Stanford vs. North Carolina: How to watch, live stream

The No. 18 Stanford Cardinal closed the season with a flurry of wins and looks to cap the season with another as it takes on North Carolina in the Hyundai Sun Bowl. The Tar Heels closed an otherwise successful season with losses in two of their final three games to end the regular season.

Game info

No. 18 Stanford (9-3) vs. North Carolina (8-4)

Dec. 30, 2016

Sun Bowl Stadium, El Paso, Texas

How to watch

Game time: 2 p.m. ET

TV channel: CBS

Live stream: You can live stream the game here.

Players to watch

With star Cardinal running back Christian McCaffrey sitting the game out, backup Bryce Love is expected to get the lion's share of the backfield work for Stanford against North Carolina. Love was a constant big-play threat with 90 carries for 664 yards (7.4 average) with three touchdowns this season. 

Tar Heels quarterback Mitch Trubisky had a breakout season with 3,468 yards, 28 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He added 270 yards and five touchdowns on the ground and is widely regarded as a first-round pick if he declares for the NFL draft.

Key stats

This is Stanford’s eighth straight season with a bowl trip; the Cardinal are 4-3 in the previous seven bowls.

This is the Cardinal’s fourth trip to the Sun Bowl; they are 2-1 in the previous three, including losing the 2009 game to Oklahoma, 31-27.

North Carolina is appearing in its fourth Sun Bowl and first since 1994; the Tar Heels are 2-2 in Sun Bowl games.

Stanford needs a win to cap its sixth 10-win season in the last seven and ninth in the 96-year history of Division I football at the school.

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This is North Carolina’s fourth bowl trip in a row and sixth in the last seven seasons; the Tar Heels are 2-3 in the previous five trips.

North Carolina is in search of just its second nine-win season in the last 19 years.

Both teams have one win in the all-time series; Stanford won most recently in 1998, 37-34.

The Tar Heels boast the No. 22 passing attack in the country with 294.3 yards per game.

Stanford has the No. 33 scoring defense in the FBS with 20.2 points per game allowed.

Injuries

Stanford safety Zach Hoffpauir is questionable with an undisclosed injury.

Cardinal tight end Greg Taboada is questionable with an undisclosed injury.