Pregame observations: Live updates from Notre Dame football at North Carolina
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Notre Dame (1-2) goes for its second victory of the season Saturday against North Carolina (3-0) at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Irish head coach Marcus Freeman‘s first career victory came last weekend in a 24-17 triumph over California in South Bend. With a career record of 1-3, he’s still on the hunt for his first road win. He’ll attempt to secure it against the Tar Heels and their No. 5 offense in the country.
Stay here for live pregame observations and updates.
Notre Dame football pregame links
• Staff predictions: Notre Dame football at North Carolina
• Game Day Central: Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. North Carolina Tar Heels
• The last word: Final thoughts before Notre Dame football at North Carolina
• Friday 5: Next step for Notre Dame’s Drew Pyne-led offense is more verticality
Pregame observations and updates
• 1:35 p.m.: A few North Carolina players have hit the field. Support staffs are getting sidelines set up with various equipment.
• 1:38 p.m.: The Fighting Irish have made it onto the field in warmup sweatsuits. They made their way to the middle of the field for a pregame team prayer.
• 1:50 p.m.: The Irish specialists are on the field. Kicker Blake Grupe and company are stretching and preparing to get their pregame preparations underway.
• 1:57 p.m.: Irish quarterback Drew Pyne takes the field in pants and a cutoff hoodie. He’s throwing short passes with a graduate assistant with headphones on.
• 1:59 p.m.: The Irish wide receivers take the field. They start warming up by catching over-the-shoulder fade routes from wide receivers coach Chansi Stuckey.
• 2:02: p.m.: The Irish linebackers and defensive linemen are working on edge-rushing pursuit drills.
• 2:05 p.m.: Notre Dame will be without its No. 2 tight end, Kevin Bauman, because of a knee injury. Safety Ramon Henderson is out with an ankle ailment. The Irish have used a two-tight end rotation for most of the year. Michael Mayer and Bauman have been the two. The Irish will need freshmen Eli Raridon and Holden Staes to step up.
• 2:12 p.m.: Grupe drills a field goal from 53 yards out, right down the middle with plenty of leg.
• 2:14 p.m.: The Irish head back into the locker room to get fully suited before coming out to finish warmups.
• 2:20 p.m.: Cornerback TaRiq Bracy is getting extra work in while most of his teammates are still in the locker room.
• 2:45 p.m.: The Irish start to hit the field jn full pads.
• 2:50 p.m.: Freeman takes the field.
• 3:00 p.m.: Henderson is spotted on the field with a brace on his right ankle. Bauman appears to not have made the trip.
• 3:20 p.m.: Bauman is spotted with a heavy brace on his knee just before the Irish go into the locker room.
