It feels great to be back in Kenan Stadium, as the North Carolina Tar Heels play host to the NC Central Eagles for their Week 3 college football clash.

UNC is playing its second of three consecutive games at home, while NC Central makes its first-ever trip to Chapel Hill. North Carolina won comfortably against Charlotte last weekend, 38-20, while the Eagles lost 41-19 to Elon in their home opener.

There's a ton to look out for in today's clash – and we'll be bringing you live updates throughout. Conner Harrell will start his second-consecutive game at quarterback for the Tar Heels, while star edge rusher Kaimon Rucker will miss his second consecutive contest due to a lower-body injury. Star running back Omarion Hampton missed the second half against Charlotte with an injury and could've come back in, but instead, Davion Gause's breakout game allowed North Carolina to rest its bell cow running back.

Today provides the perfect opportunity for UNC to get its reserves some valuable playing time. That is contingent, of course, on the Tar Heels jumping out to a massive lead. Look in particular for freshman, such as linebacker Caleb LaVallee and wide receiver Alex Taylor, as candidates to see an increase in minutes.

Davion Gause adds a touchdown

Freshman running back Davion Gause finds the end zone for this second career touchdown as UNC scores again.

THREE touchdowns for Omarion Hampton

UNC takes advantage of the INT as Omarion Hampton finds the endzone for a touchdown! UNC now leads 31-10.

Kaleb Cost with the INT!

UNC is back in business as Kaleb Cost gets his first career interception.

Cophenhaver extends UNC's lead

It's been a struggle for UNC's offense, failing to score in the third quarter. But they extended the lead early in the fourth with John Copenhaver catching his first touchdown pass of the year. This one from Criswell.

HALFTIME: UNC 17, NC Central 10

The visiting Eagles struck first, driving 75 yards in 12 plays to go up 7-0. After both teams traded three scoreless drives, North Carolina took advantage of a muffed punt late in the first quarter. Omarion Hampton scored his first touchdown of the year just 22 seconds into the second quarter, then Liam Boyd tied the game at seven.

UNC overcame a couple of silly penalties and started to showcase its offense in the second quarter, with a surprising decision coming when Jacolby Criswell entered the game at quarterback for Conner Harrell. It initially appeared Harrell was injured after a hard hit on third down, but the Tar Heels wanted to try something new.

Hampton is the greatest storyline so far, rushing for 125 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries. North Carolina has to cut down on its penalties in the second half, though, with 10 first-half penalties for 72 yards.

UNC defense makes yet ANOTHER goal-line stand

The Tar Heels made a couple of clutch goal-line stands against Charlotte last weekend, holding the 49ers to a pair of field goals after they drove the field.

UNC made yet another crucial goal-line stand against NC Central, holding the visiting Eagles to another field goal on their final drive of the first half. Today's stand was especially impressive, given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that gave NC Central a fresh set of downs.

Des Evans ended the Eagles' drive on his fourth career sack.

Liam Boyd converts first field goal attempt of college career

Liam Boyd, filling in at kicker for Noah Burnette today, just converted a 36-yard field goal for the first of his college career.

UNC is now leading NC Central, 17-7, with 5:51 left in the second quarter.

Omarion Hampton with another HUGE run

Omarion Hampton is enjoying the type of game Tar Heel Nation became accustomed to last year. He just broke off a 53-yard run into NC Central territory, with approximately six minutes left in the first half.

Six more points...from Omarion Hampton!

The Tar Heel offense strikes again! Star running back Omarion Hampton caps off a 10-play, 67-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run just five minutes into the second quarter. UNC now leads NC Central 14-7.

After failing to score in North Carolina's first two games, Hampton already has two touchdowns today.

Big O for six!

Omarion Hampton finally gets the Tar Heels on the board, scoring from 11 yards out on their second play of the second quarter.

Liam Boyd converts the extra point, with UNC and NC Central now tied at seven apiece. We're just under a minute into the second quarter.

Tar Heels recover a muffed punt

BOOM! After a second-consecutive 3-and-out for the UNC offense, Christian Hamilton recovers a muffed punt on NC Central's 41-yard line.

