By R.L. Bynum

North Carolina is picked eighth out of 17 teams in the preseason ACC football media poll released Wednesday.

Of the last four polls without divisions, this is the lowest predicted finish for the Tar Heels since being voted 10th in the 2004 poll when there were 11 teams. UNC, 8–5 last season, was voted third in 2020 (15 teams) and 2023 (14 teams).

UNC got 1,712 poll points but no first-place votes. The Tar Heels also got no first-place votes in 2020 (picked third). When there were two divisions, UNC failed to get a first-place vote in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2011.

With nine ACC teams from 1992 to 2003, Carolina’s lowest preseason poll placement was sixth in 2001, 2002 and 2003. With eight league teams from 1985 to 1991, the Tar Heels were the lowest picked, at seventh, in 1990. In the first nine years of the poll, when the ACC had seven teams from 1976 to 1984, UNC was picked the lowest at third in 1976 and 1979.

Carolina was the preseason favorite from 1980 to 1984, winning the league in 1980.

Reigning ACC champion Florida State (13–1 last season) is the overwhelming favorite, garnering 81 first-place votes and 2,708 poll points, followed by Clemson (55 first-place votes), which won five straight games to end the season at 9–4.

Miami racked up 17 first-place votes, while N.C. State (8), Virginia Tech (5) and Cal (2) also received multiple first-place votes. Boston College and Georgia Tech each received one first-place vote.

Clemson got 2,657 poll points, followed by Miami (2,344 points), and N.C. State (2,318), Louisville (1,984 points), Virginia Tech (1,968) and SMU (1,798).

After UNC in ninth is Georgia Tech (1,539), followed by Cal (1,095), Duke (1,056), Syracuse (1,035), Pitt (1,016), Boston College (890), Wake Forest (784), Virginia (629) and Stanford (477).

The ACC championship game, featuring the teams that finish in the top two of the regular-season standings, will be held at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 7.

ACC preseason poll

Rank	Team	Points
1.	Florida State (81)	2,708
2.	Clemson (55)	2,657
3.	Miami (17)	2,344
4.	N.C. State (8)	2,318
5.	Louisville	1,984
6.	Virginia Tech (5)	1,968
7.	SMU	1,798
8.	North Carolina	1,712
9.	Georgia Tech (1)	1,539
10.	Cal (2)	1,095
11.	Duke	1,056
12.	Syracuse	1,035
13.	Pitt	1,016
14.	Boston College (1)	890
15.	Wake Forest	784
16.	Virginia	629
17.	Stanford	477

First-place votes in parentheses

Month/ date	Score/ time	Opponent	Record/ TV
September
1	L, 48–14	vs. TCU	0–1
6	W, 20–3	at Charlotte	1–1
13	W, 41–6	vs. Richmond	2–1
20	L, 34–9	at UCF	2–2
October
4	L, 38–10	vs. Clemson	2–3, 0–1 ACC
17 (Fri.)	L, 21–18	at California	2–4, 0–2
25	L, 17–16, OT	vs. No. 16 Virginia	2–5, 0–3
31 (Fri.)	W, 27–10	at Syracuse	3–5, 1–3
November
8	W, 20–15	vs. Stanford	4–5, 2–3
15	L, 28–12	at Wake Forest	4–6, 2–4
22	L, 32–25	vs. Duke	4–7, 2–5
29	L, 42–19	at N.C. State	4–8, 2–6