UNC football has never played Charlotte, but the Tar Heels are 0-1 against Charlotte YMCA.

UNC lost 8-0 to Charlotte YMCA in 1896. The Tar Heels (1-0) play the Charlotte 49ers (1-0) for the first time on Saturday (3:30 p.m., ACC Network) at Kenan Stadium.

Coming off a 19-17 win at Minnesota in Week 1, Carolina is hoping to win its seventh consecutive home-opener. With Max Johnson out for the season due to a leg injury, Conner Harrell steps in as the Tar Heels’ starting quarterback.

Charlotte, which played its first college football game in 2013, started its season with a 30-7 home loss to James Madison. The 49ers have several players and coaches with ties to the Tar Heels, including defensive back Ja’Qurious Conley and former UNC All-American Dre’ Bly.

Here’s a look at things to watch and a score prediction for the Tar Heels’ home opener and first meeting with Charlotte.

UNC football’s eyes are on QB Conner Harrell

UNC redshirt sophomore Conner Harrell will make his first start at Kenan Stadium this weekend. In his debut as a starter at the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in 2023, Harrell had 199 passing yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. In relief of Johnson last week, Harrell led the game-winning drive. Facing the 49ers will offer the young QB a chance to build confidence and find a groove as the offense’s new leader. The last time he faced a non-Power 4 opponent, Harrell accounted for two TDs and was 4-for-4 with 71 passing yards, along with two carries for 61 rushing yards against Campbell last season.

Mack Brown, UNC football focused on playing to ‘standard’

There’s been a lot of conversation centered around UNC’s favorable schedule, which features Charlotte, NC Central and

Tar Heels

over the next three weeks. Head coach Mack Brown made it clear this week that he doesn’t want to talk about the Tar Heels’ opponents, he wants the team to focus on meeting its “standard.” UNC is 10-1 against non-Power 4 opponents since Brown returned in 2019, averaging nearly 49 points in those 11 games. Appalachian State, which won at Kenan Stadium in 2019, and Georgia State were the only teams to hang with the Heels during that stretch.