Both Cincinnati and North Carolina looked anything but bowl game teams in September. Fresh off their NCAA bowl ban, the Tar Heel's 1-5 start to the season certainly did not help until a turnaround got the team into the college postseason. Cincinnati looked doomed after losing their quarterback to an injury, but the team persevered and now the Belk Bowl features two teams ready to end the year on a high note.
The Tar Heels 1-5 start to the season makes them just the sixth team to start slow in the regular season and still manage to get to a bowl game. Much of that is due to tight end Eric Ebron who was a finalist for the Mackey Award given to the nation's best tight end. He was he leader in receptions (55) and yards (895) while carrying the offense.
North Carolina managed a 6-6 finish after also changing quarterbacks late in the season. Bryn Renner played most of the year, but suffered a season-ending shoulder injury at the start of November. Marquise Wiiliams took over and finished with 14 touchdown passes and a team-leading 531 rushing yards and six scores. The Tar Heels found a different fold to their offense under the more mobile quarterback that worked out well.
This is the second-straight appearance for the Bearcats in the Belk Bowl. After a very slow start, the team put together a six-game win streak to finish third in the AAC. A switch at the quarterback position could be the reason for the change. Brendon Kay took over after an injury to Munchie Legaux who was the original starter. Behind the backup, Cincinnati put up 33.3 points per game. His best performance came against Rutgers where he put up 405 passing yards and four touchdown passes.
Head coach Tommy Tuberville is concerned about health. Kay has been banged up much of the year with shoulder injuries. The head coach notes that he has been happy with the team under Kay and hopefully the quarterback can continue improving for next year.
Both North Carolina and Cincinnati had their share of early struggles that looked to doom their years, but late-season surges got them both bowl eligible once again. The Tar Heels and Bearcats are in similar situations as both teams are unsure what their future will be at quarterback and the Belk Bowl could certainly help both teams prep for the future and end on a high note.
