Getty Quarterback Sam Howell of the North Carolina Tar Heels.
The No. 18 North Carolina Tar Heels will look to continue the upward trajectory they were on last season as they host Syracuse to open up each squad’s 2020 college football season.
The game starts at Noon ET and will be televised nationally on the ACC Network. But if you don’t have cable or don’t have that channel, here’s how to watch a live stream of Syracuse vs UNC online for free:
Heavy may earn an affiliate commission if you sign up via a link on this page
FuboTV
You can watch a live stream of ACC Network and 130-plus other TV channels via FuboTV. You’ll need the main channel package and the “Sports Plus” add-on, both of which can be included in your free seven-day trial:
Once signed up for FuboTV, you can watch Syracuse vs UNC live on the FuboTV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV, or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, Samsung Smart TV, Android TV, iPhone, Android phone, iPad, or Android tablet. Or you can watch the game on your computer via the FuboTV website.
You can also watch the game live via ESPN.com or the ESPN app. You’ll need to sign in to a TV provider to watch this way, but you can use your FuboTV credentials to do that.
If you can’t watch live, FuboTV also comes with 30 hours of cloud DVR space, as well as a 72-hour look-back feature, which allows you to watch the game on-demand within three days of its conclusion, even if you don’t record it.
Vidgo
You can watch a live stream of ACC Network and 65+ other TV channels on Vidgo, which you can try out for free with a seven-day trial:
Once signed up for Vidgo, you can watch Syracuse vs UNC live on the Vidgo app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV, or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, iPhone, Android phone, iPad, or Android tablet. Or you can watch the game on your computer via the Vidgo website.
You can also watch the game live via ESPN.com or the ESPN app. You’ll need to sign in to a TV provider to watch this way, but you can use your Vidgo credentials to do that.
Hulu With Live TV
You can watch a live stream of ACC Network and 65+ other TV channels via Hulu With Live TV, which you can use for free with a seven-day trial:
Once signed up for Hulu With Live TV, you can watch Syracuse vs UNC live on the Hulu app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV, or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, Android TV, iPhone, Android phone, iPad, or Android tablet. Or you can watch the game on your computer via the Hulu website.
You can also watch the game live via ESPN.com or the ESPN app. You’ll need to sign in to a TV provider to watch this way, but you can use your Hulu credentials to do that.
If you can’t watch live, Hulu with Live TV also comes with 50 hours of Cloud DVR storage (with the ability to upgrade to “Enhanced Cloud DVR,” which gives you 200 hours of DVR space and the ability to fast forward through commercials).
Sling TV
You can watch a live stream of ACC Network and 40-plus other TV channels via Sling TV’s Sling Orange plus Sports Extra bundle. It comes with a free three-day trial, but if you bypass that, you can get $10 off your first month, and get Showtime, Starz, and Epix included for free:
Once signed up for Sling TV, you can watch Syracuse vs UNC live on the Sling TV app, which is available on your Roku, Roku TV, Amazon Fire TV, or Firestick, Apple TV, Chromecast, Xbox One, Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV, Android TV, airTV Mini, Oculus, Portal, iPhone, Android phone, iPad, or Android tablet. Or you can watch the game on your computer via the Sling TV website.
You can also watch the game live via ESPN.com or the ESPN app. You’ll need to sign in to a TV provider to watch this way, but you can use your Sling credentials to do that.
If you can’t watch live, Sling TV comes included with 10 hours of cloud DVR.
Syracuse vs UNC Preview
North Carolina head coach Mack Brown has had a clear message for his players heading into a season laden with expectations. With the COVID-19 pandemic changing the face of college football — from fans in the stands to how they get ready for games — the only thing to expect is the unexpected.
“The kids have been incredible because we eat differently. We sleep differently. We work out differently. We practice differently,” Brown told 97.9 The Hill. “Everything we’re doing is not the norm. And I will say I’ve been so amazed with the resilience, the patients and the consistency of the way these young people have been working and they’re not even questioning.”
North Carolina finished their first season under Brown on a high-note, throttling Temple in the Military Bowl 55-13. It was the program’s first bowl victory since 2013 and they’ll look to carry that momentum into a new year — albeit an unprecedented one.
“Our goals are different,” Brown said. “Last year, we were trying to beat somebody. Last year, we were trying to finish games. Last year, we were trying to get to a bowl game. This year, we want to win the league.”
Sam Howell will be the man under center for the Tar Heels and is coming off an incredible rookie campaign where he passed for 3,641 yards and 38 touchdowns. North Carolina offensive coordinator Phil Longo expects big things of of Howell with a year under his belt.
“Last year, we were probably more limited than I’m used to being the first season because of the injury situation in the quarterback room,” Longo told reporters. “This year is a lot of fun, and I smile when I think about it, because we have been able to expand [the playbook] because we have more depth at quarterback.”
After finishing 10-3 in 2018, Syracuse stumbled to a 5-7 season a year ago. Syracuse head coach Dino Babers expects a mighty test from North Carolina in their opener. His Orange are 22-point underdogs on Saturday and will have to slow down Howell to have a chance.
“You’re talking about a person that a lot of people say is the second-best quarterback in the conference,” Babers said. “He’s got a big time arm. He can touch the entire football field, no doubt about it. He’s one of those guys that’s going to end up being a high draft pick.”
READ NEXT: How to Watch UNC Football Without Cable