North Carolina vs TCU | Full Game | Aug 29, 2026 | College Football Classic 2026

Away for the Horn Frogs. We missed you very much. Welcome back, college football. It's so for a touchback. And so we do get to watch Billy Edwards, sixth year senior at his fourth school as you saw from Wake Forest to Maryland to Wisconsin where Jordan last year basically missed the whole season due to the knee injury. Yeah, he was the opening day starter for Wisconsin. Was hurt in that game. Came back a couple weeks later, but just attempted 16 passes all of last year. So, you wonder, is there a little bit of rust? Also in

a new system with new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino. A lot to watch for North Carolina on this side of the ball. Offense a problem last year for the Tar Hills who moved on from then offensive coordinator Freddy Kitchens and hired indeed Bobby Petrino. Ben Hall is the running back to start for North Carolina. [cheering] Edwards quick one to his talented tight end Galani Thurman with a burst pass the 40 for the Ohio State transfer wrapped up by Gil Jackson after 20. Well, this is a guy to watch the transfer from Ohio State. They want to

find ways to get him the ball and Bobby Vrino on the first play. A little bit of a delay on the right side. He's going to block down fake. a little screen. Get your playmaker in space. He's 66, 245 lbs, and they will find plenty of ways To get him involved. Bill Bich said to us yesterday, Galani Thurman is one of their best overall players. Looking for tight end productivity this year after he said they had none of it last year. First run, it's Ben Hall. Solidly built at 230 lbs off the right side with

former North Carolina linebacker Michael Short on the stop. Yeah, this TCU defense replacing a lot on that side of the ball. They lost four of their top five tacklers from last year. You heard the name Michael Short, a transfer from Virginia Tech. That linebacker group is inexperienced. They're going to need them to come along, especially with how much Bobby Petrino, North Carolina wants to run the football and get that ground game going early here in this game. Second down and seven from right around midfield. Edwards across the middle that is caught by Thurman. He gets

spun down into the red zone by Julius Sims and Galani Thurman has entered the chat. Well Jim, it would be a different story and the first drive it already is for this offense. Ben Hall straight up the middle for about three. Anel Deepu on the stop for TCU. Yeah, this is the area that North Carolina really needs to improve. Explosive plays. We already saw one to open up this game to Galani Thurman. That's why they brought Bobby Petrino. Year in and year out, he has one of the most explosive offenses in the country. Last year,

they're worst in about every category on the offensive side. So, something's got to change. New quarterback, new system for Bill Bich, and already paying dividends. most recently two years for Bobby Katrino as the offensive coordinator at Arkansas where they really turned it around from the numbers before he arrived. Edwards taking a shot for the end zone. Little too tall for Mason Humphrey with Vernon Glover in coverage. TCU brought the blitz that time, forced that throw. A little errant, a little too long, and now it sets up a big third down here for North Carolina. This

is such a good drive. Protection is going to be the issue here. The offensive line has had a bunch of new faces. It's one of the biggest question mark. They lost all five starters. Can they hold up here on third and long? And you saw Andy Avalos, thirdyear defensive coordinator. What does he cook up for TCU? First third down for Carolina. Edwards to the outside that is caught by Jordan Ship. Well, if you have free access, which means no flat defender. You got to take it. And they actually played soft on the outside to the

left there, which left the free access. And Jordan Ship, the number one wide receiver from last year, is going to take that all day. Look at this. Nobody playing underneath. Nobody in what we call the flats. That's as easy as it gets on third and seven. You talked about that with Billy Edwards yesterday. Early in games that can settle you in. Take the easy access when it presents itself. On first and goal, it's Ben Hall. Stayed on his feet and he is marked down at the one. Ben Hall. He was actually the backup running back

last year getting a start today because of the type of offseason he had. I mean, he's 5'11, 230 lbs. Gained a bunch of muscle and explosiveness in the weight room this off season. Came down, see there, just a yard or two short. The spot actually might have been a little bit better than where he went down. So, it sets up the eighth play of the drive for North Carolina. Another give and Hall. He is blasted behind the line of scrimmage. Anel Dimoo, the senior defensive tackle, the first one to meet him. And it's third down

and goal. Boy, watch these linebackers just [music] come flying down for TCU. We talked about Michael Short, Max Carroll. That group had to play really well and that time a big stop actually backed them up a yard. Now it's third and a long two. [music] What do you like here? Third down and two for North Carolina. Well, find Galani Thurman, right? He's going to be split to the right side. Stand up. I'd expect him to exploit a matchup if you get him on a safety right here or a nickel. Cahuna in motion. Edwards for his

progression back in the end zone. Incomplete intended for Galani Thurman. And it's fourth down and goal. Oh, this is great coverage from Jordan Lester, the safety. He's going to track. They're trying to do a backline throw here to Thurman. This ball needs to be a little higher from Billy Edwards. You want to throw this at the goal post. Let your receiver go up and get it. So, a little behind and not high enough. He did have a hand in his face. Marcus Deal was there with the pressure and probably caused that eron throw. Lester stepping

in. He slammed it on the sour last night at dinner. Aaron Burrell, stronglegged LSU transfer, sends one for a touchback. Well, from Harvard to Hornfrog, fifth year senior Jaden Craig. He replaces Josh Hoover now at Indiana. Yeah, not really a runner, just 78 rushing yards last year, but he's athletic. He can make you miss and keeps his eyes downfield. So many plays he can evade the rush and he always is a threat to throw it downfield. And this is [music] some of the arm talent. Pressure in his face on his back foot with a guy

right in front of him puts this one on the money 45, 50 yards downfield. The intangibles are there. He could have been a late round NFL draft pick. He wants to improve that draft stock, which is why he transferred to TCU to prove he can do it at this level. And again, the buzz on him talking with the TCU staff is large again to Jeremy Paint running back. They want to feed a lot. It's five and a half with Greg Smith in on the stop. And remember, their three-year starter Josh Hoover transferred to Indiana. He's

their starter now. And he's got a chance to compete for a Heisman trophy in my opinion. So big shoes to fill, but also new officer. Kendall Bryle's off to South Carolina. Gordy Samis from Yukon. A whole new system here on offense. Craig Rolls takes the easy access to his tight end Ki Ashley who gets wrangled down very close to the sticks by Payton Sealman. Good enough for a first down. And remember TCU coming into this game with a completely rebuilt wide receiver room. A couple transfers in there. Jeremy Scott from South Alabama and no Jordan

Dwire, their number one wide receiver. Had 136 yards and a touchdown in this game against North Carolina last year. They're without him. So, new quarterback in a new system at a new level with a lot of new faces around him. A lot of pressure on Sunny Dikes to get this thing going early. And Dwire was a game time decision, but then announced before the game that he's out with a sprained foot suffered a few weeks ago. Payne again the running lane hits the gas. Jeremy Payne hawkked down right near the 20 by Jaden Patterson. All

right, so this is called outside zone or stretch. This is new for TCU. Everybody going to be moving lateral, but keep an eye on 88. This is a great redirect block there on Abu Xiao. And that's what sprung Jeremy Payne. But a new wrinkle and a new scheme, especially in the running game for TCU. A lot more lateral runs. They're going to stretch the field sideline to sideline. They use all 53 and a third. That was one thing when we talked to Bill Bich, he was concerned about. He said they'll make you guard the run

on one side, but they also have a pass on the other side. You can see it's working early. Bubble screen to the edge for Ed Small. He gets taken down after a short game. Brings up third down. for the big question coming in today. Who was going to be calling plays on the defensive side for North Carolina? Steve Bellich away for medical reasons most of August. Bill told us yesterday it was going to kind of be a joint effort. Brian Bellich and Bill himself both had walkie-talkies yesterday at practice. Going to be kind of a

joint effort on that side. When we asked them, Bill Bich only said, quote, "Collectively, we'll do it as a staff." Third down and six. Craig steps up under pressure. Incomplete in the direction of Kamori and Pimpton. Xavier Lewis brought the pressure and it's fourth down. Oh, it was a great game on the right side. You're going to get a twist here and you're going to get number 11 Jaylen Harvey coming over the top and really putting Noah McKini right into the lap Of Jaden Craig. And that's what caused the initial pressure. You want to get

backside maybe would have had a guy open but too much pressure from that North Carolina front. Arty the transfer from Penn State. So from 31 yds, Kyle Limmerman is out for the field goal. He got hot down the stretch in camp and won the job after a back andforth battle with Nate Mcashlin and Kyle Limmerman is good. Couple field goals to start midway through the first quarter in Dublin. Dividends John Ho chance moves one away for another touchback. Billy Edwards and this North Carolina offense back to it for their second draft. We mentioned what they

