UNC football ends its season with a blowout loss to N.C. State, 42-19, in a performance that feels like a microcosm of the whole season. 97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell and Michael Koh debrief what went wrong against the Wolfpack, as well as the first season under Bill Belichick. They discuss the offensive woes and the defense’s regression against stopping the run, as well as look ahead to what the 2026 schedule holds for Carolina. Inside Carolina’s Tommy Ashley joins to provide prospective (and hindsight) on why expectations were high in Belichick’s first year vs. the reality of the season, as well as his sense of whether UNC’s investment into the football program will ultimately pay off. Plus: Michael and Brighton talk about what players and positions to prioritize keeping or refreshing this offseason and callers share their despair and optimism following the season in the closing “What In Tar-Nation?!”

The Carolina Football Hour is your home for football insights from the Tar Heel Sports flagship station! Reactions, analysis, special guests — plus, a space for post-game callers, fans and listeners can share their observations and contribute their own voice to the broadcast. Tune in Monday evenings at 6:00 p.m. on 97.9 The Hill WCHL and listen on-demand afterward on your favorite audio apps, like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

The post N.C. State Buries UNC Football Along With The Heels’ 2025 Season — The Carolina Football Hour (Dec. 1, 2025) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Despite a spirited second-half comeback that saw them take the lead, UNC football couldn’t hold on vs. Duke during Senior Day, falling 32-25. 97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell and Michael Koh discuss Carolina’s offense stepping up in the second half while special teams arguably lost the games — in part, because of penalties. Bryn Renner joins to break that down further, as well as Gio Lopez’s QB play and the rivalry experience with N.C. State. Plus: a trio of “What In Tar-Nation?!” calls feature a song recommendation, a look at what the Wolfpack are bringing to Saturday’s game, and predictions for how rowdy it will get in Carter-Finley Stadium.

Listeners can call 919-240-6000 to leave voicemails for the show after the Tar Heels’ game vs. N.C. State. Those who do will be featured in “What In Tar-Nation?!”  on the next edition of “The Carolina Football Hour,” which is Monday, Dec. 1.

The Carolina Football Hour is your home for football insights from the Tar Heel Sports flagship station! Reactions, analysis, special guests — plus, a space for post-game callers, fans and listeners can share their observations and contribute their own voice to the broadcast. Tune in Monday evenings at 6:00 p.m. on 97.9 The Hill WCHL and listen on-demand afterward on your favorite audio apps, like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

The post Penalties Unravel UNC Football’s Comeback vs. Duke and Bowl Hopes — The Carolina Football Hour (Nov. 24, 2025) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

The air of optimism around UNC football is let out of the balloon as the Tar Heels fall flat against Wake Forest, losing 28-12 and failing to get into the endzone. 97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell and Michael Koh break down what went wrong on offense for Carolina and whether any changes can be made to help move the ball as they close out the season. The pair also run through the defense’s performance and coaching staff’s decisions, ranging from play calls to timeouts that left fans scratching their heads. Inside Carolina’s Adam Smith joins for “The Handoff” to share his perspective and thoughts on the likelihood of Carolina earning a bowl appearance, along with a lucky “What In Tar-Nation?!” caller winning tickets and Way Too Early predictions for UNC’s Senior Day celebrations.

Listeners can call 919-240-6000 to leave voicemails for the show after the Tar Heels’ game vs. Duke. Those who do will be featured in “What In Tar-Nation?!”  on the next edition of “The Carolina Football Hour,” which is Monday, Nov. 24.

The Carolina Football Hour is your home for football insights from the Tar Heel Sports flagship station! Reactions, analysis, special guests — plus, a space for post-game callers, fans and listeners can share their observations and contribute their own voice to the broadcast. Tune in Monday evenings at 6:00 p.m. on 97.9 The Hill WCHL and listen on-demand afterward on your favorite audio apps, like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

The post UNC Disappoints, Faces Familiar Questions After Loss at Wake Forest — The Carolina Football Hour (Nov. 17, 2025) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

A 20-15 win over Stanford on Saturday puts UNC football in position to end the year by making a statement and earning bowl eligibility. But to do so, the Tar Heels will have to win two out of three against their in-state rivals. 97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell and Michael Koh discuss by reviewing Carolina’s play against the Cardinal — with the defense thriving in its pass rush and the offense continuing to be a grind. The pair are joined by Inside Carolina’s Joey Powell to talk about the team’s over-performance despite their struggles and under-performance despite the hype they entered the season with, as well as the importance of a final stretch of games against Wake Forest, Duke and N.C. State. Plus: Michael delivers a scouting report on the Demon Deacons and “What In Tar-Nation?!” callers allow themselves to feel a little bit of…hope?

