Through three weeks of the 2023 college football season, the North Carolina Tar Heels have managed to get three big wins before they enter Atlantic Coast Conference play next week. And the latest win came against Big Ten foe Minnesota as they took down the Gophers 31-13 at home.

The Tar Heels jumped out to an early 7-0 lead as Drake Maye hit wide receiver Nate McCollum for a long touchdown.

They then extended the lead with an Omarion Hampton touchdown run and then another touchdown pass from Maye, this time to Bryson Nesbit. As the Tar Heels held a 21-3 lead in the second quarter, it felt like this one could turn into a blowout.

But instead, Minnesota made it a little closer.

The Gophers got a touchdown late in the first half and then a field goal early in the second half to cut it to 21-13. After another stop, Minnesota marched  into North Carolina territory before Armani Chatman picked off Cole Kramer. And from there, it was all Tar Heels.

UNC would add another field goal and then a British Brooks touchdown run to seal the game.

Quarterback Drake Maye threw for 414 yards and 2 touchdowns in the win but did have 2 interceptions. On the ground, UNC struggled as Hampton ran for 46 yards while Brooks finished with 25.

North Carolina’s defense once again stepped up when they needed to most, recording two interceptions and holding Minnesota to 133 passing yards.

Next up for UNC is a road game at Pitt next Saturday night to open up ACC play.

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Story originally appeared on Tarheels Wire