North Carolina's 29-24 victory over Notre Dame will have no bearing on the fortunes of the Tar Heels in the ACC race, of course, but it certainly won't hurt their mental outlook for the rest of the season.

"It means a lot to this program," junior wide receiver Hakeen Nicks said after once again putting up stellar numbers (nine catches, 141 yards) against the Irish. "All of the players are fired up, the coaches are fired up. Guys really gave it their all and put it all on the line."

The victory, which moved the Heels (5-1, 1-1 ACC) up four spots in the Associated Press poll to No. 18, was illustrative of just how far they have come since last year.

This is the kind of game the Heels lost in 2007, when six of their eight defeats were by a touchdown or less. This time the Heels rallied after the visiting Irish, who came into the game unranked but with an identical 4-1 overall record, took a 17-6 lead in the second quarter and held a 17-9 margin at halftime.

The Tar Heels, however, outscored the Irish 20-7 over the last two quarters and made the play that sealed the victory, forcing a Notre Dame fumble in the closing seconds -- though the ruling was a long time coming and took a review by the replay official before it was confirmed.

"I don't know if I have ever been involved in a bizarre a football game as what transpired tonight," said coach Butch Davis, who now is at .500 (9-9) in a year and a half at Chapel Hill. "It was two teams that fought hard, and you've got to give Notre Dame an awful lot of credit. I know they hate coming out on the short end. It's two programs scratching and fighting and trying to find a way to re-establish themselves as football programs."

The Tar Heels were outgained 472-322 in total offense, but they held the Irish to only 89 yards rushing and forced five turnovers. The Heels had no turnovers after recovering their only fumble.

"I think the defense did well today," said linebacker Quan Sturdivant, whose interception return for a touchdown put the Heels' comeback in high gear just after the halftime break. "We gave up a lot of yards, but we got the win."

The victory means the Tar Heels are just one short of the six wins needed to gain postseason eligibility for the first time since they played in the 2004 Continental Tire Bowl. The Heels get back into ACC play with a trip to Virginia coming up Oct. 18.

With six league games remaining, they need to win out and have Virginia Tech lose twice to capture the Coastal Division title and earn a berth in the league championship game Dec. 6 in Tampa.

SEASON RECAP

North Carolina 35, McNeese State 27: Senior Brandon Tate had a record-setting night with 397 all-purpose yards, including touchdown runs of 82 yards on a punt return and a 57-yard pass reception, to lead the Tar Heels. Hakeem Nicks also had a 71-yard reception to set up North Carolina's last touchdown.

North Carolina 44, Rutgers 12: The Tar Heels came up with four interceptions and scored 38 points over the second and third quarters to end a 20-game losing streak in games played outside the state. Brandon Tate scored on a 69-yard pass play and 12-yard run, and Hakeem Nicks caught his first two touchdown passes of the season.

Virginia Tech 20, North Carolina 17: With T.J. Yates injured, the Tar Heels couldn't generate any offense after assuming a 17-3 lead midway through the third quarter. The Heels had four turnovers to Tech's two and were penalized 14 times for 121 yards.

North Carolina 28, Miami 24: Cam Sexton came off the bench to throw for 242 yards and two touchdowns, including a 74-yard strike to Hakeem Nicks and a 14-yarder to Brooks Foster with 46 seconds left. The Tar Heels overcame an early 14-0 deficit in giving coach Butch Davis his second consecutive victory over his former team.

North Carolina 38, Connecticut 12: Outgained 378 yards to 263 in total offense and 210 to 117 in the air, the Tar Heels took advantage of three interceptions and three blocked punts to hand the Huskies their first loss of the season. Shaun Draughn ran for 109 yards, and defensive tackle Marvin Austin returned one of the interceptions for a touchdown.

North Carolina 29, Notre Dame 24 -- Quan Sturdivant's interception return for a touchdown got the Tar Heels moving in the second half, and Cam Sexton scored the decisive touchdown on a 4-yard run early in the fourth quarter. The Tar Heels' win wasn't secured until an official replay ruled that Michael Floyd had fumbled at Carolina's 7-yard line, giving the ball to the Heels for a kneel-down to kill the final seconds.

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