Tag: UNC Tar Heels

Big Game/Stanford Cardinal podcast Michael Roberson: Can Brown get the drop on Cal’s defense at Stanford Sat Nov 22?

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Stanford Cardinal quarterback Elijah Brown (2) is hit from behind and forced a fumble by UNC Tar Heels linebacker Andrew Simpson (2) in the first half at Chapel Hill NC on Sat Nov 8, 2025 (Press Democrat photo)

Big Game/Stanford podcast Michael Roberson:

#1 With Elijah Brown now installed as Stanford’s starting quarterback, how will he manage the pressure of the rivalry game, and can he avoid mistakes while pushing the offense forward?

#2 How critical will the running back tandem featuring Tuna Altahir and Micah Ford be in establishing the ground game and controlling tempo against Cal’s front seven?

#3 On the receiving side, can CJ Williams step up as a reliable down-field threat for Stanford’s offense and exploit mismatches in Cal’s secondary?

#4 Defensively, with the departure of star pass rusher David Bailey, how will Stanford’s front seven adjust? Will emerging players fill the void and maintain pressure on Cal’s quarterback?

#5 Stanford has several young or less experienced players stepping into larger roles — how will that youth (especially at key positions) affect their execution in high-leverage situations (third down, red zone) against a rivalry opponent?

Michael Roberson does the Stanford Cardinal podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal podcast Daniel Dullum: Cardinal can’t get past UNC in 20-15 loss at Chapel Hill

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Stanford Cardinal running back Micah Ford (20) takes off against the UNC Tar Heels at Chapel Hill NC on Sat Nov 8, 2025 (Stanford Cardinal photo)

Stanford Cardinal podcast Daniel Dullum:

#1 The UNC Tar Heels (4-5) came up with a 20-15 win over the Stanford Cardinal (3-7) Saturday. The loss for the Cardinal was their third loss in row. This one coming at Chapel Hill in North Carolina.

#2 Stanford Cardinal quarterback Elijah Brown making his first start of the season since taking over for benched quarterback Ben Gulbranson threw 27-39, 284 yards, and one touchdown.

#3 Brown couldn’t get any offense going in the first three quarters where the Cardinal were shutout in the first and third quarters of the game.

#4 In the fourth quarter with the Tar Heels ahead 10-3 the offense opened up a little bit as Stanford scored 12 points but the difference was North Carolina was able to counter with ten points in the fourth quarter to come away with the five point win.

#5 Next up for Stanford it’s the Big Game at Stanford Stadium on Sat Nov 22 against the Cal Bears. Cal played a very tight game against the Louisville Cardinals on Saturday that went into overtime. This could be another opponent that could give the Cardinal fits.

Join Daniel Dullum for the Cardinal podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Tar Heels hold off late Cardinal fall, win 20-15

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Stanford Cardinal quarterback Elijah Brown (2) is hit from behind and forced a fumble by UNC Tar Heels linebacker Andrew Simpson (2) in the first half at Chapel Hill NC on Sat Nov 8, 2025 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum

North Carolina held off a late Stanford rally on Saturday and defeated the Cardinal 20-15 in Atlantic Coast Conference football at Chapel Hill, N.C.

Stanford (3-7 overall, 2-5 ACC) lost despite outgaining the Tar Heels 320 total yards to 253 and holding the edge in time of possession – 32:37 to 27:23.

The Tar Heels (4-5 overall, 2-3 ACC) opened the scoring at 5:49 of the first quarter with a Rece Verhoff 27-yard field goal. Stanford tied the game at 3-3 on the final play of the first half, an Emmet Kenney field goal from 38 yards out.

UNC broke the deadlock at 7:43 of the third quarter when, on first down at the Cardinal 20-yard line, Gio Lopez completed a touchdown pass to Davion Gause, giving the Tar Heels a 10-3 lead.

Verhoff hit a field goal from 48 yards out at 4:16 of the fourth quarter, and Lopez completed a 55-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Shipp, extending the Tar Heels lead to 20-3.

The Cardinal fought back, and with 8:28 remaining, Cole Tabb ran for a 1-yard touchdown, and with 1:48 to play, Elijah Brown, completed a 24-yard scoring pass to CJ Williams. The Cardinal failed to convert 2-point conversions.

