North Carolina, South Carolina meet in Duke’s Mayo Bowl

Published 10:49 pm Sunday, December 5, 2021

North Carolina (6-6, ACC) vs South Carolina (6-6, SEC), Dec. 30, 11:30 a.m. ET

LOCATION: Charlotte, North Carolina

TOP PLAYERS

North Carolina: QB Sam Howell has passed for 2,851 yards and 34 touchdowns while rushing for 825 yards and 11 scores. Led fourth-quarter drives of 98 and 95 yards in his college debut, the 2019 opener against the Gamecocks. It could be the pro prospect’s college finale.

South Carolina: A former walk-on, DB Jaylan Foster leads the Gamecocks with 90 tackles and five interceptions. Foster also has two forced fumbles after returning for a sixth year.

NOTABLE

North Carolina: Opened the season ranked No. 10 but wound up losing two of its last three games by a combined seven points. The biggest win: 58-55 over No. 20 Wake Forest on Nov. 6 after overcoming an 18-point deficit.

South Carolina: Produced wins over Florida and Auburn — both having down seasons — in Shane Beamer’s first year as head coach.

LAST TIME

North Carolina 24, South Carolina 20. (Aug. 31, 2019). It was the first game of Mack Brown’s current stint as Tar Heels’ coach.

BOWL HISTORY

North Carolina is 1-3 in Charlotte bowl games and 15-20 all-time in the postseason. The Tar Heels have lost four of their last five bowl games.

South Carolina is just 9-14 in bowl games but has won five of the last seven. The Gamecocks have played five games in Charlotte since 2011, going 3-2.