TCU running back Jeremy Payne, at times, gashed the University of North Carolina football defense, rushing for 148 yards.
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Though the 15-10 week zero win over the Horned Frogs was a tone-setter as the-2-0 Tar Heels enter a matchup against a vulnerable Clemson at noon on Saturday, Payne’s big day was a concern leaving Dublin, as he had three 10-plus yard runs including one of 48.
“We kind of just took it back to fundamentals,” interior defensive lineman Isaiah Johnson said of addressing those plays. “Making sure everybody does their job. That’s the only way big plays happen anywhere in football: Somebody being out of place. So if everybody does their job, everything will be handled.”
And in run defense or anywhere else, it’s Johnson’s belief that the position group that adjustment starts with is his own. UNC’s defensive line starred down the stretch and closed the door on a momentum building win.
The Tar Heels have a clear reason for optimism through two games, and that’s the play of their defensive line. The same cannot be said for the unit that will be playing across from them.
The group tasked with protecting a freshman quarterback in new starter Tait Reynolds, Clemson’s offensive line, has struggled this season. None of its full-time starters have logged better than left guard Elyjah Thurmon’s 73.3 pass-blocking grade and 56.4 run-blocking grade, per PFF. Right tackle Easton Ware started the Tigers’ first game — a blowout loss to LSU — and posted an abysmal 33.4 pass-blocking PFF grade while allowing five pressures. Collin Sadler replaced him against Georgia Southern, and held up better in the passing game, but struggled in run-blocking with a 43.6 PFF grade.
Both UNC coach Bill Belichick and outside linebackers coach Ty Nichols credited “complementary defense” for the strong play of the defensive line so far. And UNC interior defensive lineman Xavier Lewis (4.0 sacks this season) and Jaylen Harvey (2.0 sacks against ETSU) have already enjoyed breakouts, with one of the ACC’s best rushers a season ago, Melkart Abou Jaoude, potentially rejoining them on the field after missing one game due to injury.
Speaking at UNC’s game week press conference on Monday, Belichick labeled Abou Jaoude as “day to day” after the ETSU win, and Nichols said “he’s involved in everything that we’re doing.”
UNC has an opportunity to prove that unit is a real advantage. And that’s something Johnson said the defensive line takes “pride” in.
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“It starts up front,” Johnson said. “So that’s the message that we have amongst ourselves, and we bring that to practice, and we bring it to the game.”
Freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds: The first-year signal-caller is easily the game’s biggest variable. Reynolds has only thrown 33 passes through two games of his collegiate career, totalling 200 yards after his most action so far this past Saturday — a 16 of 27 performance for 178 yards against Georgia Southern. He can run a little, adding 38 yards on the ground in that game.
Junior wide receiver T.J. Moore: Moore has been Clemson’s most reliable option in the pass game so far. After a quiet first week, Moore caught seven passes for 103 yards and a touchdown against Georgia Southern, accounting for well more than half of Reynolds’ total yards through the air.
Junior linebacker Sammy Brown: Brown is a reigning first-team All-ACC honoree by the league and The Associated Press. Despite Clemson’s shaky defense overall, Brown has been strong as usual. He has 12 tackles, and hasn’t missed a single one so far this season, per PFF. The 6-foot-2, 235-pounder is also the team’s highest-graded run defender at 90.2, per PFF.
Junior cornerback Ashton Hampton: One of the playmakers on Clemson’s defense, Hampton has allowed just five receptions on 12 targets, has broken up four passes and has the team’s only interception so far this season, per PFF.
Clemson is a 3.5 point favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The over/under for the game is set at 44.5.
Game info
Who: University of North Carolina at Clemson
Where: Memorial Stadium, Clemson
Date: Sep. 19, 2026
Time: Noon
TV: ESPN
Stream: ESPN.com/watch or the ESPN app
Series history: Clemson holds a 41-19 advantage over North Carolina in the series. UNC has lost seven in a row to the Tigers, with its last win coming in 2010.
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