Injuries could play a major role when North Carolina and Syracuse meet under the lights at Kenan Stadium on Saturday night.
The initial ACC injury report released on Wednesday night left a ton of question marks for both teams.
UNC has already ruled out eight players for the matchup with the Orange and has six more players listed as questionable. Syracuse has major problems of its own, with two quarterbacks sidelined.
Both UNC and Syracuse will be dealing with significant absences
Two Syracuse QBs out for the UNC Game -- Malachi Nelson and Amari Odom. Steve Angeli is questionable. pic.twitter.com/CKCNNo7RIy
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) October 22, 2026
Amari Odom and Malachi Nelson will be unavailable against North Carolina, leaving Syracuse with two options from an already injury-plagued quarterback room.
And the situation could get even worse.
Steve Angeli, who started Syracuse's first three games of the season, is listed as questionable. Angeli has missed the Orange's last three games, leaving Syracuse uncertain about who will be under center in Chapel Hill.
If Angeli is unable to return, Syracuse could be forced to turn to junior Danny Lauter.
Lauter has appeared in each of the Orange's last two games, completing 5-of-11 passes for 74 yards and a touchdown. He finished Syracuse's most recent loss to Louisville after Nelson was forced to leave the game.
For the Tar Heels, their injury news is spread throughout multiple positions.
Mason Humphrey and Tre Miller lead the list of guys already ruled out for Saturday night. What's more concerning is the list of players who are currently viewed as questionable:
Jordan Shipp
Kaleb Cost
Benjamin Hall
Peyton Waters
Jordan Hall
Aeron Burrell
That leaves the possibility that North Carolina could be without as many as seven starters depending on how the availability report changes between now and kickoff.
The secondary also remains an especially significant area of concern. UNC has had to mix and match with the injuries this unit has sustained, but could really benefit if guys like Cost and Waters could go on Saturday night.
If they are unable to go, the Tar Heels will continue to rely on that "next man up" mentality, piecing it together to help the success train rolling.
Sure, we still have a few days until kickoff. However, the initial injury report is one of concern for both sides. How it shapes up will definitely play a big role in this game, one that has plenty of meaning for both sides.
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