Ad Disclosure
3 takeaways from North Carolina’s embarrassing loss to James Madison
Published:
North Carolina, you good?
Maybe it’s time for basketball season. Maybe that’s an overreaction to what is ultimately the Tar Heels’ first and only loss of the 2024 football season. But there likely won’t be many measured takes about Mack Brown’s North Carolina program after an embarrassing home performance to a team from the Sun Belt.
James Madison scored 43 total points in its first 2 games of the season. In a win over the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill on Saturday, James Madison outscored UNC 70-50.
The loss gave North Carolina its first against a program from outside a power conference since 2019, when UNC lost by 3 points to Appalachian State. The 70 points were the most North Carolina has allowed to a Group of 5 school since giving up 70 to East Carolina in 2014.
Here are 3 takeaways from the defeat.
An unserious performance in all 3 phases
It wasn’t the worst loss to a school from outside the P4/5 conferences. UNC had a couple of blowout losses to the Big East in 2007 and 2005. But this one felt particularly damaging for Mack Brown.
The 73-year-old head coach has been fighting retirement rumors and “past his prime” allegations for years. Against a James Madison program that was playing in the FCS a few years ago, Brown’s Tar Heels gave up 53 points in the first half — the most allowed in a single half in UNC history. At the break, calls for him to exit the program were loud and plentiful on social media.
North Carolina looked unprepared and particularly uninterested in defending James Madison. Duke quarterback Alonza Barnett III had 288 passing yards, 64 rushing yards, and 5 total touchdowns in the first 30 minutes of the game.
James Madison scored off a blocked punt that was returned for a touchdown. JMU went for 2 after that score and converted on a pass attempt from its kicker. After Carolina took a brief 14-11 lead, James Madison ripped off a 42-7 run.
North Carolina turned it over 4 times in the first half. Quarterback Jacolby Criswell threw 2 interceptions. Backup quarterback Conner Harrell fumbled. The defense gave up 418 yards at 10.4 a play in the first 30 minutes. James Madison pulled off a successful onside kick and scored touchdowns in all 3 phases of the game — special teams, defense (a pick-6), and offense.
The student section emptied before Carolina came back out to start the second half and the ACC Network switched coverage away from the game with more than 5 minutes remaining so viewers could catch the end of the pregame ahead of Louisville-Georgia Tech.
Brown’s program has struggled to get over the 9-win hump with draftable quarterbacks running the show. Without a clear No. 1 option at the position, his team looks lost.
Omarion Hampton tries to save face
North Carolina had 616 yards of offense, which will get lost in the aftermath because of the result. Criswell finished with 474 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air. Kobe Paysour had 93 yards on 4 catches and JJ Jones had 86 on 5 receptions. Byson Nesbit made a couple of strong plays on the ball in the air, bringing in 4 catches for 71 yards and a touchdown. UNC averaged 7.8 yards a play and had 15 explosive pass plays.
It’s hard to get too worked up over the passing performance, though, particularly from a team that trailed all game and was down by 32 at the half. I thought tailback Omarion Hampton ran hard in the loss. He finished with 139 yards and 3 scores on 19 carries. He was fighting through second-half contact in a dead game.
It’s not going to be enough but Omarion Hampton has his second touchdown of the game for North Carolina. Great yards after contact here. pic.twitter.com/9jhmGRUjkG
— Fantasy Wildcard Devy (@WildcardDevy) September 21, 2024
Barnett has his day in the sun
A third-year man from Whitsett, North Carolina, Barnett sat behind Todd Centeio in 2022 and then Jordan McCloud in 2023. As a recruit, he was the 179th-ranked quarterback in the 2022 class and viewed as the 49th-ranked prospect from North Carolina. And that was just via 247Sports. He didn’t have a Composite grade.
North Carolina didn’t offer. NC State didn’t offer. Wake Forest didn’t offer.
Saturday had to feel good.
Barnett finished with 388 passing yards, 99 rushing yards, 7 total touchdowns, and 0 giveaways.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
