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CHAPEL HILL North Carolina quarterback Cameron Sexton admits he was rooting for Miami to beat Virginia on Saturday. Not just as revenge for the Cavaliers' overtime victory against the Tar Heels last month – but because of the boost it gave to No.19 North Carolina's chances of playing in the ACC championship game.
“We'd all be lying if we told you we didn't know who needed to lose; we all know that,” said Sexton, who is 4-1 this season as North Carolina's starter. “But I think generally, we do a good job of not paying attention to it. Because if we don't win, it doesn't matter.”
With Virginia's 24-17 overtime loss to Miami, five teams have two defeats in the Coastal Division. Assuming North Carolina wins its final four games – the stretch begins Saturday against No.22 Georgia Tech – Virginia and Virginia Tech would still need to lose one more time apiece for the Tar Heels to win the division and earn a trip to the conference championship game.
The winner of the ACC title game Dec.6 in Jacksonville, Fla., will earn an automatic bid to the Orange Bowl. North Carolina hasn't won the league football title since 1980.
The Tar Heels (6-2, 2-2) spent their bye week resting, healing and studying the Yellow Jackets (7-2, 4-2), who beat Florida State 31-28.
On the injury front, coach Butch Davis said he wouldn't know the status of tight end Zack Pianalto (sprained ankle) and quarterback T.J. Yates (sidelined six weeks because of a broken ankle) until today.
Yates, the starter until he was injured, participated in 7-on-7 non-contact drills last week, but Davis was still waiting to find out “can we take the next step and actually let him participate in something that involves other team type of activities, as opposed to dropping back and throwing when there's no rush needing any kind of mobility?”
