Tag: ACC availability report

RALEIGH

All three FBS teams in the Triangle will take the field Saturday, highlighted by North Carolina opening its ACC schedule at home.

The Tar Heels will play Clemson at noon in Chapel Hill, while N.C. State hosts Campbell at 2 p.m. Duke caps off the games with a 10:30 p.m. kickoff against California in Berkeley.

UNC and Duke released their availability reports Thursday night.

Tar Heels quarterback Gio Lopez was listed as “questionable” headed into the game. He left UNC’s matchup against Central Florida in the third quarter and was ultimately carted off the field after being taken to the team’s medical tent. He has not participated in practice.

Lopez has struggled this season, ranking 139th out of all quarterbacks graded by Pro Football Focus for overall offense, and he ranks No. 19 out of the 38 ACC quarterbacks listed. Of the conference’s 17 QBs who have played at least four games, he ranks No. 14.

“Gio’s improved a lot,” Carolina head coach Bill Belichick said Tuesday. “Offensively, we just haven’t been consistent enough in any area, but we’re getting closer. We’ll continue to push ahead on that. When Gio is able to practice, we’ll see how much improvement he has made and can make. If he’s not, then other players will be in there.” The Blue Devils’ report did not include any major changes this week, but it will face a Cal team that could be without two of its top four defenders. Defensive back Isaiah Crosby and defensive end Ryan McCulloch were both listed as “out” on the initial report.

N.C. State is not required to release a report because Campbell is a nonconference game, but the program included injury updates in its weekly game notes.

Defensive back Isaiah Crowell, safety Terrente Hinton and cornerback Jaren Sensabaugh are out for the season. All of their injuries took place before the season.

Linebacker Sean Brown is out against Campbell. He left the Virginia Tech game in the second half with an undisclosed injury. Brown has struggled at times this season. According to Pro Football Focus, his overall defensive grade is 61.6, including three games where he graded out below 60. In the Virginia Tech loss, Brown finished with a 45.1 defensive grade.

Brown, however, ranks second on the team with 44 total tackles and contributed seven quarterback pressures.

Safety Brody Barnhardt also left the Wolfpack’s game against the Hokies with a leg injury, while cornerback Jackson Vick has missed the last two games. Neither player’s status was updated in the notes.

Though Barnhardt has a lower defensive grade for the season, the redshirt freshman was one of the few players to have strong performances last week, recording a season-best 70.6 PFF grade. He has contributed 23 tackles, tied for third on the team, and has three tackling grades above 80.

Vick, meanwhile, still ranks sixth on the team in coverage efficiency — despite missing a pair of games. He has one pass deflection and is holding opposing quarterbacks to 68.8% completion when he plays in coverage.

“The injuries are mounting up on the defensive side of the football, so there’s a lot of guys that are getting playing time now that are inexperienced and young.” N.C. State head coach Dave Doeren said on Monday. “that’s not an excuse. That’s the reality. We’re going to have to work really hard as coaches to give these guys the best opportunities that we can to play well. For them, it’s their opportunity. That’s why they came to NC State and chose this school, to have an opportunity to play.”

Asaad Brown has started in Vick’s absence and could earn a third start if Vick remains unavailable.

Linebacker Kelvon McBride is set to return for the Wolfpack, Doeren confirmed Thursday. McBride has not played this season but participated in all 13 games last year and is settling into a larger role after Caden Fordham was injured midway through the season.

Fordham and Kenny Soares are set to start at MIKE and WILL linebacker spots, respectively.

North Carolina-Clemson availability report

Players out

North Carolina: Linebackers Chinedu Onyeagoro, Tyler Houser and Jake Bauer; fullback Henry Martello; tight ends Deems May and Shamar Easter; and defensive linemen Laderion Williams and Devin Ancrum.

Bauer and Ancrum are the only two players to appear in a game this season. Bauer has made three appearances, while Ancrum has participated in one.

