North Carolina football vs. JMU first look: Odds, key matchup, player to watch

Going into the 2024 season, North Carolina had a quarterback pecking order of Max Johnson, Conner Harrell and Jacolby Criswell.

Three games in, it might be Criswell, Harrell and Michael Merdinger.

Things can change quickly in college athletics and they have for the Tar Heels, who have won all three games and could have a new starter at QB this week when UNC (3-0) hosts James Madison (2-0) at Kenan Stadium.

A week ago, UNC coach Mack Brown said, “We’ve got to have a quarterback step up.” Harrell seemed to be that guy and still might be that guy, but Criswell was the one who stepped up and got the job done Saturday in the 45-10 win over N.C. Central.

All through fall camp, Brown kept saying Criswell was playing catchup at QB as Johnson and Harrell competed for the starting spot heading into the opener at Minnesota. Not said: Criswell also needed to drop some weight and catch up in his conditioning to better fit the UNC offense.

Criswell smiled Saturday night when asked how much he had weighed. He didn’t want to say but did mention he had dropped 15 pounds in the past month and now was at 228 pounds. Do the math and, yes, he was a bit too heavy.

Criswell started his college career at UNC, competing with former quarterback Drake Maye, before transferring to Arkansas. He then left home – he’s from Morrilton, Arkansas – to come back to Chapel Hill after last season as a graduate transfer.

Some things had changed. Maye was gone and Johnson had transferred in. The Heels had a different offensive coordinator in Chip Lindsey, and Criswell seemed a distant third on the depth chart before the Minnesota game.

Then, Johnson went out with a broken leg in the opener. Harrell was the starter in the second game against Charlotte and again Saturday against the Eagles as Criswell moved up to the backup.

The UNC coaches, Brown said, made the decision to put Criswell in the NCCU game on the third offensive series to get him some work. He took it from there, making some nice plays and passing for 161 yards and a touchdown as the Heels broke away from the Eagles in the fourth quarter with 28 unanswered points.

And the JMU game? UNC should release a depth chart Monday and Harrell may again be QB1. But Criswell made the most of his playing time Saturday, making sure his early chance didn’t turn into a cameo. He’s solidly in the mix.

“I didn’t have to do too much, I didn’t have to be flashy,” Criswell said.

Key game matchup

UNC’s Brown issued an edict for the 2024 season: run the ball on offense and stop the run on defense. He has said it repeatedly and said it again after Saturday’s game: “We’re going to run the ball. That’s who we are and who we need to be.”.

The Dukes (2-0) did not play Saturday after their 13-6 win over Gardner-Webb on Sept. 7 and had an extra week to game plan for the Tar Heels. That may not be enough time to devise a way to slow down UNC’s Omarion Hampton, whose speed, power and bulldozing ability makes No. 28 a force at running back.

“We had a tough time tackling, getting the Hampton kid down,” NCCU coach Trei Oliver said.

Hampton once carried three or four Eagles defenders on his back for about five yards before going down after an eight-yard gain. He twice was flipped on runs – a scary sight for Brown – but popped back up after each play and was ready for more in a 210-yard, three-touchdown night that had him get 25 carries.

“When you see third-and-3, I’m looking right at ‘Big O.’ There’s no worries back there,” Criswell said, smiling.

If JMU’s defensive front can’t fill the gaps and the linebackers are slow to the ball, Hampton could again go off.

UNC player to watch: Desmond Evans

Here’s a hint for JMU: don’t get the big man mad. The senior defensive end was whistled for a few first-half penalties Saturday – twice for roughing the passer – and came away with added fire and intensity, it seemed.

Evans was like a man among boys late in the first half when the UNC defense refused to let the Eagles score. NCCU twice had first-and-goal opportunities, the second after a UNC penalty, but Evans and the defensive front rose up for stop after stop, forcing a field goal.

Evans’ tackle on running back J’Mari Taylor resulted in a 1-yard loss and the 6-6, 270-pounder then sacked quarterback Walker Harris for a 9-yard loss on third-and-goal – Walker, a junior from Wake Forest, was injured and did not return for the second half.

Betting odds

The early betting lines have the Tar Heels a 10.5-point pick over the Dukes and the over/under set at 47.5.

How to watch

The game will be shown by the ACC Network. With Disney ending its contract squabble with DirecTV, the game can be seen on DirecTV and also on fuboTV, YouTube TV, Hulu + Live TV and Sling TV.

North Carolina (3-0) vs James Madison (2-0)

When: Saturday, 12 p.m.

Where: Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill.

TV: ACC Network.

Series: UNC is 3-0 against the Dukes, winning 56-28 in 2016, 42-10 in 2011 and 37-14 in 2007. The three games were at Kenan Stadium.