Brown completed 27 of 39 passes for 284 yards, one touchdown. And was picked off once. He was also sacked nine times. Micah Ford was the Cardinal’s top rusher with 68 yards on 17 carries. Caden High caught 10 passes for 102 yards, and Williams and Sam Roush each made six receptions.

Lopez was 18 of 25 passing for 203 yards for UNC. He was sacked twice. As a team, the Tar Heels gained 50 yards on 27 attempts. Kobe Paysour caught six passes for 54 yards, and Shipp caught five for 83 yards and a touchdown.

The Cardinal have a bye week before hosting California in the 28th Big Game on Saturday, Nov. 22. Kickoff time has yet to be announced.

Stanford Cardinal podcast Michael Roberson: Can Brown get it done against UNC at Chapel Hill?

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Stanford Cardinal quarterback Elijah Brown (2) has been named the starting quarterback and will be under center against the UNC Tar Heels in Chapel Hill NC on Sat Nov 8, 2025 (Sports Illustrated file photo)

Stanford Cardinal podcast Michael Roberson:

#1 Stanford Cardinal (3-6) head coach Frank Reich has benched first string quarterback Ben Gulbranson after having the Cardinal have lost their last four games and replaced him with second stringer Elijah Brown who came in for Gulbranson in the Cardinal’s last game against the Pitt Panthers (7-2) last Sat Nov 1st as Pitt came away with a 35-20.

#2 The Cardinal are last of the 17 teams in the ACC in points per game with 17.8 and rank 16th in yards per game with at 307.1.

#3 Coach Reich mentioned that this was a tough decision and that Gulbranson had done some good things and that he doesn’t put all of the blame on Gulbranson but he said a change had to be made and this was the best decision for the team.

#4 Reich mentioned that Gulbranson has thrown ten interceptions and had completed only 56.9% of his passes for 1813 yards. Reich is looking for improvement in those numbers and hopes to get it from Brown.

#5 The Cardinal are at UNC to face head coach Bill Belichick and the Tar Heels. UNC snapped a four game losing streak with a win against the Syracuse Orange last Saturday 27-10. This one is one the road can Brown deliver against UNC this Saturday?

Michael Roberson does the Stanford Cardinal podcasts each Wednesday/Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal handles Belichick and UNC with 21-18 victory; pick up fifth win

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The Cal Bears Jacob De Jesus dives into the end zone for a first quarter touchdown against the UNC Tar Heels at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley on Fri Oct 17, 2025 (Cal Bears photo by Nancy Paiva)

By Morris Phillips

BEREKELY–The Cal Bears picked up their fifth win of the season improving to 5-2 with a 21-18 win over the UNC Tar Heels (2-4) at Cal Berekley’s Memorial Stadium on Friday night.

The game got off to an ominous start for North Carolina. On the very first play from scrimmage, the Heels fumbled the ball after a short pass, and Cal capitalized quickly. Just four plays later, with only about six minutes gone, Cal freshman quarterback Jaron‑Keawe Sagapolutele scored on a short rushing touchdown to give the Bears a 7‑0 lead.

The Tar Heels answered back with running back Benjamin Hall who took a handoff for an 18‑yard touchdown knotting up the game at 7‑7, giving the struggling Tar Heels some hope. But Cal came right back before the half, as Sagapolutele tossed to wide receiver Jacob De Jesus for a touchdown, and the Bears took a 14‑10 lead.

Third quarter action, Cal got more offensive scoring. The Bears scored on a fourth‑and‑one, when running back Kendrick Raphael took a two yard carry for touchdown, getting Cal up 11 points ahead 21‑10. UNC’s offense tried as hard as they could, but just couldn’t get enough offense and Cal stopped the Tar Heels for much of the third quarter from advancing the ball.

Fourth quarter: North Carolina tried to make a comeback in the game. The Tar Heels cut the Bears lead to 21-18, giving UNC some hope to get within striking distance. UNC couldn’t convert, when receiver Nathan Leacock caught a pass near the goal line but couldn’t get over the line, the Bears defensive back Brent Austin broke it up by knocking the ball out of Leacock’s hands only for Cal’s defensive back to recover the ball in the end zone with just four minutes left in the contest as Cal came away with the win.

Cal came away with the win with four point victory , the game did have some positives for UNC. The Tar Heels improved on defense keeping the game close, and the offense got a good performance from wide receiver Kobe Paysour. UNC errors were costly however when they had an fumble and a goal line fumble earlier. Cal put for their effort put a stop on UNC’s drive showing a strong defense. The Tar Heels continue to have troubles to finish drives. Cal had a number of penalties with nine penalties for 80 yards.