Clemson: Running backs Jarvis Green, Peyton Streko and Jay Haynes; defensive ends Armon Mason and Ari Watford; offensive linemen Elyjah Thurmon, Easton Ware and Mason Wade; linebacker Billy Wilkes; defensive tackle Makhi Williams Lee; and wide receiver Tristan Martinez.

Thurmon played in three games for Clemson, recording 123 total snaps at guard. He has a 60.5 overall PFF grade and a 61.7 grade for run blocking, which ranks No. 8 on the team.

Questionable players

North Carolina: Quarterback Gio Lopez and offensive lineman Aidan Banfield

Lopez has completed 42 of 67 passes for 430 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions in four games. He has also rushed for one touchdown.

Banfield played in the team’s first four games and recorded one tackle.

Clemson: N/A

Probable participation

North Carolina: Wide receiver Chris Culliver; running back Caleb Hood; defensive backs Gavin Gibson and Ty Adams; linebacker Evan Bennett; defensive linemen Pryce Yates and Isaiah Johnson; tight end Connor Cox; and kicker Guytano Bartolomeo

Culliver started in the first four games, contributing 104 yards and one touchdown on five catches. His longest reception was for 51 yards against Charlotte. The junior also added 102 kickoff return yards in the previous four games. He is one of Carolina’s top six run blockers, according to PFF.

Hood appeared in four games and started in two. He’s picked up 46 yards on the ground for one score, while providing the team’s third-best pass blocking. According to PFF, Hood has a pass block grade of 82.4 on the season,

Gibson recorded 17 tackles in four games for the Heels. The Hickory, North Carolina, native also contributed one pass breakup. Johnson has 13 tackles through the same four-game span.

Yates, a Connecticut transfer, has not appeared due to a reported concussion. He previously suffered a concussion when he was with the Huskies.

Clemson: N/A

Duke-California availability report

Players out

Duke: Safety Terry Moore; running back Peyton Jones; cornerback Vontae Floyd; linebackers Memorable Factor, Nick Morris and Kendall Johnson; and offensive linemen Micah Sahakian, Jamin Brown, Evan Scott and Nathan Kutufaris

A new addition to the report, Jones played in the team’s first four games, contributing 34 rushing yards and one touchdown. He’s served as a kick returner, as well, recording 87 return yards on four kickoff opportunities.

California: Linebackers Serigne Tounkara, Ryan McCulloch and Beckham Barney; defensive back Isaiah Crosby; running back Jayden Parker; kicker Abram Murray; defensive backs Mayze Bryant and Tobey Weydemuller; offensive linemen Jojo Genova, Sam Bjerke and Lamar Robinson; tight end Ben Marshall; and defensive lineman Nate Burrell

McCulloch has done a little bit of everything for the Golden Bears, recording 11 tackles, 1.5 sacks and one pass breakup in four games. He is No. 4 on the team in overall defense, recording a PFF grade of 73.6.

Crosby is one of Cal’s best defenders. He ranks third on the team in total tackles (24) and tied for second with three pass deflections. According to PFF, he has the best overall defensive grade (83.4) this season and leads the team in coverage (89.2).

Murray played in three games, starting his season 3 for 3 on field goal attempts, all of which came from at least 40 yards out. The freshman has provided most of the kickoff duties. He’s been responsible for 17 kickoffs for 967 yards.

Questionable players

Duke: Tight end Landen King

King has played 73 snaps in four games. He has recorded 42 receiving yards on four catches and a pair of touchdowns. He also holds a 52.9 overall grade on PFF, including a 66.8 in pass blocking.

California: N/A

Probable participation

Duke: Tight end Tony Boggs

Boggs has appeared in four games for 20 snaps. He also holds a 55.9 overall PFF grade, while ranking No. 6 on the team in pass blocking (69.3).

California: Defensive lineman Tyson Ford

This story was originally published October 2, 2025 at 9:24 PM.