WRAL Sports Fan

North Carolina

UNC needs win over N.C. State to stay in Chick-fil-A hunt

By Dane Huffman

Nov 23, 2009

North Carolina will remain in the hunt for a Chick-fil-A Bowl berth if it wins at N.C. State this week, the president of the bowl said Sunday night.

The Tar Heels and Wolfpack meet Saturday at noon. The game will be televised on ESPN2.

Gary Stokan said the Atlanta bowl is considering Georgia Tech, Clemson, UNC, Miami and Virginia Tech with a week to play in the regular season. The Chick-fil-A has the second selection among ACC teams, after the BCS.

“Obviously, they’ve got to beat N.C. State,” Stokan said. “If they beat N.C. State, they will be in our selection process.”

Clemson and Georgia Tech will play in the ACC title game, with the winner going to the Orange Bowl.

The Chick-fil-A picks next. Under ACC rules, a bowl can select a team that is one spot lower in the standings but not two spots lower. In other words, the bowl could take a team with a 5-3 conference record over a team with a 6-2 record but not a 4-4 team over a 6-2 team.

Right now, Georgia Tech is 7-1 in ACC play, followed by Clemson (6-2), Virginia Tech (5-2), Miami (5-3), Carolina (4-3) and Boston College (4-3).

If Georgia Tech loses the ACC title game, that would likely put the Jackets in the Chick-fil-A. However, Stokan said, because the Jackets played in the game last year, the bowl, the school and the conference would discuss what is best.

“If they want to stay home and play in the Chick-fil-A, we will select them,” Stokan said. “If they want to make a bowl trip, we would honor that as well.”

The Chick-fil-A Bowl is Dec. 31 at 7:30 p.m.

The Gator Bowl picks third from the ACC. That game will be played Jan. 1 at 1 p.m. in Jacksonville, Fla.

The Champs Sports Bowl is fourth and will be played Dec. 29 at 8 p.m. in Orlando, Fla.

The Meineke Car Care Bowl is fifth and will be Dec. 26 at 4:30 p.m. in Charlotte.

Bowl selections will be announced on Sunday, Dec. 6.