Notre Dame football: 3 Keys to victory against UNC in Week 9

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 27: Kyren Williams #23 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs against Jahlil Taylor #52 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half of their game at Kenan Stadium on November 27, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 27: Kyren Williams #23 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs against Jahlil Taylor #52 of the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half of their game at Kenan Stadium on November 27, 2020 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – JANUARY 02: Sam Howell #7 of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks on before the Capital One Orange Bowl against the Texas A&M Aggies at Hard Rock Stadium on January 02, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – JANUARY 02: Sam Howell #7 of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks on before the Capital One Orange Bowl against the Texas A&M Aggies at Hard Rock Stadium on January 02, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame football: 3 Keys to victory against UNC in Week 9

Keep Sam Howell on the sidelines

The North Carolina Tar Heels are only going to go as far as Sam Howell will take them, and throughout his career with the school, he has established himself as a top signal-caller in the country. However, he cannot hurt the Irish if he is watching the game, so the best thing they can do is control the clock with their run game, and keep Howell on the sidelines.

Howell and Josh Downs are a dynamic combo, and we all know that Howell can also get the job done running the ball, as he has almost 500 yards on the ground this season. He is the kind of quarterback who can hurt you in so many ways, and he would like nothing more than to get revenge on the Irish for the beating they put on the Tar Heels last season.

If the Irish can accomplish these three things, they will be in great shape on Saturday night, and should cruise to a 7-1 start to the season. However, UNC has big-play ability, and a legitimate first-round quarterback, so while the Tar Heels are an unranked team, they are far from a cupcake for the Irish.