The Drive with Tim Donnelly

As the 2023 College football season arrives, the 2024 NFL Draft projections have begun, which many have UNC football QB Drake Maye going in the top-5 of the NFL, but also has Duke QB Riley Leonard quickly rising up mock draft projections into the first round. Also, there are lofty comparisons for Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young by ESPN's Marcus Spears to Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow.

NC State's defense will have to be up to the test vs UCONN's rushing attack. Also, there are a lot of unknowns with the NC State Wolfpack with a new quarterback in Brennan Armstrong, and new offensive coordinator Robert Anae for head coach Dave Doeren. 

The Carolina Panthers waived QB Matt Corral, WR Derek Wright, and LB Chandler Wooten after claiming three players off of waivers as NFL teams are finalizing their 53-man rosters for the 2023 NFL season. Also, Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich is intentially being coy about what his defense will look like this season. 

NC State football has a new quarterback and new offensive coordinator, UNC football has Drake Maye returning at QB but a new offensive coordinator, Wake Forest football has a new starting QB with Mitch Griffis but the same offensive coordinator, and Duke football has the same returning QB in Riley Leonard and the same offensive coordinator - which leads into a lot of uncertainty at the start of th...

ESPN announced that they will show approximately 75 college football games, including weekly ACC football games for out-of-market teams, as well as the college football playoff and New Year's Six bowl games, plus the CFP National Championship. Also, the ACC has put a pause on conversations about conference realignment and conference expansion after the fatal shooting on the campus of UNC Chapel Hi...

The Carolina Panthers traded for Kansas City Chiefs WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette as the team looks to add depth for rookie QB Bryce Young. With teams cutting their roster to 53 players, WR Shi Smith was one of the players placed on waivers.

The Carolina Panthers have several difficult roster decisions, including depth at WR due to several injuries, potentially adding a running back, and if more roster moves are made after the NFL 53-man roster deadline at 4pm ET on Tuesday. According to reports, ACC presidents will have a meeting Monday night to discuss further the additions of Cal, Stanford, and SMU to the ACC as conference realignm...

Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young showed off more of his skillset and mobility against the Detroit Lions in the finals preseason game for the Panthers. Young also completed his first TD pass to Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen. The confidence in Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young is high after the 2023 NFL preseason, to the point where the "Bryce-O-Meter" is reading "Bryce of America Stad...

Wake Forest football starts a new era with Mitch Griffis at QB, and Duke football looks to back up their 9-win season in 2022 with a tough matchup at home vs Clemson football. Also, the latest on UNC football WR Tez Walker as he battles the NCAA for eligibilty as North Carolina football is set to face South Carolina football. 

Notre Dame football QB Sam Hartman started off his time with the Fighting Irish with a great performance against Navy after having transfered from Wake Forest Football. Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams started hot for USC football. Also, NC State football and North Carolina football get ready for week 1 as the Wolfpack travel to UConn football, and UNC football gets set to face South...

In the Starting Five, Tim Donnelly breaks down Duke football QB Riley Leonard moving up NFL draft boards for the 2024 NFL Draft, Week 0 of college football arriving with Notre Dame football facing Navy Football, and USC football and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams in action; the latest on conference expansion and conference realignment with the ACC and Power 5 conferences, but also h...

Week 0 of the college football season is here, and all eyes will be on former Wake Forest football QB Sam Hartman at Notre Dame football as they face Navy Football, and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams at USC football. Conference realignment goes beyond the ACC, as the Mountain West Conference and American Athletic Conference are reportedly pursuing Oregon State and Washington State....

The Carolina Panthers on offense need to show some measure of improvement vs the Detroit Lions in their final preseason game. Tim Donnelly wants to see the playbook open a bit for Bryce Young to instill some confidence for him, and for the offense to eliminate many of the mental mistakes they've made so far this NFL preseason. Also, some early projections for the 2024 NFL Draft have Duke football...

