PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Nathan Elliott passed for three touchdowns and 278 yards in last year’s loss to North Carolina State but was only 21-of-45 for the game. He is coming off a solid performance against Western Carolina when he was 18-of-24 for 308 yards, but he also threw two interceptions.
–WR Anthony Ratliff-Williams had a big game against N.C. State last year. He had a team-best five receptions for 131 yards and a touchdown in the loss. He is the Tar Heels’ leading receiving in 2018 with 40 catches for 613 yards after catching four balls for 84 yards last weekend.
–LB Cole Holcomb needs just one more tackle to reach the 100-level for the second time in his career. The former walk-on, who had 115 tackles as a sophomore in 2016, had six tackles against Western Carolina and forced a fumble that rolled out of the end zone, denying the visitors a touchdown and resulting in touchback and possession for the Tar Heels.
–S Myles Dorn should be looking forward to taking on the Wolfpack. He had 10 tackles in last year’s meeting. Dorn missed three games with a knee injury early this season but still is third on the team in tackles with 50 stops. He also has two of the team’s six interceptions.
SERIES HISTORY: North Carolina leads North Carolina State 66-35-6. N.C. State won the last meeting, 33-21, in 2017.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “It would feel great. Any time you get a win in a rivalry game it’s a big deal.” — Coach Larry Fedora, on what a win over N.C. State would mean.
