CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (Interstat) — Notre Dame remained unbeaten with a 37-26 victory over North Carolina on Saturday at Kenan Stadium. The Fightin’ Irish improved to 5-0, while the Tar Heels dropped to 2-2. Notre Dame finished with 37 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, seven in the first, six in the second and 10 in the third. North Carolina scored seven in the first, six in the second, six in the third and seven in the fourth. The teams were tied 13-13 at halftime. Notre Dame then outscored North Carolina 10-6 in the third quarter and 14-7 in the fourth. The visiting Fightin’ Irish controlled enough of the game to leave Chapel Hill with a road win in the NCAA Football Bowl Division matchup. North Carolina opened the scoring, but Notre Dame answered repeatedly and held off the Tar Heels late. The game featured big plays through the air, a kickoff return for a touchdown and a late penalty that wiped out another potential Notre Dame score.

North Carolina struck first in the opening quarter when Billy Edwards Jr. completed a short pass to Shamar Easter for a 6-yard touchdown with 9:34 remaining. Verhoff’s kick was good. Notre Dame responded at 6:41 when CJ Carr found Jordan Faison deep in the middle for a 28-yard touchdown, and Spencer Porath kicked the extra point. The Fightin’ Irish struck again quickly at 6:26 when Carr connected with Jaden Greathouse on a short right pass that went 12 yards for a score, and Porath again converted. The touchdown passes gave Notre Dame momentum. In the second quarter, Carr hit Faison again, this time deep right for 39 yards and a touchdown with 14:53 remaining, and Porath’s kick made it a two-score game. North Carolina trimmed the margin before halftime when Edwards found Jelani Thurman for a 14-yard touchdown with 21 seconds remaining, and Verhoff kicked the extra point.

The Tar Heels created a jolt early in the third quarter when Jefferson returned a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown with 14:46 remaining after Drescher’s 63-yard kickoff. The two-point pass attempt failed. Notre Dame answered later in the third when Carr rushed right for a 3-yard touchdown with 5:36 remaining. Jasper Scaife’s rush attempt on the two-point conversion failed. In the fourth quarter, Carr threw a short left pass to Nolan James Jr. for a 6-yard touchdown with 14:54 remaining, and Porath’s kick was good. Porath then added a 31-yard field goal with 7:05 remaining to extend the Notre Dame lead. North Carolina kept fighting and scored again with 2:39 remaining when Edwards completed a short left pass to Thurman for a 10-yard touchdown, but Verhoff’s extra-point attempt failed. A late 31-yard touchdown run by Jonaz Walton was nullified by a holding penalty with 1:07 remaining, preventing another Notre Dame score.

Notre Dame’s key performers included CJ Carr, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound quarterback from Saline, Mich., who guided the offense and scored on the ground. Jaden Greathouse, a 6-foot-1, 213-pound receiver, and Jordan Faison, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound receiver, were listed among the pass catchers. Micah Gilbert, a 6-foot-2, 208-pound receiver, also was listed. Cooper Flanagan, a 6-foot-5, 239-pound tight end, and Ty Washington, a 6-foot-4, 247-pound tight end, were listed at tight end. Aneyas Williams, a 5-foot-10, 200-pound running back, Nolan James Jr., a 5-foot-10, 214-pound running back, and Jonaz Walton were listed at running back. Spencer Porath, a 5-foot-11, 201-pound kicker, handled kicking duties and made a field goal. Defensively, Notre Dame listed Luke Talich, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound safety; Armel Mukam, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound defensive lineman; Jaylen Sneed, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound linebacker; Boubacar Traore, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound defensive lineman; Jayden Sanders, a 6-foot-1, 193-pound defensive back; DJ McKinney, a 6-foot-0, 174-pound cornerback; Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound linebacker; Bryce Young, a 6-foot-7, 258-pound defensive lineman; Loghan Thomas, a 6-foot-4, 224-pound defensive lineman; Joey O’Brien; Leonard Moore, a 6-foot-2, 187-pound cornerback; Christian Gray, a 5-foot-11, 184-pound cornerback; Jaiden Ausberry, a 6-foot-0, 215-pound linebacker; Drayk Bowen, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound linebacker; Adon Shuler, a 5-foot-11, 195-pound safety; and Francis Brewu, a 6-foot-1, 280-pound defensive lineman. Jasper Scaife also was listed.

North Carolina’s key performers included Billy Edwards Jr., a 6-foot-3, 207-pound quarterback, who threw multiple touchdown passes. C.J. Sadler was listed, along with Peyton Waters, a 6-foot-1, 182-pound safety; Greg Smith III, a 6-foot-3, 211-pound defensive back; Jonathan Agumadu, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound linebacker; Jaiden Patterson, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound defensive back; Leroy Jackson, a 6-foot-1, 290-pound defensive lineman; Peyton Seelmann, a 6-foot-1, 210-pound linebacker; Derek McDonald, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound linebacker; Demon June, a 5-foot-11, 215-pound running back; Jaylen Harvey, a 6-foot-2, 263-pound defensive end; Shamar Easter, a 6-foot-5, 228-pound tight end; Jelani Thurman, a 6-foot-6, 258-pound tight end; and Jordan Shipp, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound wide receiver.

Notre Dame’s 5-0 start follows wins over Wisconsin, Rice, Michigan State and Purdue. The Irish beat Purdue 49-10 on the road, defeated Michigan State 27-10 at home, shut out Rice 52-0 and topped Wisconsin 41-13. North Carolina’s 2-2 mark includes a season-opening win at Texas Christian, a home win over East Tennessee State and a road loss at Clemson. The Tar Heels fell 28-20 at Clemson and beat East Tennessee State 35-3 after opening with a 15-10 win at Texas Christian. Notre Dame will next host Stanford before traveling to BYU. The Irish also have upcoming games against Navy, Miami, Boston College, SMU and Syracuse. North Carolina will visit Pittsburgh and Duke before returning home to face Syracuse. The Tar Heels also have Miami, Connecticut, Louisville, Virginia and North Carolina State remaining on their schedule.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Notre Dame 42, North Carolina 16. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Notre Dame with a 95.6 percent probability to win. North Carolina had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -21. The total score of 63 went under the over/under line of 46.5.