UNC football vs. ETSU game preview, info, prediction and more

The North Carolina Tar Heels are finally returning to the field after a week off as they have the chance to go 2-0 on the season. With all the distractions around the program, it feels like the win over TCU was ages ago.

But on Saturday, UNC will host their home opener against East Tennessee State. It's a game where UNC should win as they are multiple-touchdown favorites in this one. It's also another game where the Tar Heels can silence some critics and get this second year under the Bill Belichick era off to a good start.

With a really tough schedule ahead, this game is important in terms of UNC's bowl chances this season. Needing six wins, getting this one is key.

Key to Victory

Just play your game. With games that are projected to be this lopsided over the years, we've seen that the longer the underdog hangs in there, the better chance they believe they have. And they can also pull an upset in the process.

For North Carolina in this game, it's simple. Play your game. The Tar Heels are the favorites for a reason and they can't let the Buccaneers hang around all game.

Something to Watch

Will Billy Edwards Jr. get going? The quarterback wasn't awful by any means in his first start with North Carolina and he actually got off to a hot start. But he cooled off a little bit as the game went on. The coaching staff did say they were also going to give Miles O'Neill reps vs. TCU, which is something we could see against ETSU.

Getting out to a big lead and allowing the team to play both quarterbacks could help down the line.

Stats

Passing

ETSU: Mason Mims 46/62, 615 passing yards, 5 TD, 1 INT

UNC: Billy Edwards Jr. 16/28, 232 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT

Rushing

ETSU: TJ Peyton 26 carries, 201 rushing yards and 3 TD

UNC: Benjamin Hall 11 carries, 36 rushing yards

Receiving

ETSU: Suderian Harrison 8 receptions, 170 yards, 1 TD

UNC: Jelani Thurman 4 receptions, 94 yards

What you need to know

WHAT? East Tennessee State Buccaneers (1-1) AT North Carolina Tar Heels (1-0)

WHEN? Saturday, September 12 at 12 p.m. ET

WHERE? Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina

TV? ACC Network

RADIO? SiriusXM (82 for UNC broadcast)

WEATHER? 80 degrees, thunderstorms possible

LINE? UNC -34.5

LAST MEETING? First meeting

ALL-TIME SERIES? First meeting

PREDICTION? UNC 38, ETSU 10

UNC Football 2026 schedule

August 29: vs. TCU (W, 15-10) (DUBLIN)

September 12: vs. ETSU (12 p.m.)

Sept. 19: at Clemson (12 p.m.)

October 3: vs. Notre Dame

Oct. 10: at Pitt

Oct. 17: at Duke

Oct. 24: vs. Syracuse

Oct. 31: vs. Miami (FL)

November 7: at UConn

Nov. 14: vs. Louisville

Nov. 21: at Virginia

Nov. 28: vs. NC State

This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC football vs. ETSU game preview, info, prediction and more