Listeners can call 919-240-6000 to leave voicemails for the show after the Tar Heels’ game vs. Wake Forest. Those who do will be featured in “What In Tar-Nation?!”  on the next edition of “The Carolina Football Hour,” which is Monday, Nov. 17.

The Carolina Football Hour is your home for football insights from the Tar Heel Sports flagship station! Reactions, analysis, special guests — plus, a space for post-game callers, fans and listeners can share their observations and contribute their own voice to the broadcast. Tune in Monday evenings at 6:00 p.m. on 97.9 The Hill WCHL and listen on-demand afterward on your favorite audio apps, like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

The post UNC Beats Stanford, Now Faces Stretch of In-State Rivals — The Carolina Football Hour (Nov. 10, 2025) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

The combination of UNC men’s basketball’s season and Election Night coverage delayed the show, but 97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell and Michael Koh convene for an abbreviated edition of The Carolina Football Hour to discuss the team earning its first Power 4 win of the season vs. Syracuse last Friday. The Orange were not formidable opponents, but it provided a chance for UNC to play one of its best games of the year — what successes can be built upon to help the Tar Heels end the season stronger? Plus, the guys take a brief look at Stanford and discuss why the game might be manageable for UNC to pick up a win…but perhaps not as assured as the matchup initially seemed.

Listeners can call 919-240-6000 to leave voicemails for the show after the Tar Heels’ game vs. Stanford. Those who do will be featured in “What In Tar-Nation?!”  on the next edition of “The Carolina Football Hour,” which is Monday, Nov. 10.

The Carolina Football Hour is your home for football insights from the Tar Heel Sports flagship station! Reactions, analysis, special guests — plus, a space for post-game callers, fans and listeners can share their observations and contribute their own voice to the broadcast. Tune in Monday evenings at 6:00 p.m. on 97.9 The Hill WCHL and listen on-demand afterward on your favorite audio apps, like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

The post SPECIAL EDITION: UNC Picks Up First ACC Win — The Carolina Football Hour (Nov. 5, 2025) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Carolina played another close game Saturday at Kenan Stadium, but again the Tar Heels fell inches short in a 17-16 overtime loss to Virginia. 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck (filling in for Brighton McConnell) and Michael Koh discuss the positives and negatives from the loss and look ahead to the final five weeks of the season. Cade Shoemaker of Inside Carolina joins Michael to break down how the Tar Heels have improved, and he and Michael wonder whether UNC’s issues are more mental than anything. Plus: a familiar voice calls in for What in Tar-Nation?!, Michael Lombardi is definitely not mad about Bill Belichick stories, and UNC alum Drake Maye continues to cook in the NFL.

Listeners can call 919-240-6000 to leave voicemails for the show. However, there will not be a Carolina Football Hour episode next Monday, as 97.9 The Hill will be broadcasting coverage of UNC men’s basketball’s opening game against Central Arkansas that night.

The Carolina Football Hour is your home for football insights from the Tar Heel Sports flagship station! Reactions, analysis, special guests — plus, a space for post-game callers, fans and listeners can share their observations and contribute their own voice to the broadcast. Tune in Monday evenings at 6:00 p.m. on 97.9 The Hill WCHL and listen on-demand afterward on your favorite audio apps, like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

The post UNC Falls in Another Heartbreaker vs. Virginia. Can They Get Over the Hump? — The Carolina Football Hour (Oct. 27, 2025) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

Carolina’s closest game against a Power 4 opponent provides genuine flashes for UNC football to build upon. 97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell and Michael Koh discuss their takeaways from the 21-18 loss as the Heels return home and prepare for a high-flying Virginia offense this weekend. Former star QB Bryn Renner joins to discuss the play of UNC’s Gio Lopez, how the offense looked vs. Cal, and the opportunity presented against the Cavaliers. Plus: a trio of What In Tar-Nation?! callers share differing perspectives on the state of the program, while the guys share their predictions of possible palindrome scores for Saturday’s game.

Listeners can call 919-240-6000 to leave voicemails for the show after the Tar Heels’ game vs. Virginia. Those who do will be featured in “What In Tar-Nation?!”  on the next edition of “The Carolina Football Hour,” which is Monday, Oct. 27.