did last year. a day, nine plays, 73 yards, and he said a different feel to it. Yeah. And I didn't didn't observe any rust, right? And we talked to Billy yesterday whether he would feel like he'd have any rust. He said, "I'm not sure. I need to get a couple easy throws underneath my belt, maybe get hit once or twice before I feel like I'm in the rhythm of the game, but he looked really sharp on that first drive." Exactly the type of quarterback you'd expect a Bill Bich team to have. Smart, cerebral, gets rid

of the ball quickly, and plays well from the pocket. The second drive starts from the 25 with Edwards in rhythm. Sailed it out of the reach of Jordan Ship and nearly picked Off by Vernon Glover. Dana, well Jordan, you said he came out strong in the first drive. He also told us this week that this is the healthiest he's been in his college football career. Really interesting. He's been working with assistant strength coach Rodney Hutchinson, who's a former Carolina baseball player, on both his lower and upper body mechanics, not just the arm rotation, but also

his lower body rotation. You know something about that as a quarterback. Yeah, his velocity looked much improved just from what I looked at on tape from 2024. That one maybe a little wet. You know, it's not raining, but it's the ball's a little slick down there. Got a little away from him on that throw. Keeps it on the ground for about seven on that healthier knee. Third down and short coming up. There's a front left knee. We're talking about the mechanics with him of throwing and planting in the torque required after his PCL injury last

year in Wisconsin. North Carolina one for two on third downs on the opening drive. They need three. Edwards under pressure and set. Inel Dimoo gets home with Paul Oay Wall as well. Oh, it's just a one-on-one move from Dimoo working right here On the right guard. You can see Billy Edwards working to the left side. I think he's trying to get the ball to Jordan Ship here. has to hold on to it a little bit longer than he wanted to and Aiden Banfield couldn't hold up. Boy, fast start for Anel Dimoo, captain of this team.

Second year at TCU after two years at Washington State. This one sent away to the 42 and taken up the sideline by Ed Small all the way back toward the 25 on a great return for the Horn Frogs. Boy, just an errant kick. I think that one was obviously supposed to go deeper, but maybe even a little more down the middle or to the right. only had two cover defenders to that side, three to the other side. Now, great field position for Jaden Craig, their new quarterback in this TCU offense. And that was one of

North Carolina's kickers. Strong legs, Aaron Burrell, not Jacob Horvath or Adam McCam Gibbs who handled the punt. So, a a short field and sudden change for TCU from the 25. Craig with all day to throw sideline. He's got small back into his normal number 18. Good enough for a first down. Melcart Abu Sha. He's a superstar defensive end for North Carolina. Second team ACC last year. 10 and a half sacks. Making his way off the field. Yeah, that's not a good sign. He He's got a chance to be the best pass rusher in the entire

country this year. Had one more sack than Ruben Bane last year in four less games. Bane went 15th overall. Hope that's just a quick look at something. Not a serious injury. Fresh set of downs going to give to John Deadman. Tumbles forward down to the seven. Dana, from my vantage point down here, Mel Park got rolled up on the last sack he had against Jaden Craig. So, momentarily, they're going to be without him. I'll keep you guys posted when he comes out of the locker room. Really important piece on the North Carolina defense. Demond again

off the left side. Demond swiped down on a good tackle by Greg Smith. Boy, this is that wrinkle, right? Perimeter runs and it takes blocking on the outside. You're going to get a receiver. This run is attacking the perimeter, but receivers's got a block. And watch the block coming in right here on the outside. Almost gets Denman into the end zone. It was Mason Peterson there holding up on the outside. So, good enough for a first down. Sets up first and goal from the two for TCU. Out of the pistol, Denmond broke a tackle. stayed

on his feet. Touchdown for Frogs. Short field for TCU and they promptly cash in. Boy, they're in a two tight end set here. I want you to see both tight ends over here. And all they got to do is seal that endman on the line of scrimmage. There's nobody else outside, so they seal him. Pimpton doesn't even have anybody to block. That is a misalignment from North Carolina. They don't have anybody for that outside gap because they didn't adjust to the two tight end set there from TCU. That run game rolling early for the Horn

Frogs. Kyle Leverman is get on the extra point. Yeah, we saw a lot of Jeremy Payne on the first drive. John Deadman gets the call after Ed Small's return and TCU's got the first touchdown. John Deadman punches it in and the Hornfrogs lead in the first from Ireland. First quarter, John Hoy chance another touchback. And college football action continues next right here on ESPN with NC State visiting Virginia in a soldout Charlottesville for the first time since 2008. Then at 7:30, Alabama&M takes on Howard in Atlanta on ABC with both games [music] also available on

the ESPN app. Oh, a really good first drive which means Bobby Petrino scripted his first 15 plays really well. Now they're off the script, right? drive three. How do You find ways to get Jordan Ship, your best wide receiver, involved? Get a few more ways to get Galani Thurman, your tight end, back involved. See a quick drive on that second one after a stellar opening drive from North Carolina. TCU was offside on the kickoff. So, Carolina begins from the 30. Play fake. Billy Edwards on the roll. Takes the second level and finds Trench Kakahuna into

plus territory. the Wisconsin transfer. Shifty out of the slot for 22. And a great job getting Billy Edwards Jr. outside the pocket, getting him really clearing things out of the way. Anytime you have a a tough drive early in the game, you want to get your quarterback back comfortable even after a really good first drive. So, get him outside the pocket. Clear the picture for him. Four of seven to start. Edwards rifles. Got it inside the 30 to a sliding Jordan ship. Had the breakout season last year. Good huck up there for 19. Yeah, and

that is Billy Edwards Jr.'s favorite concept, four verts. I asked him yesterday, "What do you like to throw?" He said, "Forvers." He said, "Why?" He said, "Well, you got so many options, so many adjustments." And that was actually a great adjustment by Jordan Ship there. He was trying to get to the outside. The defender was there, so he went right up the seam and Edwards hit him right on the money. Bobby Petrino told us yesterday, they have to find ways to get Jordan Ship the football. Fresh out of the downs from the 30. A screen

out of the reach of Galani Thurman, the tight end. John Shoble read that one the whole way. We've seen that, right? We saw that play on the first drive and it worked out well. This defense is like, "No, you ain't doing that twice in a row." We know who 45 is now. Had the two big ones for 55 yds on North Carolina's opening drive. Second down and 10. Jaylen McIll remains the running back spelling Ben Hall. Off the play fit. Edwards cuts it back and gets wiped down for a sack. Marcus Deal, the experienced senior

defensive tackle for a loss of three. So watch Galani Thurman right here. He's going to try to get over the football, but he runs into some traffic right here and he's late getting across the field. So, Billy Edwards is looking for him. You see that? He runs right into Jamal Johnson. So, now he's not where Edwards is expecting. No one to throw the football to. And now third and long on what was a good [music] drive. Let's see if they can keep it alive here. Probably in the dicey spot with a uncertain field goal kicking

game for North Carolina. So, they run it on third and long. It's McIll. He gets about five or six back. Max Carroll in on the stop. Fourth down coming up and the offense does remain on the field. Yeah, I mean that was the decision the whole way. It's the only reason you run it there on third long. You know you're Bill Bich. You already told Bobby Petrino, hey, you got two here now on fourth and seven. Jordan Ship and Galani Thurman. Delani to the left side of the quarterback. Shift to the right. Ship now in

motion. They need seven. Fiveman rush. Edwards zips it complete to Jordan Ship. A fourth down conversion. First down and goal for North Carolina. Yeah. Well, here's why. Jamal Johnson comes on a safety blitz right down the middle. So, nobody left over the middle of the football. You got a veteran quarterback. He's going to throw right into the void from the blitz. Three drafts for Ship as North Carolina goes up tempo. McIll cut back. Touchdown. Jaylen McIll waltses through from 9 yds out. And North Carolina responds. Well, we've said Galani Thurman's name a lot. Watch him

climb to the second level here and get on Jamal Johnson. Remember him and Jamal ran into each other on a pass play. This time Thurman kicks him out and Jaylen McIll able to get right up underneath for the touchdown. Jaylen McIll had just seven carries as a true freshman last year. He gets his first career touchdown and the first six Of the season for Atlanta. Former fourstar, really talented. You know, the coaches told us he's kind of the guy we like out of the backfield catching the football, but they were really excited about his talent

