By R.L. Bynum
The preseason AP Top 25 football poll offers more proof that North Carolina’s 2026 schedule is far tougher than the one it faced during a 4–8 season a year ago.
Virginia was the Tar Heels’ only ranked opponent last season (No. 16 when UNC lost 17-16 in overtime at Kenan Stadium on Oct. 25), but this year they’ll face three ranked teams, including two in the top 10, along with four others that received votes.
UNC hasn’t made the preseason poll since it was No. 21 in 2023.
Ohio State sits atop the poll, released Monday, followed by Oregon at No. 2, Georgia at No. 3 and Notre Dame at No. 4.
Coach Bill Belichick’s second Carolina team faces the Fighting Irish at Kenan Stadium on Oct. 3, marking the first time a top-10 team has played in Chapel Hill since No. 5 Notre Dame beat UNC 45–32 on Sept. 24, 2022.
Two more ranked opponents follow that October showdown. No. 7 Miami comes to Chapel Hill on Oct. 31, and Louisville, ranked 24th, visits on Nov. 14.
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Before any of that, UNC opens ACC play on the road, traveling to Clemson on Sept. 19. The Tigers fell just five poll points short of cracking the rankings, receiving the 26th most votes. It’s the first time Clemson has missed the preseason poll since 2011.
Carolina’s season opener is at noon ET on Aug. 29 in Dublin, Ireland, facing TCU in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. The Horned Frogs picked up 11 poll points, for the 30th-most.
Two other Carolina opponents also got votes in the poll: Pittsburgh, which the Tar Heels visit Oct. 10, received seven poll points, and Virginia, which UNC plays on the road Oct. 21, received one.
AP Top 25
Others receiving votes: Clemson 112, Florida 51, Boise State 43, Arizona 32, TCU 11, Navy 10, South Carolina 10, Illinois 9, Oklahoma State 8, Vanderbilt 8, Pittsburgh 7, Virginia Tech 6, Minnesota 5, UNLV 4, New Mexico 4, Georgia Tech 4, Louisiana 4, James Madison 3, Auburn 3, Memphis 2, California 2, Liberty 1, Western Michigan 1, Tulane 1, Virginia 1
UNC schedule
| Month/ date | Score/ time | Opponent (current ranking) |
|---|---|---|
| August | ||
| 29 | Noon, ESPN | vs.TCU in Dublin, Ireland |
| September | ||
| 12 | Noon, ACCN | vs. ETSU |
| 19 | Noon, ESPN | at Clemson |
| October | ||
| 3 | TBA | vs. No. 4 Notre Dame |
| 10 | TBA | at Pittsburgh |
| 17 | TBA | at Duke |
| 24 | TBA | vs. Syracuse |
| 31 | TBA | vs. No. 7 Miami |
| November | ||
| 7 | TBA | at UConn |
| 14 | TBA | vs. No. 24 Louisville |
| 21 | TBA | at Virginia |
| 28 | TBA | vs. N.C. State |
| December | ||
| 5 | noon, ABC | ACC championship game in Charlotte |
