UNC one of three ACC football teams ranked in the preseason coaches poll

North Carolina is ranked No. 20 in the preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll, with the preseason AP Top 25 poll set to be released next Monday.

Surratt snags interception in exhibition opener

Chazz Surratt came into his third NFL season with a shot at finally getting playing time and he didn’t do anything to hurt his chances on Thursday night. Surratt, who was on the New York Jets’ practice squad most of last season, had an interception and three tackles Thursday night in the Jets’ 21–16 loss to the Cleveland Browns in the Hall of Fame Game in Canton, Ohio.

Maye ACC Preseason Player of Year, leads three Tar Heels on Preseason All-ACC team

Quarterback Drake Maye, last season’s ACC Player of the Year, leads three Carolina players on the preseason All-ACC team announced Wednesday on UNC’s first day of practice and is the Preseason Player of the Year. Joining the 6–4, 230-pound redshirt sophomore are 6–2½, 200-pound Kent State junior transfer wide receiver Tez Walker and 6–2½, 235-pound senior linebacker Cedric Gray. The Tar Heels’ three selections were the third-most after seven for league favorite Clemson and four for Florida State.

Carolina picked in the preseason ACC poll to finish third

In the first non-COVID-19 season without divisions since 2005, the media picked North Carolina — the last Coastal Division champion — on Tuesday to finish third in the ACC. Clemson is the prohibitive favorite to win the league for the eighth time in the last nine seasons.

Tar Heels in NFL: Several of the 22 alums in camps expected to start, led by Howell; two likely starters changed teams

After only playing in the season finale of his rookie season, the Washington Commanders are giving Sam Howell a chance to show his talent on the field this season. One of his former UNC targets, wide receiver Josh Downs, one of four rookie alums, has a shot at starting for the Indianapolis Colts.

Maye would consider returning for 2024 season, says he never was going to transfer

CHARLOTTE — The prevailing assumption of the college football world, including Carolina coach Mack Brown, is that quarterback Drake Maye’s redshirt sophomore season as a Tar Heel will be his last. Not so fast, says the Heisman Trophy candidate and likely high pick in the 2024 NFL draft if he chooses to enter it. He says he’d consider returning for his redshirt junior season, particularly if UNC falls short of its goals.

Video: Drake Maye at ACC Kickoff

CHARLOTTE — Carolina junior quarterback Drake Maye answers media questions during ACC Kickoff on Thursday at The Westin Charlotte.

Video, transcript: UNC press conference at ACC Kickoff

CHARLOTTE — Here is a video of Carolina’s press conference Thursday morning at ACC Kickoff at The Westin Charlotte. Representing the Tar Heels at the availability were Coach Mack Brown, tight end John Copenhaver, linebacker Cedric Gray and quarterback Drake Maye.

Durham new voice of prime-time ACCN games; Boston ‘ACC PM’ return unlikely; UNC all-access show debuts Thursday

You’ll see Wes Durham on ACC Network’s biggest games but don’t expect former Carolina defensive back Tre Boston on that channel, which debuts exclusive UNC football content on Thursday.

ESPN’s first on-site ‘GameDay’ of season will be before UNC’s opener in Charlotte against South Carolina

North Carolina will appear on the football version of ESPN’s College GameDay for the third time when the show will air from Charlotte before the Tar Heels’ Sept. 2 season-opener against South Carolina. It will be the Tar Heels’ first appearance on the show since Sept. 4, 2010, before they lost to LSU in their season opener in Atlanta.