as a whole being a young running back getting some run for one of the first times on a big stage. All right, so let's take stock of what we've seen from North Carolina's offense. Again, Bobby Patrino taking over as offensive coordinator. Two very good drives of the first three. Yeah, Billy Edwards is is managing the game. The ball is going where it's designed to go. They've done a couple gadget plays to get their tight end involved. They found ways to get Jordan Ship involved on third downs, on fourth downs. But remember, this quarterback competition was

framed as not being over. Miles O'Neal, the Texas&M transfer, as they were, they needed to get better. They were 100th in the country. And you're seeing the stretch play, the outside zone, get the defense moving laterally, find the hole in Jeremy Payne, has been so good. He's never ran the stretch play before this year, but he already looks like a natural. John Denman the backup as well. This has been a perimeter assault from Gordy Samus, the new offensive coordinator who came over from Yukon and that was really the story of his time at Yukon. It

led the country in yards on perimeter runs in North Carolina, excuse me, TCU last year was one. See where the yardage has come from for TCU. Jake Craig zips one up the seam and he's got it to Camoran Pipton makes a couple men miss inside the 40. finally dragged down by Payton Sealman not before 40. Boy, and that's why people were excited about Jaden Craig. Watch him [music] look this Safety off. He's going to move this safety so he can hit Pimpton right down the scene. This is big time stuff. He He knows all he

got to do is hold him and he does and delivers a laser under pressure. Second chunk play for TCU of at least 40. Here's Major Everheart. He gets popped behind the line of scrimmage. Jaden Patterson got there. It's a loss of two as we tick down in the first. See Bill Bich heavily involved in the play calling today. Brian Bichc we believe is upstairs calling the plays. Bill obviously you see the paper in hand scripting plays having a lot of input with this defense as you'd expect. one of the greatest of all time. Defend the

stretch play. You got to get penetration. It's a really good job of getting north and south as a defender to at least try to bump Payne wide, right? He slipped through that, but you got to start to get penetration to slow down the perimeter runner. You got no shot. Jackson, a red shirt sophomore. Last year had a strong season, but he was a starter as a red shirt freshman. So, it backs up TCU to third down and 11. from just outside the 35. Screen small wrapped up immediately. Melcart Abu Xia back into the game and

he sniffs it out. Boy, what a good sight to see one of the best pass rushers in The country back on the field for North Carolina. Went to the locker room, got checked out back there and already having an impact. Yeah, he was actually questionable to return with a hand injury, guys. So, upper body, not lower body like we thought earlier. So, if you're a UNCC fan, you're happy to see that beast of a player back on the field. It does look like he has a little extra tape on that left wrist. Something to keep

an eye on, but we expected maybe a lower body injury, so it's a good sign. TCU kept the offense on the field after some deliberation. Both teams were scrambling and you see Bill Bich not pleased as North Carolina was trying to align its personnel ahead of fourth down and 10. North Carolina first time out of the half. So we step aside first two minutes of the second quarter. Fourth and 10. You got to block number nine. Fourman rush. Craig with time across the middle. Batted ball by Greg Smith to force a turnover on DS. Got

a little bit of a forced throw from Jaden Craig. Abuja actually comes over the top on a stunt and kind of overran the pocket. You see him there right in front of Craig. Just too good a coverage from Greg Smith there on Pimpson. Nowhere to go with the football. That's [music] well done by Smith. Forcing Jaden Craig, Sunonny Dice offense off the fields. So, first couple minutes in the second quarter and it is still Billy Edwards operating for North Carolina. Edwards on the last drive, three of four for 58 yds and is five completions of

at least 18 yds today. Changing play in the line of scrimmage to a run. Dan Hall is dropped by Michael Short. Started his career at North Carolina under M. Brown. You mentioned that transferred in after last year at Virginia Tech. That was a guy that Andy Avalos, the defense coordinator for TCU, mentioned. We need him to step up. Hasn't really been a starter. Wasn't with us, you know, years ago. Wasn't at Virginia Tech really. Thrust into a starting role today and already made a few plays. Low snap on second down. On the slant, it's Jordan

Shep for a first down just shy of midfield for 13. It's a really good job of just waiting. See this slant to the right side takes a second longer than Edwards probably thought. Ship had to in man coverage make an extra move in the top of that route. Did a good job of being patient. Still delivering a strike. So four for 59 for Jordan Ship who Bobby Patrino said to us he's the one with all the experience and ability among our pass catchers. Fresh set of downs and Ben Hall lowers the shoulder on Jamal Johnson

star safety for TCU. About three or four on the run. That's what Jamal Johnson does so well. He he plays on the back end, but he can come and meet a a running back at the line of scrimmage. The second leading tackler for TCU last year, second team all Big 12. Also had five interceptions. It's a defense that has to replace Bud Clark at safety. Three-time captain, second round pick of the Seahawks. Two running back look for North Carolina. De Man June, leading rusher for Carolina last year. Now zero in white into the game for

the first time. Blocking for Hall. Looking for a cut back. Flanked down as Hall breaks a tackle. Stumbles inside the 30. But a penalty marker back right around midfield. Illegal block in the back. Offense number zero. 10 yd penalty. Second down. Mike Roach with the best Boston accent this side of the Atlantic Ocean. Dean June there missed his initial block and then tried to recover but clipped the defender in the back. So what was a great read and cut by Ben Hall is going to back North Carolina up. Wipes out 21 on the Hall run.

First Carolina penalty today. Yeah, we'll show it to you right here. Watch June lead block. He misses and then tries to come back and just clips the defender. Max Carroll in the back. So, second down and long for the Tarheelss. Play fake trying to set up the screen and Billy Edwards just darts it. Third and long. Paul Owen there. Read that the whole way. Really good recognition from TCU. [music] So, a couple times now that North Carolina forced into third down and long. One of four on third downs so far today. Jaylen McIll. the third

down back. Edwards crosser incomplete and then nearly intercepted by Jamal Johnson on a pass intended for the freshman CJ Sadler. Yeah, really good pocket. But watch all the defenders just sitting back with eyes on Billy Edwards. Everybody knowing where the sticks are, where they're trying to get to that ball again just a hair behind. Remember he was a little behind to Galani Thurman in the end zone earlier. So that's twice on big important downs that Billy Edwards has been just off by a foot or so before forcing the punt. Aaron Burrell who mis hit one

last time. Handling the punting duties at the start for North Carolina. He gets this one away. Ed Small lets it bounce. Picks it up at the 12 and gets a few back. When we maybe uh on camera it's on point too. You never know. TCU takes over as John Dentman off the right side. Nothing doing it there. Leroy Jackson on the stop. A good start from this TCU offense though. Really impressed with Gordon Samis and his ability to go from relatively unknown 10 years ago at Virginia Military Institute coaching O line to now calling plays

not just at Yukon. They went back toback nine win seasons had a ton of success there. But we asked him about standing across the field from Bill Bich, a guy that grew up in the New Jersey area, big Giants fans, and he even had the same red starter jacket that Bill used to wear. And now just 10 years removed from Virginia Military Institute calling plays against one of the greatest of all time, if not the greatest in Bill Bellich. Second and seven. Craig shovel pass got it to the sideline and a big hit. Levi catch

complete for about three along the sideline. Melcart Abu Xiao Jonathan Oumadu in on the play for Carolina. Watch the crossover move here. He he like swipes the ball right in front of Jaylen Harvey here. I mean I don't love That for ball security but found any way to get rid of the ball. Almost lost it there. Harvey got a swipe on the wall. Little bit of the athleticism. Harbor transfer. So they get three to pay on the chest pass. [cheering] And you see TCU 0 for three on third downs. Craig steps up, checks it down.