Tim Donnelly warns Carolina Panthers fans to not get worried if other rookie quarterbacks in the NFL have a hot start compared to Panthers QB Bryce Young. Donnelly says don't be surprised if you see flashy plays from Indianapolis Colts QB Anthony Richardson early in the season, but that the long term choice will be Bryce Young. The Carolina Panthers need to do one thing, and one thing only, agains...

In the Starting Five, Tim Donnelly discusses the latest in the NFL including former Carolina Panthers QBs Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, and PJ Walker earning jobs with their new teams, Shohei Ohtani's UCL tear in his elbow and what that means for his future, Kobe Bryant "Mamba Day," NC State football and Wake Forest football preparing for the start of the college football season, and the latest on...

Tim Donnelly & Dennis Cox share what aspects of the Carolina Panthers they have confidence in, and are concerned with right now, including the offensive line, wide receiver group, Bryce Young, Brian Burns, and more. Also, Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Jaccob Slavin discussed the offseason on The Adam Gold Show, including the potential that Brett Pesce might not be with the team this upcoming...

NC State football and Wake Forest football are one week away from their season openers, with NC State Wolfpack visiting UConn football, and the Wake Forest Demon Deacons hosting Elon on Thursday, August 31st. Tim Donnelly breaks down what he wants to see from each program with each team having a new starting quarterback. Also, discussions about the ACC adding Cal, Stanford, and SMU intensify, but...

North Carolina and NC State have the opportunity to make demands to the ACC if they want to vote 'yes' to allowing Stanford, Cal, and SMU into the conference as conference realignment still looms for the ACC. With San Francisco 49ers QB Trey Lance falling to third on the depth chart, Tim Donnelly points out that trading up for quarterbacks in the NFL Draft don't always work out, and hopes Carolina...

With more conversations about ACC and conference realignment and conference expansion, Tim Donnelly points out that politicians can and will play a factor in what schools are about to do. Former NFL QB, and NC State football quarterback, Mike Glennon shared his breakdown of Washington Commanders - and former UNC football QB - Sam Howell after an impressive Monday Night Football performance against...

Tim Donnelly points out that Chris Simms of Pro Football Talk is way too early with his criticism of Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young, where Simms questioned if Young looked like a No. 1 overall pick based off of his build and performance. Donnelly points out that Simms had Young as his No. 2 rated QB going into the 2023 NFL Draft. More reports of ACC conference expansion and conference realignmen...

UNC women's soccer coach Anson Dorrance spoke out against ACC conference expansion and conference realignment when it comes to potentially adding Stanford & Cal from the Pac-12 because he doesn't want those schools to get better traction with recruiting. Tim Donnelly points out how it's hypocritical of coaches and others to cry about tough competition within their conference, but then complain...

Tim Donnelly and Producer Dennis Cox each share their top-5 college football games they're looking forward in the State of North Carolina in 2023, including NC State football, UNC football, Duke football, App State football, ECU football, Wake Forest football, NC Central football, NC A&T State football, and more. 

During the Starting Five, Tim Donnelly discusses the Washington Commanders being overly excited for winning a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, the performance of Commanders QB Sam Howell, Jonathan Taylor being available for trade and if the Carolina Panthers should pursue the Indianapolis Colts running back, Baker Mayfield being named the starting QB for the Tampa Bay Bucs, and SEC Com...

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey wants to explore possibly changing the look of the College Football Playoff in 2024 after several schools will be part of new conferences due to conference realignment.  Also, with the final preseason game approaching, how much should Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young play in the third preseason game against the Detroit Lions? 

Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell impressed against the Baltimore Ravens, solidifying the decision by Ron Rivera to name him the starting QB for the 2023 NFL season. Should the Carolina Panthers make a move to acquire Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor, reuniting him with Panthers head coach Frank Reich? Tim Donnelly says a back like Taylor would be helpful for Bryce Young, but that...