By R.L. Bynum
Coach Bill Belichick’s first North Carolina team could easily exceed its predicted eighth-place ACC finish, thanks in large part to a forgiving schedule.
If a roster that includes 60 newcomers can come together quickly, the path to a much higher finish is there. Much of the preseason attention has focused on UNC’s soft schedule, and for good reason. The ACC poll released Tuesday only amplified that.
ACC favorite Clemson is Carolina’s only league opponent ranked in Athlon’s top 40 at No. 6, with the Tigers to face UNC, ranked No. 52 by Athlon, in Chapel Hill on Oct. 4.
Beyond that, seven of the Tar Heels’ eight other league opponents are projected to finish 10th or worse in the ACC — including the bottom four teams in the poll.
Aside from Clemson, only two other ACC opponents were predicted to finish in the top 10 in the league: No. 6 Duke (No. 41 Athlon) visits Chapel Hill on Nov. 22, and No. 10 N.C. State (No. 54 Athlon) hosts UNC in the regular-season finale on Nov. 29.
Following the Clemson game, North Carolina enters a five-game stretch against teams all projected to finish in the bottom six of the 17-team league:
- Oct. 17: at No. 15 California (No. 78 Athlon)
- Oct. 25: vs. No. 14 Virginia (No. 69)
- Oct. 31: at No. 12 Syracuse (No. 57)
- Nov. 8: vs. No. 17 Stanford (No. 99)
- Nov. 15: at No. 16 Wake Forest (No. 80)
If UNC can win its Sept. 1 opener over TCU — ranked No. 36 by Athlon — in front of a sold-out Kenan Stadium, the Tar Heels could very well be 4–0 heading into the Clemson game.
Carolina will be favored in all three games between TCU and Clemson:
- Sept. 6: at Charlotte (No. 124)
- Sept. 13: vs. Richmond (FCS, so no Athlon rank)
- Sept. 20: at Central Florida (No. 73)
With a schedule that offers both momentum-building matchups and a few chances to prove itself against better competition, UNC’s ceiling in terms of record may be higher than anyone imagined just a few months ago.
UNC schedule
| Month/ date | Score/ time | Opponent |
|---|---|---|
| August | ||
| 29 | TBA | vs.TCU in Dublin, Ireland |
| September | ||
| 12 | TBA | vs. ETSU |
| 19 | TBA | at Clemson |
| October | ||
| 3 | TBA | vs. Notre Dame |
| 10 | TBA | at Pittsburgh |
| 17 | TBA | at Duke |
| 24 | TBA | vs. Syracuse |
| 31 | TBA | vs. Miami |
| November | ||
| 7 | TBA | at UConn |
| 14 | TBA | vs. Louisville |
| 21 | TBA | at Virginia |
| 28 | TBA | vs. N.C. State |
| December | ||
| 5 | noon, ABC | ACC championship game in Charlotte |
Photo courtesy of the ACC
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