It's small to the 30 for a first down and a chain mover for the Horn Frogs. This is such a good job from Jaden Craig stepping up in the pocket and not forcing the ball into tight coverage. You can roll it. Watch as he steps up. There's nowhere to go with the football over the middle. instead of forcing it, finds his check down and picks up a first down. They go quickly and on first down that's caught by Jeremy Scott. And that is one of the reasons that Sunny Dykes brought [bell] Gordon Samus because of

his ability to have quarterbacks not turn the football over and Jaden Craig as well. Jaden only has 12 interceptions in three years at Harvard. Remember Josh Hoover threw 13 last year, had over 40 turnovers in his three years at TCU. That's been a big issue. So, you can already tell Samus' ability to coach a quarterback into finding checkdowns, not forcing the football, limiting turnovers. One of the things Sunny Dykes said was paramount for this offense this year. Jeremy Payne off the left side for Chuck Gain on a second down run. Good enough for another first

down. I tell you what, North Carolina has no answer for the stretch. Just absolutely no answer. Look at there is no contain. No one pushing up from the second level to contain Jeremy Payne to force him back to the inside. This perimeter run game is having their way so far. Bill Bich said to us yesterday, TCU runs the stretch play every possible way you can run it. Craig with all day to throw on first down the sideline. incomplete intended for Ed Small. And it all fits together, right? I mean, you're talking about Gordy Samus, the

lack of turnovers, and then this new identity of running the ball and running the wide zone and it all ties together trying to play a smarter brand of football for this TCU program. Yeah. And when you're able to have success in the run game like that, then the play actions where you saw the roll outs there. You get defense going one direction, you bring the quarterback or the pass concept opposite that. That's why Yukon was so explosive last year. They were top 25 in explosive plays because they ran the football well and play action pass

off. See you hit yards of pop on the ground. Payne again got the sideline with a flag flying behind the play. Holding offense from the 56 10 yd penalty. Second down. It's the left tackle Ben Taylor Whitfield, senior captain and thirdyear starter. But we talked about the ground game for TCU and this caught your eye. The way Yukon got so many of its rushing yards on the perimeter last year led by Gordy Samus compared to how TCU had been doing it with Kendall Brows. Yeah, TCU was much more of a between the tackle zone RPO

tempo type offense. And Gordy much more of a pro style. Let's attack the perimeter. Let's play action pass off that. But a perfect fit for what Sunny Dykes wanted and what he wanted to change in this offense. screen and that's sailed too tall for Kari Ashley trying to set up the tight end screen and third down and a mile. Oh, this is one that Jane Craig's going to want back. There was a lot of room to run after that. That's one of those that you try you see you're wide open, you try to throw it

hard to get it there quick. If you would have just taken a little bit off it, throw it up over the defender, you'd have had a big play. 10 points each in the first. No points yet in the second. TCU one of four on third downs. They need 20. Craig on the back pedal and the screen incomplete. Xavier Lewis applied some pressure. Fourth down and long. And the Horn Frogs will punt. Boy, Leroy Jackson was all over that. Bill Bich happy with how his defense especially up front has adjusted to the passing game, right? running

game. Still got some things to fix on the sideline, but a great stop there after the holding call backed up TCU. Good to see Abu Xiao back into the game for Carolina. Tekkahuna ready to get it from John Ho Chance the Louisiana Tech transfer athletic to go up and get that first in the country. That is what's been holding back this North Carolina program. Take over from just inside their own 30. Edwards steps up and takes off and Billy Edwards slides down past the 40 with first down yardage for North Carolina. Well, it's a great

job. He's going to step up in the pocket and see that there's no eyes on him. So, he's going to take off right down the middle and that's the one thing that remember Andy Avalos yesterday said he was really concerned about the run fits and the quarterback stepping up in the pocket and taking off. Billy's not really like a a true runner, but he's willing to take off and use his athleticism, and he'll hurt you just like that. Yeah, talking to Billy Edwards yesterday, there's certainly some of that in his game. Hall cut down by

Jamal Johnson. And we talked about Bonnie Patrino taking over in this offense. Well, North Carolina came out in the first quarter today, 10 points in the first, matching the most in a first quarter under Bill Bich. 141 total yards in the first quarter, the most in a first quarter in these now two seasons under Bill Bich. Well, Bobby Petrino, everywhere he's been, he walks off the bus with 400 yardds. So, I that was one of the most impressive hires in the country from Bill Bich to go get a guy that's proven he can do it

at every stop throughout his career. Second down and eight. Edwards sideline and incomplete. Jordan Shep had the long levered sophomore Gilt Jackson draped all over him. I love the throw and the trust. You got your one-on-one, your best wide receiver. Put the ball on the back shoulder. See if he can make a play. The thing to watch here, Jordan Ship doesn't have gloves on anymore. It's raining. Sometimes those gloves are actually worse in the rain. You see there, great throw. Just wasn't able to hold on to that one in the slick conditions. Third down. Where

do you look here for Billy Edwards? Well, you got Jalani Thurman in one-on-one to the top of your screen. If you like the matchup and nobody over the top, you look in that direction. Edwards looks that way. He steps up. He fires for Thurman and broken up by Jamal Johnson. Fourth down. Boy, the ball is a little late and I want to tell you why. The pass rush off the left side is going to force Billy Edwards to step up. Watch this pass rush right here. So, he's going to be a second late on this

throw because he has to step up and reset. If that ball is Already out, he's got time to make that and complete that. Thurman had a step. Instead, it's late and incomplete. Carolina 0 for its last five on third downs. Aaron Burrell back out and sets a high arcing punt and a fair catch signal from Edm 15. some of our Labor Day weekend college football. Sudden burst by Jeremy Payne straight ahead to pick up four. Sunny Dice and TCU is so excited about Jaden Craig. I mean, we were talking with Sunny Dice yesterday. He said,

"There are very few quarterbacks I've had where you feel like this kid could be one of the 32." Meaning starting quarterback at the next level. Sunny Dyke said to us, "We felt very fortunate to get Jaden Craig and they feel like he's being undersold nationally." Yeah, my eyes kind of raised a little bit when I heard Sunny say that. I mean, that's coming from a guy that hadn't stepped on the field against this type of competition, but you can tell the trust and the faith that Sunny has his skill set and abilities, and we've seen

a little bit of that. I I do think he needs to get in more of a rhythm, right? He's been holding on to the ball a little bit longer. I'd like to see some quicker throws for Jaden Craig. Start to get this new wide receiver group accustomed and comfortable. Remember, no Jordan Dwire their best receiver. He was a late scratch to this game. Ed Small has had a big game so far, but outside of that, haven't really had a ton of action on the outside for this new receiving group. It was five for Jeremy Payne

on the ground. So third down and one for TCU. Pay straight ahead for a first down to the 30. Caleb C in on the tackle. Well, I love watching Jeremy Payne run between the tackles. He's not a big guy. 5'10", 180 lbs. But watch how he gets skinny and he's patient to the hole here. Waits a step and as soon as he he sees that hole, he accelerates. He's got a great knack for balancing when to be patient and when to put your f your foot in the ground and and get going. Gordy Samus could

not have been more glowing with us talking about Jeremy Payne. Said he is super elusive and super intelligent in movement off the right side. Whitten Van Hoy is the right tackle for TCU. Ball start offense number 50 yd punt first down. I mean, they want to feed Jeremy Payne in this game and going forward as a focal point of what is going to be a new look offense. So, both offenses stuck in the mud a bit here in this second quarter. Gordy Samus backed up into first down and 15. Payne off the right side with

the vision and the patience and Payne gets swiped down at the 35 by Derek McDonald after 10. Great finish to last year for Jeremy Payne. Like we said, a couple of hundredyd games and then one of the best plays of Bullseoff touchdown in overtime to win the Alamo Bowl against USC. Well, he's going to be one to watch though. I mean, if this TCU run game is [music] as advertised for what we've seen so far in the first half, he's going to put up some monster numbers this year. 10 for 102 already for the junior

from Missouri City, Texas. Approaching two and a half to go until halftime. Payne again is blown up in the back field by Xavier Lewis. It's a loss of four. Wow. Watch Xavier Lewis come through here through the B gap, excuse me, the A gap there. And that's one thing, right? So when you have the outside run game, gaps do open up, right? Linemen are moving laterally in big like very quickly. So those linemen that can shoot a gap, get north and south, that's how you stop this perimeter run game. Great job. And of course, we'll

get the football back. It's still 149 to go until halftime. Jojo Troop takes it up the left side and gets swiped down shy of the 30. Oh, it is good to check in with Kevin Nagandhi for the first time. Mike, good afternoon. Lex's halftime report minutes away in our new studios. Booger McFarland, Kevin Nagandhi [music] alongside. 12-10. Not a lot of points here, B, but Bobby Petrino has made an impression. The new OC. Super impressed with both coordinators. TCU Gordon Samuels running the football. And then when you look at Bobby Petrino, this offense was put

last year. So far, so good. Kevin, be a key drive coming your way. Back to Mike and Jordan. Kevin Booger. Boy, the green suit looks good. And uh the new studio you're going to call home. Yeah, I'll get to hang out with Kevin Boo here next week on Saturdays. Watch some ball after our Friday nights, obviously. Yes. Travel pending, of course. All right, so North Carolina by two, 144 to go until halftime. We saw that TCU will get the football to begin the second half. Billy Edwards quick out and Tekkahuda the grab inbounds. He gets

wrapped up by Julia Sims. Yeah, something to keep an eye on as well as the rain continues to come down. Of all the quarterbacks we watched in practice this week, I think Billy probably struggled the most when the ball was wet and slick. Obviously, a good throw there and he's performed well so far. But the longer these footballers that are footballs are out in the rain, the slicker they get, the heavier they get as well. So, it could affect the passing game as we move forward. Glove on the left hand as he had on practice

