The North Carolina Tar Heels started November with a much-needed football victory, traveling up to Connecticut and beating the Huskies, 38-21.

UNC (5-4, 2-3 ACC) never trailed, starting the scoring party on Timir Hickman-Collins' pick-six nearly 10 minutes in. UConn (4-5) responded with an early second-quarter touchdown, then North Carolina scored 14 straight and took a 2-touchdown lead into halftime.

The Tar Heels enjoyed arguably their best offensive performance of 2026, but defense made the difference. Three UNC defensive starters earned a spot on PFF's latest ACC Team of the Week: defensive lineman Leroy Jackson, plus defensive backs Javion Butts and Jalon Thompson.

Jackson is a crucial part of North Carolina's pass rush, starting each one of the Tar Heels' nine games this fall. On Saturday at UConn, Jackson totaled five tackles and one quarterback hurry on Kaleib Osborne. Jackson has 53 tackles (16 solo), third-most on the Tar Heels, two QBHs, a pass breakup, TFL and sack apiece.

Butts, playing his redshirt freshman campaign in Chapel Hill, is proving to be a crucial part of UNC's secondary. In the November 7 win at UConn, Butts totaled three tackles (two solo) and deflected an Osborne pass. Butts now has 18 tackles (nine solo), two PBUs and a TFL.

Thompson doesn't start, but delivered with a crucial fourth-quarter interception against the Huskies. North Carolina scored on its ensuing drive, putting the game out of reach and moving one win away from bowl eligibility.

The Tar Heels' defense is in for a test on Saturday, hosting a Louisville offense that ranks Top-10 in yards per game. Can Butts, Jackson and Thompson help UNC shut down the Cardinals and make the postseason?