Where is UNC football projected to finish in ACC Preseason Poll?
The UNC football program, just over a month from kicking off its highly-anticipated 2025 campaign, will attract plenty of attention this fall.
North Carolina made an unexpected offseason hiring for its next head coach: 8-time Super Bowl Champion Bill Belichick. At first glance, this translates to instant success, but Belichick has never coached at the collegiate level before.
The Tar Heels will have to prove themselves in live game action – and go up against a reloaded ACC when doing so. On Wednesday afternoon, the ACC released its 2025 Preseason Poll, with media picking UNC to finish eighth.
North Carolina is a spot behind Florida State in the preseason poll, plus one spot ahead of Pitt. The Tar Heels won't match up with either the Seminoles or Panthers this fall, but split matchups with both opponents in 2024 (35-11 win at FSU, 34-24 loss vs. Pitt).
Clemson is projected to win the ACC, which should come as a surprise to very few people. UNC hosts the Tigers on October 4, a game that will play a major role in shaping the future, 2025 trajectory of both teams.
If we're deciding North Carolina's win total based on the ACC Preseason Polls alone, victories should pile up. The Tar Heels will travel to California on Oct. 17, host Virginia eight days later and travel to Syracuse on Halloween. UNC hosts Stanford on November 8, travels to Wake Forest on Nov. 15, hosts Duke Nov. 22 and travels to NC State over Thanksgiving weekend.
Belichick is a coach who knows how to get the best out of his players. The hope in Chapel Hill is that North Carolina will win games it's expected to, while also delivering a few surprises.
Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
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