It's the most wonderful time of the year: overreaction season.
Week one of college football is in the books, which means media and fans alike get to analyze no more than 60 minutes of game time for any given team and make wild predictions for an entire season's worth of football.
Here's what we might (read: might) have learned from North Carolina's season-opening 24-20 win against South Carolina on Saturday, and what it could (read: could) mean for the rest of the 2019 campaign.
The running game is as good as advertised
Before the season, Mack Brown told the DTH that the team's stable of running backs, including junior Michael Carter, sophomore Javonte Williams and senior Antonio Williams, was "the best unit we have."
They lived up to that billing on Saturday. UNC as a whole combined for 238 rushing yards, with Carter, Williams and Williams rushing for more than 50 apiece. Javonte Williams led the way with 102, while Antonio Williams averaged 13.3 yards per carry on four touches.
Always having fresh legs in the run game is a huge positive, and will help take the load off of the passing game as the season rolls on. Look for UNC's running back trio to continue carrying the offensive load as long as defenses permit.
An improved defense, after a shaky start
Thanks mostly to missed tackles and unnecessary penalties, the Tar Heels gave up multiple long drives in the first half, leading to points for South Carolina and a 13-6 deficit at the break.