Saturday’s win at Virginia–the UNC football team’s ninth straight victory on the road–marked the first time in 2016 that the Tar Heels have won as a ranked team.

Then ranked No. 22, head coach Larry Fedora’s squad moved up one spot in this week’s poll to No. 21.

The Tar Heels are 6-2 as they enter their bye week, but the team had previously lost to both Georgia and Virginia Tech as a member of the top 25.

Now, though, its schedule has lightened up and UNC is back on track.

Of UNC’s final four games, none are against schools listed as part of the top 25, or that received votes for the top 25.

Clemson (No. 3), Louisville (No. 5) and Florida State (No. 12) are the only other ACC teams listed ahead of the Tar Heels. However, each of these schools plays in the league’s Atlantic Division.

UNC, at No. 21, is the highest ranked team out of the Coastal Division. In reality, the Tar Heels are positioned in a three-way tie atop the division with No. 25 Virginia Tech and Pitt, which didn’t quite receive enough votes to enter the rankings.

The SEC leads all conferences with six teams among the top 25–including No. 1 Alabama. Both the ACC and the Big Ten are right behind with five ranked teams apiece.

 

FULL RANKINGS HERE