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Five takeaways from UNC football's Week 11 victory over Stanford
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- Five takeaways from UNC football's Week 11 victory over Stanford
For the first time in nearly two months, UNC won a football game inside Kenan Stadium. On Saturday night, North Carolina withstood a late Stanford rally for a 20-15 victory.
The Tar Heels (4-5, 2-3 ACC), now winners of their past two games, inched themselves a step closer to bowl eligibility.
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UNC's defense set the tone throughout Saturday's victory, recording a season-high nine sacks – and coming up with a pair of big stops on Stanford 's (3-7, 2-5 ACC) final drive. Khmori House broke up a pass over the middle intended for CJ Williams, then two plays later, Melkart Abou-Jaoude sacked Cardinal quarterback Elijah Brown for the third time.
North Carolina 's offense looked abysmal in the first half, but responded with 200+ yards and 17 second-half points. Davion Gause caught a beautiful touchdown pass from Gio Lopez , Rece Verhoff nailed a 48-yard field goal and Jordan Shipp took advantage of a Cardinal defensive back slipping – catching a deep ball, changing direction and out-racing the defense for a 55-yard, fourth quarter touchdown.
Demon June's lack of involvement in Saturday's win was a surprise, considering his career-best 182 scrimmage yards at Syracuse, but the Tar Heels ' passing attack came through. Lopez finished with 200+ yards and multiple touchdowns for the second-straight week, while Gause, Shipp and Kobe Paysour combined for 188 yards and a pair of scores.
UNC makes the short trip west to Winston-Salem next week, facing a Wake Forest team that just gained bowl eligibility with Saturday's upset win at Virginia . For now, we'll give you five takeaways from North Carolina's close victory over Stanford.
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Abou-Jaoude and Thompson are a GOOD problem
Nov 8, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels linebacker Tyler Thompson (40) sacks Stanford Cardinal quarterback Elijah Brown (2) in the fourth quarter at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
UNC continued its sack parade Saturday night, generating nine sacks against the Cardinal. Abou-Jaoude and Thompson each recorded three sacks, the first time a pair of Tar Heels did so – ever – in one game.
Abou-Jaoude now has seven sacks in his past three games, pushing his ACC-leading total to 10. All seven of Thompson's sacks came during North Carolina's past four games.
UNC's pass rush duo, one of the ACC's best, is quietly becoming a top unit across the entire country.
UNC's offensive inconsistencies are puzzling
Nov 8, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Jordan Shipp (1) scores a touchdown in the fourth quarter at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
UNC's offense started the 2025 season playing hot early, scoring on seemingly every opening drive. Now, the Tar Heels start slow in the first half, but finish the game strong.
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North Carolina totaled 253 yards Saturday night, with 206 of those coming after halftime. Bill Belichick said he wants those inconsistencies fixed going forward.
House and Andrew Simpson are a top LB duo in the ACC
Nov 8, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels linebacker Khmori House (7) reacts after intercepting the ball in the third quarter at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
The Tar Heels have a thing for producing talent at linebacker. This year, it's House and Simpson, who shined on Saturday afternoon.
House totaled a whopping 13 tackles, including eight of the solo variety. House also picked off Brown once, while deflecting a key pass late in the fourth quarter.
Simpson was all over the field, too: six tackles (three solo), two sacks, two TFLs, a quarterback hurry and forced fumble.
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Shipp and Kobe Paysour are great complements at WR
Nov 8, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Kobe Paysour (8) catches the ball as Stanford Cardinal cornerback Brandon Nicholson (9) defends in the third quarter at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Shipp is UNC's clear WR1, totaling 467 yards and four touchdowns through nine games. Paysour, who started 2025 slow, is stepping up as a senior leader with 285 yards and a score of his own.
Shipp and Paysour combined for 137 receiving yards during Saturday's win against Stanford. If the Tar Heels want to make a bowl game, Shipp and Paysour need to continue playing at their current level.
North Carolina will make a bowl game playing complementary football
UNC football coach Bill Belichick during a press conference on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025 inside the Kenan Football Center.
Belichick praised his team's defense after Saturday's win, saying they give the Tar Heels a chance to win games. Nine sacks did the trick. North Carolina's offense woke up in the second half, scoring 17 points, but looked abysmal in the first half.
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UNC isn't playing knockout football by any stretch, but definitely good enough to win two more games. The Tar Heels need their defense to counter Wake Forest's strong unit next weekend, while offense needs to make enough plays to win.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC football: Five takeaways from Week 11 win over Stanford
