WHAT TO KNOW

What’s at stake

North Carolina has already wrapped up a spot in the ACC championship game against No. 1 Clemson, but the Tar Heels have a chance to match the program record for single-season victories. N.C. State is going for a second straight win against its nearby rival.

Key matchup

UNC’s defensive front vs. N.C. State’s running game. The Wolfpack left the Tar Heels beat up physically and on the scoreboard in last year’s 35-7 win, running for 388 yards. This year’s team has lost top rushers Shadrach Thornton (dismissal) and Matt Dayes (injury), and the Tar Heels have been significantly improved under new defensive coordinator Gene Chizik.

Players to watch

N.C. State: QB Jacoby Brissett. The Wolfpack passer ran for 167 yards and a touchdown last year and can move the ball downfield, too.

UNC: TB Elijah Hood. The sophomore is second in the ACC with 14 rushing touchdowns and recently became the program’s 27th 1,000-yard rusher.

Facts & figures

UNC has its highest ranking since finishing the 1997 season at No. 6. The Tar Heels went 11-1 that year and hadn’t won more than eight games in any season since until this year. ... UNC’s 10-game winning streak is the third-longest active streak in the country. ... It’s North Carolina’s longest winning streak since winning 10 straight from 1996-97, and the program’s longest in one season since winning 10 in 1914. ... N.C. State has won six of the last eight meetings. ... The Wolfpack is bowl eligible for the second time in three seasons under Dave Doeren. ... UNC ranks 10th nationally in scoring offense (40.9) and 21st in scoring defense (19.5).

Betting line

UNC by 6