Analysis: UNC football prepares for first game against Minnesota

North Carolina is looking to start its campaign off with a win when the team travels to Minnesota to face off against the Golden Gophers on Thursday. 

Last fall, the Tar Heels defeated Minnesota with a 31-13 finish to propel their 6-0 start. This matchup will serve as a preview for the rest of UNC’s season following roster turnover, transfers and new coaching influences.

Here are three themes to watch out for during North Carolina's opening game: 

Quarterback battle 

After quarterback Drake Maye was drafted to the New England Patriots in April, the Tar Heels have not yet announced who will replace their former star. Head coach Mack Brown said the battle is between junior Conner Harrell and graduate transfer Max Johnson.

Harrell played in a total of four games last season and started in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl against West Virginia in December. Despite losing 30-10 to the Mountaineers, Harrell completed 22 passes in 33 attempts, threw for 270 yards and rushed for 75 yards. Johnson, a transfer from Texas A&M, racked up 1,452 passing yards, appearing in eight games and starting in five.

To develop the team's depth, Brown said he would like to have both ready to play come Thursday. Based on the flow and style of the game, the head coach might even play both. 

“We feel like both of them are good enough to win,” Brown said. “We’ll be like you all, sitting there watching the game, saying, ‘This is working, we’ll let it go,’ or, ‘This isn’t working, let's change it up, let’s try something else,’” he later added. 

Brown said it was possible for one quarterback to cement himself as the starter for the rest of the season following this game, but the Tar Heels also might keep this dual quarterback threat going to find the best system to win. 

Identifying the defense 

After starting out 6-0 in the early stretch of the 2023 season, UNC went 2-5 to finish the rest of the year. With the addition of Geoff Collins as the new defensive coordinator, the Tar Heels are looking to fine-tune spots on the defensive line. 

“He’s doing a great job of making this defense work for this place and this team,” Brown said, “and not just a ‘Geoff Collins defense.’”

Brown described this matchup as a test of the two opposing lines of scrimmage. Given the experience, size and strength of Minnesota’s offense, Brown and Collins are preparing for a physical matchup. 

The coaching staff has their eyes on Minnesota senior quarterback Max Brosmer. He started all 11 games at New Hampshire last year, where he rushed for 126 yards and passed for 3,464, before transferring to Minnesota.

“He can move — he’s a guy that’s very accurate,” Brown said. “He goes to the right place and he’s hard to sack.”

Brosmer earned AFCA All-America First Team last season, as well as AP All-America second team. His athleticism will challenge the new makeup of UNC's defense as they find out how to best work together. 

A field of fresh faces 

On a team of mostly new and young players, the Tar Heels will see for the first time how they mesh together. 

“They're totally inexperienced,” Brown said.

“It’s not an excuse, it’s a fact,” he later added. 

This kind of inexperience especially shows up on the offensive line. Despite only having one returner and no five-star recruits, Brown wants to limit the excuses. 

In the week leading up to the Minnesota game, Brown emphasized heavy focus and a concentration on the little things. Once it comes to Thursday, there is no more room for mistakes.  

@aplancaster_

@dthsports | sports@dailytarheel.com