Cal takes on Virginia Tech next Friday Oct 24th at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg VA kick off 4:30pm PT

Cal Bears podcast Morris Phillips: Can Cal beat Bill Belichick and UNC this Friday at UC Berkeley?

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UNC Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick on the sidelines working the play calling against the Clemson Tigers at Chapel Hill NC on Sat Oct 4, 2025. Belichick and UNC will face the Cal Bears on Fri Oct 17, 2025 at UC Berkeley at Memorial Stadium with a 7:30pm PT kick off (AP News photo)

Cal Bears podcast Morris Phillips:

#1 Can Cal’s defense, especially its pass defense, contain whatever UNC throws at them?

#2 How much will the Bears running back Kendrick Raphael be involved, and can he break big runs?

#3 How well can the inside linebacker duo of Cal’s Cade Uluave and Luke Ferrelli manage UNC’s offense?

#4 Will Cal’s playmakers on offense — tight end Mason Mini, receiver Jacob De Jesus, and WR Jordan King — step up in a big game?

#5 UNC has struggled in their last two games losing by scores of 38-10 to Clemson and 34-9 to University . That said should this game be a cake walk for Cal or Cal better be ready for some UNC head coach Bill Belichick football?

Morris Phillips does the Cal Bears podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cal Bears podcast Morris Phillips: Cal hosts UNC tries to recover from Duke loss

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Cal cornerback Hezekiah Masses could not prevent Duke’s Cooper Barkate from catching a touchdown pass. / D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

Cal Bears podcast Morris Phillips:

#1 How did Duke manage to erase Cal’s early 21‑7 lead and dominate the rest of the game?

#2 What role did turnovers and sacks play in the outcome, and which players were most responsible on both sides?

#3 How effective was Cal’s freshman quarterback Jaron Keawe‑Sagapolutele early versus later in the game, and what changed?

#4 Which Duke offensive players made the biggest impact, and how did Cal’s defense struggle to contain them?

#5 Cal hosts UNC head coach Bill Belichick and the UNC Tar Heels and it’s a winnable game for Cal who have home field. The Tar Heels have been struggling losing their last two games and are 2-3 how do you see this match up between UNC and Cal in Berkeley on Fri Oct 17 a 7:30pm PT kickoff.

Cal Bears podcasts are heard Thursdays with Morris Phillips at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Stanford Cardinal podcast with Michael Roberson: Stanford loses control of game late to Wake Forest

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Stanford Cardinal forward from left to right forward Maxime Raynaud (42), guard Jaylen Blakes (21), guard Oziyah Sellers (4) are out on the floor to battle the Wake Forest Deacon Demons at the LVJM Coliseum in Winston-Salem North Carolina on Wed Jan 15, 2025 (Stanford Cardinal photo)

On the Stanford Cardinal podcast with Michael Roberson:

#1 The Stanford Cardinal opened up their second road trip in ACC competition against the Wake Forest Deacon Deamons at Lawrence Joel Veteran Memorial Coliseum with a 80-67 loss. The Cardinal now drop their record to 11-6 and are 3-3 in the ACC.

#2 Oziyah Sellers led Stanford in scoring with 16 points and Jaylen Blakes scored 15 points, seven assists. The Cardinal Maxime Raynaud and Ryan Agarwal had 14 points each. Raynaud was able to rebound 11 times and is first in the NCAA with double doubles.

#3 What a year Raynaud is having he now has 1265 in career points which moves him up on the list surpassing Don Griffin of 1969 and Anthony Goods of 2009. Raynaud tied Chris Hernandez of 2006 tying him for 29th on the all time Stanford list.

#4 The Cardinal are now 1-1 against the Deacon Demons in their second meeting in school history. The last time they met in 1997 Stanford defeated Wake Forest in their first ever meeting.

#5 Stanford now heads to UNC to take on the North Carolina Tar Heels. UNC is 12-6 and are coming off a win over the Cal Bears on Wednesday night 79-53. UNC is on a four game win streak and tip off against Stanford Sat Jan 18 at 11:15 am PST. Michael how do you see this game?

Join Michael Roberson for the Stanford Cardinal podcasts heard Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com