SAM HOWELL

In Las Vegas, which bills itself as the “Entertainment Capital of the World,” an NFL draft bereft of star quarterback prospects wouldn’t seem a fit.

Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder threw two touchdown passes and the National team’ had eight sacks in a 20-10 victory over the American team in the Senior Bowl on Saturday.

The pass rushers did their best to steal the show from quarterbacks Desmond Ridder and Kenny Pickett in the Senior Bowl. Cincinnati's Ridder threw two touchdown passes and the National team had eight sacks in a 20-10 victory over the American team Saturday. “We didn't come out here to lollygag through it," Minnesota defensive lineman Boye Mafe said.

The NFL announced that 73 underclassmen have been granted special eligibility for the draft, the fewest in the last seven years.

North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell is forgoing his senior season to enter the NFL draft.

Devin Leary threw two touchdown passes in a 26-second span, with No. 24 North Carolina State recovering an onside kick in between, to stun North Carolina 34-30 on Friday night and remain alive in the ACC Atlantic Division title chase.

Kenny Pickett hit Lucas Krull for an 11-yard touchdown pass in overtime as No. 25 Pittsburgh held off North Carolina 30-23.

Ty Chandler ran for career highs of 213 yards and four touchdowns and North Carolina overcame an 18-point deficit to beat No. 10 Wake Forest 58-55 on Saturday, handing the Demon Deacons their first loss in a nonconference matchup of instate Atlantic Coast Conference teams.

Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson and Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett headline The Associated Press' list of midseason football honorees for the Atlantic Coast Conference.

The Miami Hurricanes dropped their fourth game of the season on Saturday to North Carolina, falling 45-42 at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. “Then, it was full speed to the end zone.”UNC piled more points on the Hurricanes later in the quarter. Dominating the second quarter, UNC scored 17 of the 24 points posted during the frame. Knighton scored a trio of touchdowns, his first coming in the second quarter, but two important plays followed in the second half. As it hung in the air for two seconds, Gray sprung to the ball for his second interception of the game, sealing the Hurricanes’ fate.

Miami was in position to tie or win when reaching the North Carolina 16-yard line in the final minute, but linebacker Cedric Gray intercepted a tipped pass with 6 seconds left.

The last time Miami and North Carolina stepped on the same turf, almost nothing went right for the Hurricanes. On a cooler, mid-December afternoon in Miami Gardens, graduate quarterback D’Eriq King and the then No. Former North Carolina running backs Michael Carter and Javonte Williams, now each competing professionally in the NFL, combined for all but 10 of those yards, setting a new Football Bowl Subdivision record. Starters, including King and offensive linemen Corey Gaynor and Jalen Rivers, have been sidelined to season-ending injuries ahead of UM’s rematch with North Carolina (3-3, 2-3 ACC) inside Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on Saturday. The 6-foot-1 native of Indian Trail, North Carolina, then rushed for 108 yards versus Florida State Saturday.

North Carolina's Sam Howell is a Heisman Trophy candidate and the headliner of the Atlantic Coast Conference's class of experienced returning quarterbacks.

Texas A&M head coach Jumbo Fisher raises his hands during the trophy presentation at the Orange Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Texas A&M defeated North Carolina 41-27. 14 North Carolina 41-27 on Saturday night — capping a winless bowl season for the Atlantic Coast Conference. North Carolina: The Tar Heels gave up 24 points in the fourth quarter, after allowing just 17 points in the first 45 minutes. North Carolina still could finish ranked for only the fourth time in the last 27 seasons. North Carolina: An ACC opponent likely awaits in Week 1 next season.

13 CFP) in the 87th edition of the Orange Bowl. “I always say this: The Orange Bowl is as good as it gets,” Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher said Friday. Thing is, neither of those running backs — Michael Carter and Javonte Williams — chose to play in the Orange Bowl. “That’s 4,000 yards worth of offense and our leading tackler on defense and two captains,” North Carolina coach Mack Brown said. With them gone, it means even more pressure will be on North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell.

20 North Carolina embarrassed No. Carter ran for 308 yards and two touchdowns, while Williams had 236 yards and three touchdowns for the Tar Heels (8-3, 7-3 Atlantic Coast Conference). Sam Howell threw for a score, ran for a score and caught a TD pass for the Tar Heels. And when those rankings are updated Tuesday night, the Tar Heels will more than likely jump the Hurricanes; Miami was No. 10 in those rankings this past week, seven spots clear of North Carolina.

23 North Carolina State 48-21 on Saturday in the first meeting with both rivals ranked in the AP Top 25 since 1993. And it came two weeks after Carter and Williams powered the Tar Heels to 399 yards rushing in a win against Virginia Tech. But N.C. State managed 34 yards rushing and had four turnovers. UNC: The Tar Heels had won six straight games before last weekend’s loss at FSU. UNC: The Tar Heels visit Virginia next Saturday.

North Carolina running back Javonte Williams (25) scores a touchdown against Virginia Tech during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

19 Virginia Tech. 19 Virginia Tech 56-45 on Saturday. Khalil Herbert ran for 138 yards and two touchdowns for Virginia Tech (2-1, 2-1), which again played shorthanded due to coronavirus and injury issues. “North Carolina’s explosive on offense,” Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente said. Things got closer, but the Tar Heels rolled with an offense that looked equally as prolific whether throwing or running.

North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Sam Howell drops back to pass against the Miami Hurricanes during the first half at Kenan Stadium on Sept. 07, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. CORAL GABLES, Fla. - The Miami Hurricanes see signs of improvement despite a slow start to their season. I mean, we didn't win the game and all, but as an offense it was a positive for us. We need to execute, we need to finish, we need to learn how to finish as a team." It's a stretch of five straight games at Hard Rock Stadium for the Canes that includes: Central Michigan, Virginia Tech, Virginia, and Georgia Tech.

North Carolina's Dazz Newsome dives to make a catch in front of Miami's DJ Ivey (8) and Romeo Finley #(30) during the second half at Kenan Stadium on Sept. 07, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Tar Heels won 28-25. CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Sam Howell found Dazz Newsome just inside the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown with 1:01 left to help North Carolina rally past Miami 28-25 on Saturday night. Grant Halverson/Getty Images North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Sam Howell drops back to pass against the Miami Hurricanes during the first half at Kenan Stadium on Sept. 07, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Howell was unflappable in the closing moments, sending North Carolina to its first 2-0 start since 2014.

The Tigers won their last national championship in 2010 by holding off Oregon 22-19 in the pre-playoff era. These two have been going at it annually since 2010, when Fisher succeeded Bobby Bowden at Florida State. 8 Florida at MissouriAP Photo/Jeff Roberson Missouri Tigers quarterback Kelly Bryant throws during practice, Aug. 12, 2019, in Columbia, Missouri. In fact, Alabama is only team to participate in every College Football Playoff since it began during the 2014 season. The Gators snapped a five-game losing steak to Florida State with a 41-14 win in Tallahassee last year.