CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Connor Mitch will probably be a little too busy tonight to do much reminiscing.
But South Carolina's sophomore quarterback will see some familiar faces when he makes his first career college start against border state rival North Carolina in a neutral site game.
This week’s SEC games
TODAY All times Central
South Carolina vs. North Carolina at Charlotte, N.C., 5 p.m.
Western Kentucky at Vanderbilt, 7 p.m.
SATURDAY
Louisiana-Monroe at Georgia, 11 a.m.
Tennessee-Martin at Ole Miss, 11 a.m.
Louisville vs. Auburn at Atlanta, 2:30 p.m.
Texas-El Paso at Arkansas, 2:30 p.m.
SE Missouri State at Missouri, 3 p.m.
Bowling Green at Tennessee, 3 p.m.
Arizona State vs. Texas A&M at Houston, 6 p.m.
Louisiana-Lafayette at Kentucky, 6 p.m.
McNeese State at LSU, 6:30 p.m.
Today’s games
All times Central
EAST
Villanova at UConn, 6:30 p.m.
SOUTH
North Carolina vs. South Carolina at Charlotte, N.C., 5 p.m.
Florida International at Central Florida, 5 p.m.
Central Arkansas at Samford, 6 p.m.
Henderson State at Southeastern Okla. St., 6 p.m.
Ouachita Baptist at East Central (Okla.), 6 p.m.
Northwestern Okla. State at Arkansas-Monticello, 7 p.m.
Pikeville at Campbell, 6 p.m.
North Greenville at Charleston Southern, 6 p.m.
Valparaiso at Eastern Kentucky, 6 p.m.
Kentucky Wesleyan at Murray St., 6 p.m.
SE Louisiana at Northwestern (La.) St., 6 p.m.
Elon at Wake Forest, 6 p.m.
Kennesaw St. at East Tenn. St., 6:30 p.m.
Alcorn St. at Georgia Tech, 6:30 p.m.
Western Kentucky at Vanderbilt, 7 p.m.
Duke at Tulane, 8:30 p.m.
MIDWEST
VMI at Ball St., 6 p.m.
Oklahoma St. at Cent. Michigan, 6 p.m.
Stony Brook at Toledo, 6 p.m.
E. Illinois at W. Illinois, 6 p.m.
TCU at Minnesota, 8 p.m.
FAR WEST
Michigan at Utah, 7:30 p.m.
Ohio at Idaho, 8 p.m.
Southern Utah at Utah St., 8 p.m.
Fort Lewis at Montana St., 8:05 p.m.
Texas-San Antonio at Arizona, 9 p.m.
Abilene Christian at Fresno St., 9 p.m.
UC Davis at Nevada, 9 p.m.
New Hampshire at San Jose St., 9 p.m.
Colorado at Hawaii 11:59 p.m.
Mitch played for Wakefield High School in Raleigh, N.C., and said he knows many of the Tar Heels. He's particularly tight with Tar Heels receiver Jordan Fieulleteau, a 6-foot-3 sophomore who was Mitch's favorite target in high school.
"No nerves, just excitement," said Mitch, who beat out three other competitors this summer to win the starting job.
Mitch threw for 4,661 yards and 63 touchdowns in helping Wakefield to an 11-2 mark with Fieulleteau contributing 111 receptions for 1,669 yards and 25 TDs.
"He's very capable," South Carolina Coach Steve Spurrier said of Mitch. "We're going to give him all the support we can. Hopefully, we will have some good plays on and he gets off to a good start."
South Carolina, however, is thin at wide receiver. The Gamecocks lost two freshmen -- Shaq Davidson and Jerad Washington -- to season-ending injuries last week. Washington was listed as a third-team receiver on the team's depth chart to face North Carolina. Pharoh Cooper is the team's only returning receiver with significant experience.
Mitch faces a defense that was one of the worst in the nation last season.
The Tar Heels have aggressively tried to revamp their defense, bringing in new coaches, changing the scheme and tinkering with personnel after a year in which they surrendered more points (39) and yards (497.8) per game than any other team in school history. The Tar Heels were so bad they allowed instate foe East Carolina to score 70 points and pile up 789 yards.
"I think they've absorbed a lot," first-year defensive coordinator Gene Chizik said. "I think they've been very tuned in to what we're asking them to do. You never know what you're going to get until you turn the lights on, as we all know."
Offensively, North Carolina has settled on sophomore Elijah Hood as its starting tailback instead of junior T.J. Logan. Hood was a touted recruit who struggled through an injury-plagued debut season, but can move the pile with a 6-foot, 220-pound frame. If Hood can provide a physical tone, that could take the pressure off dual-threat quarterback Marquise Williams.
Sports on 09/03/2015