This is not how anyone wanted it to end.
Let’s begin with the silver lining: the North Carolina defense turned in arguably its best performance of the season. Any Tar Heel fan would gladly have taken their chances in this game if they knew their oft-maligned defense would produce this:
· Holding the Stanford offense to one offensive touchdown (a 49-yard pass to North Carolina native Bryce Love on a wheel route in the 1st quarter – the other touchdown was a pick-six);
· A goal line stand with 4:16 remaining, and every other red zone possession by Stanford ending in a field goal attempt.