The Carolina Football Hour (97.9 The Hill)

The Carolina Football Hour on Franklin UNC Football Pre-Game Show is presented by Chapel Hill Tire, Now open Saturdays at their Crabtree and University Place Locations.

Coming off of UNC football’s bye week, 97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell and Michael Koh return for the Carolina Football Hour and preview the Tar Heels’ matchup with No. 3 Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish have been one of the best teams in the country through five weeks of games. Koh and North Carolina Sports Network’s David Glenn each go through what makes that the case, and how Notre Dame has historically dominated UNC. Plus, the show goes over what to extrapolate from Carolina’s loss to Clemson that brought both the Tar Heels offense and defense back down to earth.

The Carolina Football Hour is your home for football insights from the staff of the flagship station for Tar Heel Sports! Now part of the pregame coverage, hosts Brighton McConnell and Michael Koh prepare UNC fans for the upcoming game by sharing the latest reporting, insight, and analysis on the team — as well as hear from guests covering the program. Tune in Saturdays three hours before kick-off on 97.9 The Hill WCHL and listen on-demand afterward on your favorite audio apps, like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Listen:

The post No. 3 Notre Dame Brings Tough Test to UNC After Loss to Clemson — The Carolina Football Hour (Oct. 3, 2026) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

The Carolina Football Hour on Franklin UNC Football Pre-Game Show is presented by Chapel Hill Tire, Now open Saturdays at their Crabtree and University Place Locations.

97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell and Michael Koh preview what could be UNC football’s toughest road test of the year: an afternoon showdown at Clemson. As the pair discuss with The State’s Chapel Fowler, the Tigers’ program is on the shakiest ground it’s stood on in about a decade…but Carolina’s history in Death Valley and against Clemson is not on their side. Does the UNC defense have what it takes to challenge an uninspiring Tigers’ offense? What does the off-field drama from this week mean for the Tar Heels? And what can be learned from Carolina’s comfortable win over ETSU that might impact today’s game and the rest of the season?

The Carolina Football Hour is your home for football insights from the staff of the flagship station for Tar Heel Sports! Now part of the pregame coverage, hosts Brighton McConnell and Michael Koh prepare UNC fans for the upcoming game by sharing the latest reporting, insight, and analysis on the team — as well as hear from guests covering the program. Tune in Saturdays three hours before kick-off on 97.9 The Hill WCHL and listen on-demand afterward on your favorite audio apps, like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Listen:

The post Clemson Provides Prime Chance for UNC to Make A Statement…Can Carolina Win? — The Carolina Football Hour (Sept. 19, 2026) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

The Carolina Football Hour on Franklin UNC Football Pre-Game Show is presented by Chapel Hill Tire, Now open Saturdays at their Crabtree and University Place Locations.

97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell and Michael Koh return to the studio from UNC football’s bye week — one filled with many off-field stories. The pair cover how the ongoing university investigation has hit with the players and their commitment to focusing on their next opponent: East Tennessee State. Former Tar Heel QB Bryn Renner joins to talk about his impressions of Billy Edwards Jr. under center, who he knows from his Virginia high school football ties. Meanwhile, Michael brings a scouting report of the Buccaneers alongside impressions of Carolina’s defensive performance against TCU.

The Carolina Football Hour is your home for football insights from the staff of the flagship station for Tar Heel Sports! Now part of the pregame coverage, hosts Brighton McConnell and Michael Koh prepare UNC fans for the upcoming game by sharing the latest reporting, insight, and analysis on the team — as well as hear from guests covering the program. Tune in Saturdays three hours before kick-off on 97.9 The Hill WCHL and listen on-demand afterward on your favorite audio apps, like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

The post Amid Off-Field Investigation, UNC Tries to Focus on Hosting ETSU — The Carolina Football Hour (Sept. 12, 2026) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

The Carolina Football Hour on Franklin UNC Football Pre-Game Show is presented by Chapel Hill Tire, Now open Saturdays at their Crabtree and University Place Locations.

College football season is back, and so is the Carolina Football Hour on Franklin! 97.9 The Hill’s Brighton McConnell and Michael Koh return, but with a revamped show part of the pregame coverage lineup. To set the table for UNC’s season and opening game vs. TCU, the pair discuss how the stakes are high for Bill Belichick’s program over in Ireland and what offseason changes could bring (chiefly, offensive upgrades). Koh shares insight into what should make TCU dangerous in Saturday’s matchup and why to keep an eye on the turnover battle. Plus, Inside Carolina’s Joey Powell joins for “The Hand-Off” to share boots-on-the-ground insight into the atmosphere in Ireland for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic and the ways he believes UNC will play differently this season in year 2 of Belichick’s tenure.

The Carolina Football Hour is your home for football insights from the staff of the flagship station for Tar Heel Sports! Now part of the pregame coverage, hosts Brighton McConnell and Michael Koh prepare UNC fans for the upcoming game by sharing the latest reporting, insight, and analysis on the team — as well as hear from guests covering the program. Tune in Saturdays three hours before kick-off on 97.9 The Hill WCHL and listen on-demand afterward on your favorite audio apps, like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

The post UNC Kicks Off the Season in Ireland, Faces Familiar Foe in TCU — The Carolina Football Hour (Aug. 29, 2026) appeared first on Chapelboro.com.

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.