Comparing the new defensive coordinators, South Carolina’s Jon Hoke and North Carolina’s Gene Chizik, will start early and continue deep into opening night on Sept. 3 in Charlotte.
It projects as a close call, just like the game.
Chizik had national championship-winning defenses at Texas (as a coordinator) and Auburn (as head coach) but must counter Steve Spurrier’s play-calling.
Hoke probably has it tougher, at least in the short run. He has to deal with a refined Marquise Williams, the best quarterback South Carolina will face until Clemson’s Deshaun Watson shows up in Columbia for the regular-season finale.