Thursday. throws this one behind the intended target facing Humphrey. Third down and three with 107 to go until halftime. What a big opportunity here for Bill Bich in this offense to inject some confidence as they go into halftime. Remember, we thought we were going to see the other quarterback, Miles O'Neal, the transfer from Texas A&M, but Billy Edwards has been managing this offense at a high level. Conditions not great. So, some points here at the end of the half would be great for this this offense. They pitch it. Jaylen Miguel steps through. Banged down at

the 45 by Jordan Lester. Nine yd pickup. A minute to go until halftime. Oh, we've said Galani Thurman's name a lot. Watch him motion down and then crack this defensive end. Boom. And then you get the left tackle. Jordan Hall out on the perimeter. Didn't block anybody, but it didn't matter cuz the crack block was so good from Thurman. Two timeouts to work with for Carolina. Crosser Kakahuna spanning dropped the football. Max Carroll recovers and TCU gets the takeaway heading toward halftime. Dean Craig pre- snap whistles here. He just set the game clock at 47

seconds, he'll start on the snap. So instead of 46, an extra tick to work with for Jaden Craig. And by all accounts, you talk about him operating the two-minute drill, Sunonny Dikes, Gordy Sam, they had so much praise for the person, the poise, they didn't think the bigger stage would face him a whole lot. Yeah. Said he's wired the right way. Just loves ball. studies ball all the time from the 45. Quick hitter is incomplete Off the fingertips of Dane Jones, the sophomore making his collegiate debut. Boy, this one's on Dane Jones. He kind of

starts to square up and not run through this. Jaden Craig expecting Jones to continue to run. That was a really good ball. One Jones should have brought down. Guy who had a good camp. Gordy Samis said to us that Dane Jones would play a lot again. No Jordan Dwire. Top wide out for the Horn Frogs. On second down, Craig got rid of it. Complete along the edge and a broken tackle by Jeremy Payne into plus territory. Sevenyd pickup. And now after the clock ticked for a few more seconds, we get a timeout taken with third.

Obviously, the conditions playing a part today. Jaden Craig goes back to work. He started eight of 10, finished the first half one of seven. It's a give to start and nothing doing for Jeremy Payne. Trey Giddens in on the stop as we check out some stats from the first half. Yeah, if you look at the TCU side, it was really the run game they got going. Couple explosive plays, but not enough consistency. And North Carolina looks like a different offense with their transfer quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. and Bobby Petrino as the play caller. Remember, we

were supposed to see two quarterbacks from North Carolina. I'm not sure we will with how Billy Edwards is playing on second down. Quickly out of the back field, the spinning catch for Jeremy Payne. First down yardage and more. 15 ushered out by Derek McDonald. Yeah, watch the communication at linebacker. You're going to see Derek McDonald right here. He's going to point to Payton Sealman cuz Sealman's supposed to go out with the running back. Nobody gets out there. And a great job by Jamie Craig of just seeing him wide open getting the easy throw out of

his hand. Kind of like I said earlier, I wanted to see Craig get in rhythm, get the ball out of his hands a little quicker. Payne takes this one off the right side. Isaiah Johnson in on the stop after a four-yd pickup and get it out quickly. When you evaluated the tape of Jaden Craig at Harvard, something he did well, the decision making very effective. Yeah, unbelievable decision maker. And that was really what Sunny Dyke said. That was the first thing that popped to him about this offense and to him about Jaden Craig. The ability

to protect the football. He's got a strong arm. It's the quick throws, the anticipation on some of those. He's been just off so far in this first half of football at a different level. Hampton, the tight end in the back field. Kane made a couple men miss. Got to the edge and he gets drilled out of bounds by Payton Waters. Very close to the sticks. Four-yd pickup. Third down and short. Some of the elusiveness that we're talking about in the first half from Jeremy Payne able to set up third down and two. TCU's had so

much success outside the pocket. Excuse me, outside on the perimeter in the run game. Let's see if they can run between the tackles here on third and short. The Hornfrogs two for eight on third down so far. They run it inside with pain to do just that. Barrels over Greg Smith for a first down. Well, this is great cuz this is an outside run. This play is designed to go here, but watch the cut back. Pressure comes here and you're going to see Jeremy Payne just see that daylight and get north and south there. That's

a great read and a great job because again that play is the same one that stretch but when the defense starts to adjust and they get wide that's when the running back's going to see that on the field is a first down after the play unsportsmanlike conduct offense number 26 his first unsports like conduct foul of the game 15 yd penalty first and 10 unsportsmanlike conduct on Jeremy Payne Sunny Dykes looking for an explanation and again back to the theme of not beating yourselves I remember there's an emphasis on some of those first down celebrations.

So, not sure if Payne celebrated a little bit too much or in the wrong way on that one, but either way, wipes off a big third down pickup. The TCU fans who have traveled here to Dublin, just saw a replay and did not care for it. On first down, John Denman takes over for Jeremy Payne. one-yd pickup Derek McDonald stop and let's see what Jeremy Payne did. Yeah, that that is actually specifically one of the moves that was highlighted by refs. Kind of a a swipe in front of the face and a point to the

first down was one of those things that they highlighted sent to all the coaches and said this is one of the things that we're going to start enforcing a little bit more on these first downs. So you you hate to see that because it wasn't over the top, but it was one of the things that was a point of emphasis. Yeah, they tried to modernize the rule of unsportsmanlike contact this year. Craig under pressure and the ball is out. Carolina falls on it. Melart Abu Xia got home and Jaylen Harvey scoops it up for the

Tarheelss. One of the best pass rushers in the country. Abu Xiao. Watch the speed here coming off the edge. I mean, it's one move. It's a swipe. He gets underneath Ben Taylor Whitfield. Little dip and then around that corner so fast. Deep Craig never saw him coming. You asked Mel Cardaboo Sha yesterday about his favorite move. He said it's power. It is putting your helmet underneath your opponent's chin. But he also has said this off season he wants to show off the speed rush a little bit more. Well, and that's what happens when you power

rush. Now your tackle sitting on a little bit more. You duck underneath the hands and you win with speed. So a short field for Billy Edwards in North Carolina. Back to Galani Thurman. He goes scooting into the red zone with a first down pickup. Kaden McFaten on the stop and Galani Thurman just how he started the first half. And you can tell there's a section on Bobby Petrino's play sheet that is drive starters and it's all number 45. We saw the game open that way and the big drive starts that way again. Ben Hall runs

physically at Kayen McFix it down to the 11 with six yds. North Carolina quickens the tempo. Paul taken down. Shorthanded tackle by Julius Sims, the sophomore nickel for no gain. Trying to get to the outside. Sims does a great job of coming from that second level, avoiding the blocker. Treach Kahuna there and making the tackle. Now on third down, Jordan Ship has been the guy on third and fourth down. The bottom of your screen, Carolina needs three against a poor man rush. Edwards rolls, scans Edwards toward the end zone and broken up. Gil Jackson defending

Galani Thurman. Fourth down. Yeah, it was really good coverage by Gil Jackson. That's where Billy Edwards won at Hadair Manor. Burell gets this one away and it soarses down. Fielded at the goal line with a fair catch signal. Let's check in with Dana. Well guys, it's been fun to watch Melcard Abu Jab out here on the field in Ireland. It's been quite a journey for him to college football. He told me that college football, let alone going to college, was never really on his radar. He's he's parlayed that into being one of the top pass

rushers in the country. Yeah, it's written all over his face. the intensity with which he talks. TCU does start from the 25. It's a quick hitter to Ed Small who gets spun down. Dana, yeah, Jordan, I also think his journey and story, while different than most, I think it's a great example for any high school or youth athlete that, you know, maybe isn't a highly touted recruiter, maybe feels like they're behind in the recruiting process. Like a little hard work, determination goes a long way. from walk-on to ACC start Jeremy Payne off the left side

is about short. So third down and one coming up for TCU on what feels like Jordan a very important draft. Yeah and you can see that North Carolina has made some adjustments. They're much better on the edges. They're forcing these runs back up inside. So that's one adjustment Bill Bich made at halftime third and short. This Dline's going to get tested again. Craig goes under center with John Denman in at running back. Denmond physical downhill guy straight ahead and he has enough for a first down And the ability to run the ball for TCU. Huge

offseason focus. Told you where they ranked last year. really have struggled the last two years to run the football. Fresh headed outs from the 35 dribble snap. Greg picks it up off the deck and avoids a worse fate. Xavier Lewis with this one in Ireland on a Saturday. Is it Saturday? Yeah, I've lost track. Craig on the roll on second and long layers it in beautifully to Ed Small. Another connection 18 yds and a first down. Oh, it's a great job of throwing this off the back shoulder of the defender. See the defender overrunning that

to the flats. [music] He throws it right off his back shoulder and Caleb C, the defender underneath there, unable to redirect. That's great recognition from Jaden Craig and a great throw there down low to Ed Small. one of his best throws today. 6 for 47 for Small. This one incomplete, dropped by Terry Shelton. Hey, we talk about the adjustment in level Ivy League to power conference Big 12 football. Where does that show up the most if you're Jason Craig? Yeah, you know, I went from junior college to the SEC and then SEC to the NFL.

