in the Coastal at 0-1. North Carolina is fifth at 2-3 with only three conference games remaining.
Miami and North Carolina were the prohibitive favorites in the ACC Coastal during the preseason. North Carolina received 979 points and 109 first-place votes to win the ACC Coastal in 2021. Miami received 881 points and 28 first-place votes to win the ACC Coastal in 2021. North Carolina was picked third in the ACC in 2021.
Miami’s loss to Virginia and North Carolina losing 35-25 to Florida State on Saturday made the decision for ESPN easy to put the Pittsburgh at Virginia Tech game on ESPN2 and Miami at North Carolina on the ACC Network. Two teams that were projected to challenge for New Year’s Six Bowls have been incredibly disappointing.
Saturday's UM-at-UNC game at 3:30 will be Miami's first ACC Network game of year. That decision made this AM; the game had been listed until today as either/or among ESPN, ESPN2, ACC Net. UNC's loss to FSU tilted scales toward ACC Net.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) October 10, 2021
North Carolina was thought to be a dark horse for the college football playoff. Returning 19 starters, Miami was in a good position to build on an 8-3, 2020 season. Instead, the Hurricanes and Tar Heels have combined for a half dozen disappointing losses. Miami at UNC is essentially an ACC Coastal elimination game.
Next. Miami hindered by 2018 Class underdevelopment. dark
After Miami, North Carolina has ACC games remaining against Wake Forest on November 6 and Pittsburgh on Thursday, November 11. The Miami football team plays North Carolina State, Pittsburgh, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Virginia Tech and Duke. The Hurricanes and Tar Heels face off with similar frustrating seasons thus far.