Television: ESPN, national game.

Radio: Tar Heel Sports Network (locally - WCHL-1360AM, WRBZ-850AM or WRDU-106.1FM)

The Teams: Florida State Seminoles (2-4, 0-3 ACC) & North Carolina Tar Heels (4-2, 0-2 ACC). Both teams are coming off an open date.

The Coaches: the legendary Bobby Bowden (311-95-4 in his 34th season at FSU, 384-128-4 in 44 years overall) & and Butch Davis (16-15 in his 3rd season at UNC, 67-35 in 9 seasons overall.) On Oct. 5, the chairman of the university's board of trustees called for Bowden, owner of 12 ACC title and two national titles, to resign and for coach-in-waiting, Jimbo Fisher, to finish the season. The next day, FSU's school president said Bowden would finish the season. The Noles lost their next game, 49-44 to Georgia Tech at home and haven't played since.

The Series: FSU leads 14-1-1, 6-1 at Chapel Hill. Last meeting: FSU 38, UNC 16 (2004 at Tallahassee, Fla.) Last UNC win: 41-9 in 2001 at Kenan Stadium.

Noteworthy: This will be Fla. State's 10th appearance in a Thursday night ESPN game, but the first against UNC. Carolina has never hosted an ESPN Thursday night game before this. ... Led by its linebacking tandem of Quan Sturdivant and Bruce Carter and DE Robert Quinn, UNC ranks 3rd nationally in total defense, first in pass defense and 12th in scoring defense. ... FSU counters with an offense led by QB Christian Ponder who leads the ACC and ranks 6th nationally in total offense. ... Bert Reed leads FSU's receivers with 28 catches for 364 yards. ... Quinn has registered 10 tackles for lost yardage and forced three fumbles. ... Very un-Seminole-like: FSU's defense ranks last in the ACC in total defense (426.7 yards per game), run defense (172.8) and pass defense (253.8). The Noles are 107th nationally in total defense and 90th in scoring defense (28.2 point per game).