Several UNC starters to miss today's matchup with injury

The Tar Heels will also be without starting center Austin Blaske, starting guard Aidan Banfield and starting edge rusher Kaimon Rucker.

UNC and NC Central Marching Bands performing pre-game

Both the UNC and NC Central marching bands are entertaining fans moments before kickoff. UNC's band is already in place, from the 10 to 45-yard line, while the Eagles are surrounding their own 35-yard line.

Will the read-option be showcased?

Also in pre-game warm-ups at approximately 5:30 p.m. ET, we witnessed UNC quarterback Jacolby Criswell keep the football on a read option.

With North Carolina showcasing its running game early in 2024, look for the read-option to be more of a focus in today's game.

Reserve RB Caleb Hood getting some pre-game work in

Caleb Hood hasn't seen a ton of action for UNC since 2022, when he started a couple games. Today, in pre-game warm-ups, Hood is taking a couple handoffs from UNC backup quarterback Jacolby Criswell.

UNC defensive linemen working on a block-shedding drill

In one of the more interesting pre-game warm-up sessions I've witnessed, the UNC defensive linemen appeared to be working on pass-rush moves with a giant medicine ball.

Omarion Hampton and Bryson Nesbit are back in pads

Omarion Hampton missed the second half of last week's win over Charlotte, but could've played after his injury wasn't deemed to serious. Bryson Nesbit didn't play in the second half, but he was ruled out.

A great sign to see two of UNC's best offensive players on the field in pre-game warm-ups.

NC Central's band has almost filled up an entire section

It's approximately 5:15 p.m. ET and the NC Central crowd is well-represented. Section 100 in Kenan Stadium, which is typically where the visitors sit, is nearly full with Eagles marching band members.

Jacolby Criswell enters the game at quarterback

UNC's second drive appeared to end on a 3-and-out, but not before Christian Hamilton recovered a muffed punt. Tar Heels QB Conner Harrell took a massive hit on the play, when an unblocked Eagle came into the backfield.

Jacolby Criswell started UNC's third drive late in the first quarter. We'll update you more once we hear about Harrell's injury.

UNC looks to be rolling with Liam Boyd at kicker

Liam Boyd, who primarily handles kickoffs for UNC, should handle all kicks today.

Conner Harrell and Jacolby Criswell getting loose around 40-yard line

UNC quarterbacks Conner Harrell and Jacolby Criswell both warmed up side-by-side at the 40-yard line. Harrell will get his second consecutive start at QB, while Harrell, who transferred back to North Carolina in the offseason after a year at Arkansas, is now QB2 after Max Johnson's season-ending broken leg.

The Tar Heels have eight quarterbacks listed on their roster, but Harrell and Criswell are the only two listed on the depth chart.

UNC takes the field for initial warm-ups

UNC football players took the field for initial warm-ups around 4:30 p.m. ET. Several players were stretching around the 25-yard line, while others were practicing at their respective positions.

NC Central drives length of the field for opening-drive touchdown

After facing a couple third downs on its opening drive, NC Central drove 75 yards in 12 plays to take an early, 7-0 lead over UNC. J'Mari Taylor capped off the Eagles' scoring drive with a 5-yard touchdown run on a pitch around the right side.

There's 7:32 left in the opening quarter. Tar Heels need to counter with a quick scoring drive.

Holding wipes out a huge kick return

The Tar Heels appeared to start their first drive near midfield, thanks to a huge kick return, but a holding penalty brought them back to their own 10-yard line.

North Carolina's first drive ends in disappointment

Like I feared, UNC is off to an extremely slow start against NC Central. After the Eagles drove 75 yards in 12 plays to score an opening-drive touchdown, the Tar Heels recorded just one first down on a 5-play, 16-yard drive.

There's 4:30 left in the opening quarter.

Tar Heels make huge third down stop

Granted, it's only the first quarter, but UNC stopped NC Central on its second drive of the evening. The Eagles marched 75 yards in 12 plays to open up the scoring, but North Carolina's defense just limited the Eagles to just 18 yards on five plays.

The Tar Heels take over from their own 5-yard line with 1:48 remaining in the first quarter.

This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire : Live updates: UNC's Week 3 football matchup against NC Central