Drake Maye 'devastated' after North Carolina's loss to Georgia Tech

North Carolina has gone from College Football Playoff hopeful to fighting for its life within the ACC all in a two week span.

Now 6-2 and in fifth place in the conference after losing to Georgia Tech 46-42, the reality of the Tar Heels’ situation is setting in with the players and staff. Quarterback Drake Maye expressed his disappointment over the past few weeks after the loss.

“I’m just devastated. We work hard, we love each other and we play for each other. That’s all we got,” Maye said, hands on his hips postgame. “I thought we had something good going. We still have a lot to play for and you never know what can happen. We still have three or four games to end the season on a high note. That’s the main message I’m going to preach to the guys.

“We have to win these four games and there are three big ones to end the year that we can’t overlook. It’s going to be a tough road.”

It’s not as if Maye has been playing poorly over the two-game skid. Both losses came by four points, and the North Carolina star went for over 350 total yards in both the Virginia and Georgia Tech losses.

Against the Yellow Jackets on Saturday, Maye contributed 310 passing yards on a 68% completion percentage to go with two passing touchdowns. He also rushed the football 10 times for 58 yards and another touchdown on the afternoon.

The UVA loss was similar seeing him contribute three total touchdowns but this time throwing for 347 yards — the third-highest mark of the season for Maye this year. Together, he’s amassed 732 yards of offense and have nothing to show for it.

Even though the losses, Maye has been one of the best passing offenses in the country this season. Maye ranks sixth nationally in passing yards with 2,559 yards to go with 16 touchdowns, five interceptions and ranks No. 12 in the country in QBR at 78.7.

UNC, who is now unranked after being tabbed at No. 10 during the Week 8 AP Poll, gets to regroup a bit with Campbell on the docket for Week 10. They dive right back into ACC play with the trio Duke, Clemson and NC State in consecutive weeks to end the 2023 regular season.

The opening kickoff against Campbell is set for Noon ET live on the ACC Network.