The Carolina Football Hour is your home for football insights from the Tar Heel Sports flagship station! Reactions, analysis, special guests — plus, a space for post-game callers, fans and listeners can share their observations and contribute their own voice to the broadcast. Tune in Monday evenings at 6:00 p.m. on 97.9 The Hill WCHL and listen on-demand afterward on your favorite audio apps, like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

The post UNC Shows Progress at Cal. But Will It Be Enough to Win? — The Carolina Football Hour (Oct. 20, 2025) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

So…how did everyone spend their very normal, non-eventful bye week? 97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell and Michael Koh dig into how UNC football’s was anything but on the outside, with a variety of reports published about the atmosphere in the locker room and how Bill Belichick’s staff has been conducting business in Chapel Hill. They discuss whether they buy the messaging pivot from the program and welcome on Andrew Jones of TarHeel274 to share some of his reporting about discontent around the program. Plus: a What In Tar-Nation caller who asks for the next head coach, a ticket giveaway, and a preview of *actual* football UNC will play on Friday at Cal — including how the Bears could be unpredictable.

Listeners can call 919-240-6000 to leave voicemails for the show after the Tar Heels’ game vs. Cal. Those who do may be featured in “What In Tar-Nation?!”  on the next edition of “The Carolina Football Hour,” which is Monday, Oct. 20.

The Carolina Football Hour is your home for football insights from the Tar Heel Sports flagship station! Reactions, analysis, special guests — plus, a space for post-game callers, fans and listeners can share their observations and contribute their own voice to the broadcast. Tune in Monday evenings at 6:00 p.m. on 97.9 The Hill WCHL and listen on-demand afterward on your favorite audio apps, like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

The post After Rumor-Filled Bye Week, UNC Tries to Move On vs. Cal — The Carolina Football Hour (Oct. 13, 2025) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

UNC football is 2-3 on the season after getting obliterated by Clemson, 38-10, on Saturday. 97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell and Michael Koh react to the poor performance and discuss how the game snowballed out of control. Which poor defensive stat reflects UNC’s struggles in the first half, as Bill Belichick’s team entered the locker room down 32 points? What could be learned from QB Max Johnson’s first full performance as a starter and where does the quarterback conundrum rank in the list of issues this roster faces? The North Carolina Sports Network’s David Glenn joins to share his impressions of the team and where its disastrous start ranks in his years of covering ACC football. “What In Tar-Nation?!” features a viral moment from the game and some grumpy listener texts, while an update on the former Tar Heels in the NFL help bring a little bit of joy to the show.

Listeners can call 919-240-6000 to leave voicemails for the show. Those who do may be featured in “What In Tar-Nation?!”  on the next edition of “The Carolina Football Hour,” which is Monday, Oct. 13.

The Carolina Football Hour is your home for football insights from the Tar Heel Sports flagship station! Reactions, analysis, special guests — plus, a space for post-game callers, fans and listeners can share their observations and contribute their own voice to the broadcast. Tune in Monday evenings at 6:00 p.m. on 97.9 The Hill WCHL and listen on-demand afterward on your favorite audio apps, like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

The post Clemson Crushes Carolina. Where Do The Heels Go From Here? — The Carolina Football Hour (Oct. 6, 2025) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

UNC football returns from its first bye week this season with plenty of questions still surrounding their potential and how they’ll fare against ACC competition. 97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell and Michael Koh discuss the Tar Heels’ chances against the Clemson Tigers in a matchup that is more lackluster than anticipated thanks to both team’s early struggles. Which quarterback will take the field for Carolina on Saturday? Will a healthier offensive line help UNC’s issues? Would more consistent offensive play give the defense more breaks? The pair react to comments from GM Michael Lombardi and welcome The State’s Clemson beat reporter, Chapel Fowler, to discuss where the Tigers’ start has gone off the rails. Plus: how does UNC’s conference schedule look a few games into the season?

After the game vs. Clemson, listeners can call 919-240-6000 to leave voicemails for the show. Those who do may be featured in “What In Tar-Nation?!”  on the next edition of “The Carolina Football Hour,” which is Monday, Oct. 6.

The Carolina Football Hour is your home for football insights from the Tar Heel Sports flagship station! Reactions, analysis, special guests — plus, a space for post-game callers, fans and listeners can share their observations and contribute their own voice to the broadcast. Tune in Monday evenings at 6:00 p.m. on 97.9 The Hill WCHL and listen on-demand afterward on your favorite audio apps, like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

The post Questions Remain as Clemson Comes to Town — The Carolina Football Hour (Sep. 29, 2025) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.