UNC football looks to continue hot start against Pittsburgh

After starting the season 6-1 overall and 3-0 in the ACC, the North Carolina football team enters Thursday’s contest at Pittsburgh with a chance to stake its claim for the Coastal Division crown.

The No. 23 Panthers carry a 6-1 overall record and 4-0 ACC record into the nationally televised showdown. With Duke also undefeated in ACC play, Thursday’s game has significant divisional implications.

“If we just keep taking care of our business, we should be OK,” Coach Larry Fedora said. “I haven’t even really looked at the standings to see where everybody is. I just know we have a good team coming up.”

Here are three things to know ahead of Thursday’s game, which kicks off at 7 p.m. on ESPN.

‘Sped up’

Coming off Saturday’s win over Virginia, Fedora said he and his staff started their short week that night and spent all day Sunday developing a game plan for the Panthers — a process that usually would have occurred during the preseason.

Because Pittsburgh entered the season under new head coach Pat Narduzzi, Michigan State’s former defensive coordinator, the Tar Heels had no chance of knowing how the Panthers would look at this point in the season.

“Everything’s got to be sped up,” Fedora said. “Normally what you do on Sunday, we have to do on Saturday night and after our game. And then you come in on Sunday, early in the morning, and you try to get everything done for Monday what you would normally do on a Monday.”

With only four full days to cram in as much planning and practicing for Pittsburgh as possible, it will be interesting to see how the short week affects the Tar Heels.

On the prowl

When evaluating the Panthers’ defense, UNC offensive players and coaches have noted Pittsburgh’s variety of exotic blitzes.

The Panthers’ defense ranks 16th nationally, and their incessant defensive pressure has helped them accumulate 22 sacks — which is tied for 12th in the country and equates to 3.14 sacks per game.

North Carolina has only allowed nine sacks this season and no more than two sacks in a game. But the Panthers pose a true test for the Tar Heels’ experienced offensive line.

“They have a great defensive scheme to throw you off,” said junior offensive guard Caleb Peterson. “They run a lot of different things, and they do a good job of disguising it. Some teams, they have some tendencies. But they do some good things to throw their tendencies off and keep things disguised.”

Coastal conundrum

Thursday’s game marks the first in a three-week, three-game round-robin between UNC, Pittsburgh and Duke that could help decide the Coastal Division, as every other team in the division has two or more losses.

If each team finishes the series at 1-1, then the division will likely remain up for grabs. But a 2-0 record for the Tar Heels could provide them with the leverage needed to seize the division title.

@patjames24

sports@dailytarheel.com