Thursday will bring the unofficial beginning of the 2016 football season with the convening of the Atlantic Coast Conference Media Days.

Representatives from all of the ACC members will migrate to Charlotte for the 45th Annual ACC Football Kickoff.

UNC will be represented in the Queen City by coach Larry Fedora, senior wide receiver Ryan Switzer and senior cornerback Des Lawrence.

The media members will also make selections for preseason awards and project the order in which teams will finish in each division as part of the pomp of the gathering.

The biggest news is expected right off the bat early Thursday morning when ACC Commissioner John Swofford is set to deliver his Commissioner’s address. After years of speculation regarding the ACC Network launching with ESPN in some way or another, representatives from the cable sports giant are set to join Swofford at 10 o’clock Thursday morning for an announcement.

The News & Observer reported earlier in the week that the conference and ESPN were closing in on a deal to launch a digital network for 2016 and an ACC cable channel in 2019 as part of a newly negotiated television deal.

The Commissioner’s address is set for 10 o’clock Thursday morning.

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