The biggest leap in speed is not on the outside. There's fast guys Everywhere. It's the ability of the linebackers to play with speed and coverage. So those windows close so much more because those linebackers are more athletic every level you go up. And I think Jaden's done a really good job tonight of not throwing late over the middle. It's been a couple times he's kept the ball, checked it down as opposed to forcing it into tight coverage. On second down, it is Deadmond for maybe a yard and Savior Lewis again in on the stop for

North Carolina. Third down. This is where TCU has got to figure out who that go-to guy on third down is, right? Jordan Dwire, their number one wide receiver hurt, not playing today. So, they got a group of new faces out there, young faces, a transfer in Jeremy Scott. Who's the guy they dial things up to on third down? He's got to be thin already. Lost Eric Mallister and Joseph Mayjack. And then Dwire Hurt. Third down and nine. Gray tried to get rid of it as he was being swung down by Xavier Lewis. The officials come

together as Lewis got home. Watch the stunt in the middle here. Intentional grounding offense number one. So lots of down the spot of the foul and be put down. Boy, watch Trey Giddens here slam down. He's going to take two defenders with him right here. And then the looper is going to be the one that finishes it off. The first guy gets no credit, but He Oh, he almost took three offensive linemen out of position to open things up for Xavier Lewis. That one won't go in the stat column for Giddens, but a great job.

He's getting some more deep days a year where we are, the east coast of Ireland. It's actually far less than in other parts on the west part of the country. Rain falling here. Second half action. Middle of the third quarter and a big gash up the middle for Ben Hall. Wrapped up by Max Carroll. Good enough for a first down. Boy, that's what North Carolina needs. They just haven't been able to run the football effectively. I think around 50 yards or so in the first half. Billy Edwards has been great for Bill Bichc as he

probably looks over some defensive tape there. And Avalos on the other side for TCU, the defensive coordinator was worried about the mobility of Billy Edwards. He's only been hurt by that a couple times so far. It's really been the arm for number nine. It's a first down run and it's called again and the ball came out. TCU thinks they have it and they do. Max Carroll comes up with it again. Another TCU takeaway on the field is a fumble coming by. Boy, it was Kaden McFant batting 18 there. Look at the punch. That is textbook

as a defender. When the ball carrier is wrapped up and their forward momentum is stalled and you come in late, attack the football. Kayen McFaden came from the back end. You see her coming in late. Ball carrier stood up. Bam. Peanut Tilman right out. What a play for TCU. Boy, that is the perfect Oh, it's textbook. I mean, that's that's what you teach. You do these ball security drills to start practice and defenders, that's what you talk about, right? I mean, like, we want to attack the football, find ways to punch it out cuz these

moments can change a game. And TCU now sitting down five points with an opportunity to flip the script. How big is that from Andy Avalos's defense after TCU's offense has had some sloppy moments? Craig rifles and that is dropped amid the collision on a ball for Ed Small. Coleman Bryson on the scene. Watch Jaden kind of double pump this like he hesitates just a little bit as soon as he flips his hip. The ball needs to be out. See him kind of double clutch that one a little bit. That's why that that safety for North

Carolina. Bryson was able to get in on that. That ball's thrown a tick earlier. It's probably a completion. Can that be hesitancy? New window speed in the middle of the field. No doubt. Lot more movement, a lot more speed over the middle field. A new offense as well with game reps for the first time. Timing's always off a little bit week one. 4-0. On second down, it's Kane straight ahead. Leroy Jackson on the stop after two. So third down and eight coming up for the Horn Frogs. Belart Abuja was not on the field for the

last big third down. He's back out there on the field. That's the guy on third mom you got to worry about. TCU has been using a tight end to help chip on that side of the ball on the left side of the quarterback. Nobody out there, so this might be a one-on-one pass rush opportunity. Fourman rush on third down. Craig checked out. Small turns the corner very close to the sticks. Caleb Cost ushers him out and well done by Ed Small to pick up a first down. Well, it was a great job blocking Abu Xiao.

He wasn't in on the play, but an even better job by Craig. Watch him hold on to the football here. Isaiah Johnson's going to come around late in his face. Still able to deliver to Ed Small in the flat for a big pickup. Had to get to the nine. And that is exactly where Ed Small got on his seventh grab. Rather the 14th Pay with a cut back weaves through inside the 10. 5 yd pickup. Jackson the stop. It was 10-10 after the first quarter here in Dublin. Slow going on both sides. North Carolina got

the safety on the bad snap on the TCU punt in the second and Carolina the field goal here in the third. Craig looks near side endzone. Too tall for the 6'3 Jeremy Scott. Jaden Patterson had the coverage. Yeah, that one really didn't have a chance. That just tells me Jaden wasn't comfortable throwing into tight coverage. Remember that guy's been Jordan Dwire for most of camp out there in that X position. That time Jeremy Scott. Now third down and five. And with the play clock winding down to six, Sunny D out of the half. Be a

30se second timeout. So I think that is a a purposeful timeout. Not because the clock was running down, but they sent motion there just to see what coverage North Carolina was going to be in. Is a linebacker going to go with the running back? Is it man coverage? So you take a picture, you figure, okay, if they come out looking like this again, here's the play we actually want to run against man coverage. So in this big of a moment, you don't want to have the wrong play call for both sides, for Bill Bich and

on the offensive side for Gordon Samus. In time, the counter for North Carolina's defense. Again, if you're just joining us, their defensive coordinator, Steve Bellich, did not make the trip to Ireland. Three and a half weeks ago, Carolina announced he's on medical leave and out indefinitely. Yeah. So, it's been a joint effort on that [music] side from Brian Bichc, the DB and safeties coach upstairs and Bill down on the sideline in constant communication. So, now third down and five. Craig with time. Payne out of the back field. He gets popped immediately by Coleman Bryson. Fouryd

pickup and it brings up fourth down and one. Well, TCU is staying out there on offense bringing another tight end in. So, it'll be 12 personnel, two tight ends on the field. This kind of game feels like this is the right move for TCU. See the analytics agree 0 for one on fourth downs so far today. Sneak a handoff. Payne is met in the back field. He gets dragged down by Donovan Hoylet and it's a turnover on DS. Boy, fourth and short. You got a 63 225lb quarterback. I thought a quarterback sneak might have been

the smart move there. This North Carolina defensive front comes up big [music] for Bill Melich. And despite the turnover, they force a turnover there. This is an offense that looks much improved. And that was really the issue last year. Defense was pretty good. Offense was terrible. Offense looks pretty good despite the conditions here. Raining in Dublin. Backed up and Billy Edwards fires one complete to the 19 to Mason Humphrey. There is a flag down on the far side of the field away from the catch. Personal foul. Face mask. Defense number one. 59 to be added

to the end of the reception. First down. Doubly costly. They get Vernon Glover Jr. secondyear starting corner to tack on 15 more. It's good to see Mason Humphrey involved there for North Carolina, the transfer from Lehi. A good looking kid, a guy they need to step up and and make some impact plays. He starred in the Patriot League, got 11 and then Glovers infractions 15. Two minutes to go in the third quarter. Edwards slips and goes down. And now flags come out as Paul Oay Wall hit Edwards when he was down. Crystal foul necessary roughness

