AARON BEARD
FILE - In this Oct. 3, 2020, file photo, North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell passes during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Boston College in Boston. Howell is back for his junior season while leading an offense with major personnel losses. The Heisman Trophy candidate and top NFL prospect has spent spring practices working to improve timing and chemistry with new receivers to help the offense take shape. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
Tar Heels' Howell working to find chemistry with new faces

By Aaron Beard Apr. 23, 2021 01:39 PM EDT
Sam Howell has spent two years developing into a Heisman Trophy candidate and

Study: Women, minorities make small gains in FBS leadership

By Aaron Beard Jan. 06, 2021 03:57 PM EST
A diversity study finds increasing numbers of women and people of color in

FILE - In this Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, file photo, Clemson's Trevor Lawrence runs for a touchdown against Virginia Tech during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game in Blacksburg, Va. Lawrence was voted The Associated Press offensive player of the year for the Atlantic Coast Conference and was one of a league-best 10 Clemson selections to the AP all-ACC team. (Matt Gentry/The Roanoke Times via AP, Pool, File)
No. 2 Clemson, No. 4 Notre Dame headline AP all-ACC honors

By Aaron Beard Dec. 21, 2020 12:31 PM EST
Second-ranked Clemson and fourth-ranked Notre Dame headline The Associated

FILE - Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson argues with an official during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., in this Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, file photo. Clawson's Demon Deacons play their first game since Nov. 14 when they visit Louisville on Saturday, Dec. 12. (Robert Willett/The News & Observer via AP, File)
Demon Deacons, Seminoles meet in late addition to ACC slate

By Aaron Beard Dec. 17, 2020 12:03 PM EST
Wake Forest and Florida State both waited nearly a month to play a game amid

FILE - Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson argues with an official during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., in this Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, file photo. Clawson's Demon Deacons play their first game since Nov. 14 when they visit Louisville on Saturday, Dec. 12. (Robert Willett/The News & Observer via AP, File)
Wake Forest returns in rescheduled trip to Louisville

By Aaron Beard Dec. 10, 2020 02:35 PM EST
Wake Forest is finally getting back on the field for its first game in nearly a

Miami quarterback D'Eriq King (1) hands off to running back Donald Chaney Jr. during the second quarter of the team's NCAA college football game against Duke on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Durham, N.C. (Nell Redmond/Pool Photo via AP)
King, defense help No. 9 Hurricanes beat Blue Devils 48-0

By Aaron Beard Dec. 05, 2020 11:22 PM EST
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Miami's offense needed a little bit of time to find its

FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2020, file photo, Miami quarterback D'Eriq King (1) runs past North Carolina State linebacker Isaiah Moore, obscured at left, during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Raleigh, N.C. King and the Hurricanes visit Duke on Saturday night in their first game since Nov. 14. (Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer via AP, Pool)
No. 9 Miami returns to field in newly scheduled trip to Duke

By Aaron Beard Dec. 03, 2020 12:58 PM EST
Ninth-ranked Miami is finally set to play again. The

North Carolina coach Mack Brown argues with the official after an interception by Wake Forest defense back Ja'Sir Taylor (6) in the second quarter at Kenan Stadium on Saturday, November 14, 2020 in Chapel Hill, N.C.(Robert Willett/The News & Observer via AP)
Tar Heels step out of ACC play to face Western Carolina

By Aaron Beard Dec. 03, 2020 09:00 AM EST
North Carolina is finally playing the nonconference game that coach Mack Brown

Notre Dame's George Takacs (85) gets past North Carolina's Tyrone Hopper (42) picking up 13 yards on a pass completion from quarterback Ian Book (12) and dive toward the goal line, but is stopped short during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 27, 2020, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (Robert Willett/The News & Observer via AP, Pool)
Book, defense help No. 2 Notre Dame beat No. 25 UNC 31-17

By Aaron Beard Nov. 27, 2020 07:10 PM EST
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Ian Book kept scrambling to buy time and help No. 2

