ATLANTA, Sept. 5 (UPI) -- T.J. Yates rallied No. 18 North Carolina in the late going Saturday but No. 16 Louisiana State hung on for a 30-24 victory in Atlanta.
Yates led the Tar Heels (0-1) on a furious fourth-quarter rally in which North Carolina scored a pair of touchdowns, but he fell short in his try for a third score on the final play of the game.
Yates, who racked up more than 400 yards passing, had his final pass into the end zone thwarted by the Tigers (1-0) with 2 seconds left. His attempt to find tight end Zack Pianalto fell incomplete when linebacker Stefoin Francois impeded his progress with his left hand.
The Tar Heels were without 13 players -- seven suspended for violating school or NCAA rules and six benched during an investigation of possible violations involving sports agents.
Jordan Jefferson went 14-of-20 passing for 157 yards, two touchdowns and an interception for LSU.