for a late hit. Defense number 97 15 yd first down. So you got the unsportsmanlike conduct on Payne, the face mask on Glover, and now this. Yeah, look, Sunny Dykes trying to plead his case, but Edwards goes down one, two, three, four. I mean, it's four steps, you know? You just you got to hold off. And you can't go down like that to attack a quarterback. I know he wasn't trying to inflict pain. He just sees the quarterback down and he's thinking, is the ball out? Is it not? You can tell the rain is coming

down even harder than it was in the first half. And we noted that down on the field when we were walking around pregame, it is slick. The grass is long, the footing's good, but the the water on top of the grass can lead to slips like that. 10 penalties, 95 yds for TCU. Edwards steps up and fires low and incomplete for his tight end, Shamar Eastern. And again, this is exactly what Sunny Dykes was saying. [music] They wanted to avoid. He feels like to take them from good to great program, you have to avoid these

mistakes. Yeah. Back-to-back nine- win seasons for TCU. And the there's one or two games every year that he would argue the other team didn't beat us, we beat ourselves. Whether it was turnovers from the quarterback position or penalties like we're seeing today that just can't happen. TCU's 10 penalties tied for the second most under Sudikes. The second down run, Jaylen McIll, he goes sliding past the 45. Tristan Johnson on the tackle after seven. Third down coming up. the turnover on downs like Jaden's mannerism has been win when he was in the NFL business. Yeah, a

little bit of a defensive type game, a pitcher duel, low scoring. The margin for error is so small in games like this. And you're right, games that Bill usually finds a way to win. Third down and three. It is a quick hitter to Shamar Easter. Upended at the 43 by Vernon Glover, but a chain mover and a pickup of nine. And you're going to see Easter come all the way across. And this safety is going to blitz. So now there's nobody left on the outside to cover Easter. It's just the perfect play call against the

perfect defense that you wanted them to blitz there. So nobody's accounting for the flats out there. here and a nice easy pickup. Only the fourth career reception for a former ESPN 300 recruit Easter. Spent a couple of years at Arkansas. Edwards quickly on the out pattern to Jordan Shep. Plops down at the 31 with 13 as we hit the end of the third quarter. That's the end of the third quarter. North Carolina leads by five, trying to grind it out in the rain against TCU and Ireland. Dublin week zero. So thrilled to bring you the

start of the season. First down and 10 for Billy Edwards on a drive again at the six. This is CJ Sadler, the electric freshman. He gets taken down at the 25 after seven by Jamal Johnson. And good to see Sadler involved. He's a guy that this coaching staff absolutely loves. the fourstar who's the fifth ranked overall athlete for this team as They look to find some playmakers on offense to complement this Bill Bichc defense. Starting to find a few. Galani Thurman, Jordan Ship. Obviously, we knew he was going to be good, but having a true

freshman make an impact early. That's a good sign. Set up second down and short. Edwards the kick got a block has a first down. You said we haven't seen a lot of the legs from Billy Edwards today. It was a question mark for TCU. Andy Avalos coming in, but something he did effectively, especially at Maryland. Yeah, you want to show it, right? Cuz you want to force a defense to account for it. Every time they line up in gaps for the run game that time there really wasn't a safety accounting for the quarterback. He could

have, I think, stayed inside there and maybe picked up a few more yards. Either way, first down from the 20. 10th play of the drive. Oh, snapped that. Edwards handles. Edwards swarmed and taken down. John Shoble finishes him off. Well, he's trying to target Galani Thurman right here. And Thurman when he gets to the top of this route, he's going to slip. And so Billy Edwards then has nowhere to go with the football. Sees Thurman slip there, nowhere to go. And then protection was initially pretty good, but when you hold on to the ball that

long, eventually they're going to get you. Saw shovel tape down Carolina center Christo Kelly. Shovel, the son of Aaron Shoble, former TCU great, spent nine years in the NFL and a two-time Pro Bowler. With the play clock winding down on North Carolina, Billa by five against TCU, a TCU team that was just outside the top 25 in the preseason polls. Second down and long. Ben Hall back into the game. Made a cut and gets taken down by Paul Ow after just one. And here's where Bobby Petrino has got to talk to his quarterback who has

played a lot of football but not a lot of football in the last year. Remember he was injured out all of last year. You're in field goal range. It's third and long. Third down and 14. Edwards steps up. He fires downfield just out of the reach of a diving Jordan Ship. Fourth down. This is a foot away from a touchdown. Boy, it's going to be a wheel to the boundary from Jordan Ship. Galani Thurman on a post route to clear it out. He does. Julius Sims a step behind in coverage. And if that is just

a foot shorter, it might be a touchdown. Billy Edwards knows it. Let's see if they can get this field goal and push this to an eight-point game. Aaron Burrell has made from 20 to 28 so far. This time from 42 with a kick on its way. No good. I feel like he did pretty good. He was composed. He didn't get shaken with any of the questions we asked him. So, not surprised that he's handling the pressure here. First time on a real big stage. He's very honest. Swings it out to Jeremy Payne. Pain stumbles forward

for no gain. Jonathan Aumadu in on the stop. Tell you what, the the story of this second half has been the adjustments on defense for North Carolina. Remember how much the stretch play was getting to the edge in the first half. They're averaging TCU just.3 yardds, only 15 rushes for six total yards. This this is a completely different story. They are setting the edges. They are keeping contain. And they're going to force TCU here to a third long and put it all on Jane Craig from his own 25. They need nine. Craig scanning and firing

and he's got it for a first down to his tight end Ki Ashley. Oh, what a great job by Jaden Craig. This is really his fourth read on the backside. They sprint out to the right. Ashley is just the dig route way backside. throws across his body and right on the money. A guy in Jaden Craig who toyed, he told us, with going to the NFL after last season at Harvard. All expectations were he probably would have been a day three draft pick. Craig through his progression downfield got it again to Jacobe Hayes into plus

territory for 23 on the pickup. Oh, it's a great example of the arm strength, right? Threw off platform there. Another big pickup over the middle of the field. TCU up tempo. Quick dropped the football and dives back on it. Near disaster. So remember, he had trouble earlier in the game on a third down on a quick throw where he didn't have the laces. The ball is a little wet. Threw that one low. This time, watch him trying to get a hold of this. No laces again, and it just completely slips out of his hand. Look

how wet the ball was. As you can see, it's shiny. And here's the thing. So, the ball is sitting on its belly, the laces up. When you grab the back side of the football, that's the wet side for the quarterback. You see that ball belly side down. That side's going to be wet. And when you catch it, you got to throw with that side. That's what happens. Near crisis. Now, it's a crosser. It's Ed Small. Get some of it back. Sevenyd pickup. Kid with cost on the stop. Boy, what a couple big time throws from

Jane Craig. The one on the run over the middle, standing strong in the pocket off platform. Both feet facing the sideline. Rips a dig over the middle for another pickup. Can he do it again now on a third medium here. 8 and 1/2 minutes left. Trying to get his team back in this game. Trips to the left. It's a run to the right. Jeremy Payne with some wiggle. dives forward. Did he get there? Jeremy Payne on the second effort goes sprawling and very close. And Markham Short. That's a great second effort by Payne. It's just

again that stretch play trying to get to the outside. And initially the outside is there but a great job by Coulson Bryson there of forcing pain to at least try to dive for that one. TCU fancier didn't like it. Probably saying that the foot was out before the dive and TCU will take a timeout here with the play clock winding down. on the field is running a stop short of the line today and that plays under further review. I mean, you saw based on the dive that he he if he doesn't get it, he at

least makes it a lot more interesting than fourth and two. Watch the foot. That's inbounds. Looks like close, but that one looks inbounds. Oo, left foot. Does that heel come down? Cuz that left toe is still in bounds as well. I think that is a toe tap. It didn't look like he stepped out there. That's how it looked to me in real time. Now, certainly when we zoom it in like this, you get an even greater Appreciation for Yeah. what appears to be Jeremy Payne similar to the bowl game at the end of last season

staying in bounds. Let's ask our rules analyst Matt Austin. That's the right call even after review. Despite the best efforts from Jeremy Payne, Sunonny Dykes looking for an explanation further from our ACC referee Mike Roach. All right, so how do you manage this now? Fourth down and two. Well, the run game has been really good. The one thing we haven't seen is the threat of the quarterback run and not sure North Carolina has really had to account for that. Jane Craig's a big a big kid. 63 225. Two tight ends in the game. He's got

Jeremy Payne beside him. Craig to throw sideline. Small very close. Made the catch and he's got enough for a first down. Working on Payton Waters. What trust. Gordon Samus, the coordinator for TCU, has in his transfer quarterback. Big moment, fourth and two. You trust him to make a short throw across the field like that. Ed Small has been the best receiver for TCU. So, not surprised they targeted him, but that is a confident call for a quarterback to transfer from Harvard playing at a new level, new system on a big fourth down. And how about

Ed Small? I mean, this is a guy who had a nice freshman season, missed the second half of the season due to injury. Gordy Samus, the OC, was saying to us that Ed Small had an excellent camp. He does everything they say the right way. Yeah. Not not super fast, like doesn't just run by people, but he's such a good route runner. He's so good in space. [cheering] He's got 11 targets today. Nine receptions, 65 yds. Another run on second down with Payne burrowing forward for three. Third down coming up. Leroy Jackson on the stop.