FILE - In this Oct. 10, 2020, file photo, North Carolina's Javonte Williams (25) breaks away from Virginia Tech's Rayshard Ashby (23) on a 19-yard run for a touchdown during an NCAA college football game at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. Williams' 25th-ranked Tar Heels host No. 2 Notre Dame on Friday. (Robert Willett/The News & Observer via AP, File)
No. 2 Notre Dame visits No. 25 UNC in pivotal ACC matchup

By Aaron Beard Nov. 26, 2020 09:32 AM EST
Second-ranked Notre Dame is moving closer to playing for its first-ever

FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, file photo, Boston College quarterback Phil Jurkovec throws a pass against Notre Dame during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Boston. The Notre Dame transfer is hoping to keep the Eagles moving in Saturday's game against Louisville. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
No. 2 Notre Dame, No. 25 UNC meet in ACC headliner this week

By Aaron Beard Nov. 26, 2020 04:01 AM EST
Here are things to watch in the Atlantic Coast Conference in Week 12:

North Carolina State quarterback Bailey Hockman (16) escapes from pressure during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Liberty, Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, in Raleigh, N.C. (Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer via AP, Pool)
Blocked FG helps NC State hold off No. 21 Liberty 15-14

By Aaron Beard Nov. 21, 2020 11:20 PM EST
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — For the second time this season, No. 21 Liberty found

Liberty quarterback Malik Willis (7) celebrates his touchdown with his teammates during the first half of an NCAA football game on Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, in Lynchburg, Va. (AP Photo/Shaban Athuman)
No. 21 Liberty visits NC State seeking 3rd win vs. ACC teams

By Aaron Beard Nov. 19, 2020 11:06 AM EST
Liberty’s wins against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents have been a

North Carolina tight end Garrett Walston (84) catches a touchdown pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Wake Forest in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Howell, Tar Heels make big rally to beat Wake Forest 59-53

By Aaron Beard Nov. 14, 2020 04:04 PM EST
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — There's no deficit that Sam Howell and his North

North Carolina running back Javonte Williams (25) runs away from Duke linebacker Shaka Heyward (42) during the second half of an NCAA college football game at Wallace Wade Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, in Durham, N.C. (Jim Dedmon/Pool Photo via AP)
Tar Heels, Demon Deacons meet in ACC instate matchup

By Aaron Beard Nov. 12, 2020 11:31 AM EST
Wake Forest has spent the past month avoiding major mistakes to put together a

North Carolina State coach Dave Doeren watches his team warm up for an NCAA college football game against Miami on Friday, Nov. 6, 2020, in Raleigh, N.C. (Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer via AP, Pool)
Wolfpack QB Hockman gets shot to face former Seminoles team

By Aaron Beard Nov. 12, 2020 11:29 AM EST
Bailey Hockman has taken a winding path to become North Carolina State's

Duke coach David Cutcliffe stands on the sideline while wearing a face shield during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Charlotte on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020, in Durham, N.C. (Jaylynn Nash/Pool Photo via AP)
Rivals North Carolina, Duke meet looking to win Victory Bell

By Aaron Beard Nov. 05, 2020 11:01 AM EST
North Carolina has spent the past month climbing all the way to fifth in the

Duke quarterback Chase Brice (8) looks for a receiver during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020. (Ethan Hyman/The News & Observer via AP)
Duke looks for spark against Charlotte after 1-5 start

By Aaron Beard Oct. 29, 2020 11:30 AM EDT
The turnovers piled up fast for Duke through the first six weeks. So did the

North Carolina State running back Zonovan Knight (7) finds some running room against North Carolina during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)
Williams, Carter lead No. 14 UNC past No. 23 NC State 48-21

By Aaron Beard Oct. 24, 2020 04:44 PM EDT
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina responded to its first loss with

Syracuse head coach Dino Babers yells to his team as they play against Pittsburgh during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020, in Pittsburgh. Babers is in the midst of a second straight subpar season and not much relief is in sight. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Lawrence leads midyear honors in ACC with mistake-free play

By Aaron Beard Oct. 21, 2020 12:43 PM EDT
Trevor Lawrence has been at his best from the start for top-ranked Clemson.