RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina started fast, then had to survive a push from NC State, thanks to turnovers and a stubborn rival that simply refused to quit. While it might be easy to nitpick an uneven effort, the fact remains the No. 14 Tar Heels beat the Wolfpack 45-34 to win their 11th straight game. More importantly, they go into the ACC championship game next Saturday against No. 1 Clemson clinging to albeit slim College Football Playoff hopes.
What the win means for North Carolina: The Tar Heels closed an unbeaten season in ACC play, the first time that has happened since 1980.