Big drive in the rain for TCU. Held without points since the first. Yeah. Melcard Abu Xiao trotten off the field for a breather. So he won't be on the field for this third third medium third and long here. Harvey and Hoylet the two ends. North Carolina showing pressure. It's a run. It's pain off the left side. He gets inside the 20 and he is short. They're going to move the sticks here and say that it is a first down. Wow. You saw based on that spot, it's very close, but they moved the sticks. We might

get another look at this. The runner made the line the game. That play is under further review. Yeah, for how close that was, that was a quick decision. Just the drive. John Demond is blasted on his way back to the line of scrimmage by Xavier Lewis, who has been a monster wrecking ball on the North Carolina front. He has been living in the backfield. What' you say earlier? Four four and a half TFLs in this game alone is a monster game from Lewis. And in this red zone, this is an area TCU has struggled. Three

trips already today, just one touchdown and an area that North Carolina was really good in. Top 20 last year. Bill Felich in the red zone always effective. Craig pulls it. His tight end Ashley is racked up immediately by Derek McDonald. No gain on the play. Third down. Boy, Derek McDonald was a guy that Bichc raved about. He said, "Look, if he had to step on an NFL field tomorrow, he can play and he could start the transfer. Played a ton of football coming this way via Syracuse in his sixth year. One of those really smart,

really tough football players the Bellich loves." On third down, it's Payne off the right side, skipping through and is short. taken down at the 10 and fourth down and short again. Yeah, I don't think there's any thought to kick a field goal here. Not even in the mind of Gordon Samis. Remember, fourth and short on the other side of the field. They were stopped handing the ball off up the middle. And this interior defensive front for North Carolina's been pretty good in the second half. So, I would expect they try to attack the perimeter or

put the ball in Jaden Craig's hands again. TCU has already converted. Fourth and two on this drive. Ashley in motion. Craig rolls. Craig fires. End zone. Sounded too high for Jeremy Scott. It's another turnover on Dallas. A defensive struggle for most of this second half. It's North Carolina by five with four minutes to go. And Deont June goes barreling straight ahead and picks up six. Yeah, this is four-minute offense, right? You want to be able to run the football. Something North Carolina hasn't done super well tonight. 65 rush yards coming into this drive. It's been

mostly Billy Edwards using his arm, finding Jordan Ship and Galani Thurman. But if they can find a semblance of a run game here, they very well close this thing out. Billy Edwards in his return after an injury early in the season last year in his one year at Wisconsin. June again his first couple carries keeps churning the legs all the way to the 23 yd line for North Carolina. A great job inside center Christo Kelly got two TCU defenders. He's going to block to the right here first and come back to the left to get

Max Carroll the linebacker and open that up for Deont June. And you see the clock is ticking. This drive started with about 4 minutes left. Now we're under 250. Andy Avalos, Stevens coordinator for TCU, got to try to amp up the pressure here for something bad to happen. The play clock winding down. A flag down. Didn't get it off in time. Trying to milk clock. Live game offense. Five yard penalty. First down. Well, you want to take it down as far as you can in a four-minute offense, but not all the way. These the plays

clocks are actually in a different spot for these quarterbacks. Normally, they're low and right. Now, they're kind of more in the middle. So, it is a different area. his quarterbacks need to look to see that play clock 2 minutes 32 seconds but no excuse there can't have that happen so now it's first and 15 TCU has two timeouts plus the two-minute timeout trying to get a stop and get the football back the game clock is 2 minutes 32 seconds 232 thank you we'll add two more seconds to it flip Side Dan Jun getting his first

carries Bobby Petrino know said to us he is a train wreck running the ball. Maybe he was behind in pass pro, but now you can unleash a fresh back. June again. Yeah, this is where you want the battering ramp. The guy that is just going to run angry, get vertical, and try to run somebody over. Again, that penalty really hurts. It backs you up. Now you're in second and long. TCU takes its second timeout. Yep. And this game, I do think Billy is going to have to make a throw here, whether it's second long or

third long, to try to keep this drive alive. Second down and 12. Edwards pulls it. Quicker, Galani Thurman up field. Got a block. Thurman with a first down. And plenty more to midfield. 25 yd pickup. Gelani Thurman. See, Bill Bich said no play. Obviously headed to the two-minute timeout. TCU with just one timeout remaining as North Carolina tries to finish it off. It started in this [music] game with Galani Thurman and he's trying to end it for North Carolina. Yeah, it's a little play fake. Everyone thinks they're running the football. Yique Thurman into the flats.

The safety that was supposed to be on him is watching the run game and a big pickup for coming soon, fellas. Yeah, thank you very much. All the way across here from Ireland. Two minutes to go. North Carolina trying to finish it. De Man June again wrapped up by Max Carroll. Just one. One timeout remaining for TCU and they use right here. 5 seconds come off the clock. Not a whole lot of wiggle room for Sunny D's team and and North Carolina's defense has been huge in the second half. Yeah, the second half adjustments from

Bill Bich and the defense have been fantastic. Abuja obviously had the big sack fumble and then it was the pressure. The interior defensive line did a great job with stunts of getting after Jaden Craig to make him uncomfortable. And really the run defense in the second half was the story. I mean TCU had their way on the ground. This is the big stop here where James Craig opts not to run it. Throws back across his body for the incompletion. North Carolina has been great against the run in the second half and they've been great in

the red zone. As you can see there, this offense for TCU has struggled down the stretch. That reaction kind of says it all to this game for Sunny Ducks. High expectations, new offensive coordinator, new quarterback, life after Kendall Browles and Josh Hoover. They Will ru the miss fourth downs in this game if this holds. And remember the snap over the punter's head was two points. There there is a lot of self-inflicted wounds on the TCU side. Not to take any credit away because this North Carolina team showed up in the second half, especially on defense.

June straight ahead again. He takes it just across midfield to the 49. Yeah. So, here's the deal. No timeouts. TCU can't stop the clock. I don't even think you throw the football here if you're North Carolina. I think you run the ball. You want the clock to continue to tick and worst case scenario, you give the ball to TCU with a long field and a young quarterback, young, at least in experience at this level, needing to go the distance to try to win it. Yeah, with something in the vicinity of of maybe 20 seconds. Yeah,

you got to run the football, I think. Keep that clock running. Again, Deont Chun straight ahead. Damont June is very close. Looks to be about a yard shy with that spot. Boy, you remember the days when a fullback used to play football with her? They're back. North Carolina brings a fullback in there and they got De Man Jun who you mentioned has been titled the battering ram. The most physical runner for North Carolina gets him almost all the way. Now you got a fourth inch short. They might take a look at this. Going on the

fields, the runner will stop short of the line to gain. That play is under further review. Yeah, from my angle here it's right in front of us. I felt like June on a second effort at the end crossed the line. I felt like he out of 17 in the ACC versus a fringe top 25 TCU program under Sunny Dikes didn't quite go the way we maybe thought when this thing kicked off. TCU favored in this game and yet in again kind of quintessential Bill Bich fashion a chance to come out of here with a lowscoring

grimy rugged rain soaked victory in Dublin. They need a yard to finish this ball game. Peter Pazanski the fullback. They think they got a flinch and that would do it. Did Marcus Deal jump? Looks like he did. Another penalty is going to cost TCU the game. Offside defense number 95 causing the offensive player to react. That 5 yd penalty results in a first down. And look, they might not even had a play called here. defense. They come fast to the line of scrimmage. A hard count and that's all you needed to do. Get the defense

to jump, touch them when they're in the neutral zone. That's a first down and you can get victory formation. Billy Edwards Jr. in your first start for North Carolina and Bill Bich loves it. The the emphatic first down signal there from Bill. Yeah. Some emotion. Yeah, and a little catharsis from Bill Bich after the dismal year one. More headlines in the offseason ahead of year two. and they come to Dublin and grind out a win against TCU.