Sam Howell and the North Carolina Tar Heels came into the 2021 college football season with loftier expectations compared to most programs.
North Carolina failed to live up to its ACC title aspirations. It ended the regular season with a 6-6 record and a berth in the Duke's Mayo Bow.
Howell opted to stay with the program for the bowl matchup against the South Carolina Gamecocks. That decision should go a long way in deciding the winner of that postseason matchup.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are not in the same boat as North Carolina, as they will be without at least two of their star players for the Fiesta Bowl against the Oklahoma State Cowboys.