After seven years, two cancellations, and a great deal of patience, UCF and North Carolina will finally face off on September 20. The series was originally scheduled to start in 2018, but Hurricane Florence had a different plan. The pandemic destroyed the return leg two years later. Since then, both programs have experienced identity shifts and coaching transitions, but now that Scott Frost has returned to Orlando for a second act and Bill Belichick is leading the Tar Heels, the stars are finally aligning at the Bounce House.

The Tar Heels enter the game 2-1, still recovering from their tough first game against TCU, but regaining their confidence after winning back-to-back games. As UNC looks for its first win over a Big 12 program in 23 years, quarterback Gio Lopez is coming off a three-touchdown performance. In contrast, UCF has the advantage at home at the Bounce House, where it has won almost 75% of its games since 2007. Senior Jaden Nixon already has 400+ all-purpose yards. It’s easy to understand why UCF is eager to maintain its undefeated start when you combine that with a defense that has pitched five scoreless quarters in two games and extra rest from the bye week.

When UNC and UCF face off, two familiar voices will help navigate the chaos. Eric Collins and Spencer Tillman. Collins, who was born in Cleveland in 1969, had no childhood aspirations of becoming a broadcaster, but once he stepped behind the mic, he couldn’t go back. His breakthrough moment came in 2002 when he replaced Mike Tirico on ABC’s College Football.

Collins went on to become a journeyman voice in college, MLB, and the NBA. He worked the sidelines for the Bulls during their Jordan-era dominance, called White Sox games, and was the Dodgers’ part-time TV voice. The Charlotte Hornets’ energetic play-by-play caller is now well-known to most fans, and his calls have become a staple of Carolina basketball’s music.

Joining him is Spencer Tillman, a former standout running back who is now a skilled broadcaster. A standout at Oklahoma, he played for the Houston Oilers and San Francisco 49ers for eight years in the NFL before helping the Sooners win the 1985 national championship. Alongside legendary players like Joe Montana and Ronnie Lott, he even co-captained the 49ers in 1989 as they won a Super Bowl. Before making the full switch to media,

Tillman briefly explored broadcasting while still playing, working at Oklahoma radio and Houston’s KPRC-TV. He established himself as one of the sport’s most insightful commentators during his 16 years as CBS’s chief studio analyst for College Football Today. Together, Collins and Tillman bring a balance of energy and expertise to the booth.

UNC and UCF set for a prove-it matchup in Orlando

The game on Saturday in Orlando seems to be one of those “prove-it” contests for both teams. On paper, UNC’s 2-1 record appears decent, but the Heels haven’t been put to the test since TCU’s crushing blow to them in Week 1. We know very little about how the Knights will perform against a Power Four opponent because UCF, which is 2-0, was pushed by Jacksonville State before easily defeating North Carolina A&T. This one is about picking who is serious and who has been savoring the weaker competition as the conference approaches.

Carolina’s focus is firmly on Gio Lopez. The passing game hasn’t clicked as it should, but the quarterback’s legs have saved him at times. In a 41–6 crushing win over Richmond last week, where receivers were open most of the time, his PFF passing grade of 38.9 was a career low. On the other hand, the defense has been improving; Tar Heel fans have been pleading for this kind of improvement, and two missed tackles against Richmond after 19 against TCU are just an example.

The run game, led by Myles Montgomery and Jaden Nixon, is UCF’s key strength. The Knights are averaging more than 230 yards on the ground, and Nixon already accomplished a program first by scoring a rushing touchdown and a kickoff return touchdown in the same game. You can see why the Bounce House is such a challenging place to play when you combine that with a defense that has accumulated 18 tackles for loss in just two weeks.