The Worldwide Leader in Sports is bullish on UNC football’s chances this season.
The Tar Heels cracked the top 10 of ESPN’s preseason power rankings, alongside the usual suspects such as Notre Dame, Clemson and Alabama. ESPN also ranked junior quarterback Sam Howell as the No. 2 returning quarterback in the country, behind only Oklahoma’s Spencer Rattler.
Needless to say, expectations in Chapel Hill are sky-high for the 2021 season, after the 2020 campaign concluded with a berth in the program’s first-ever Orange Bowl. Season tickets are already sold out, as well as the home games against Duke, Florida State, and Miami. Individual tickets to the remaining contests are still available.
UNC’s season officially starts Wednesday as players report to training camp in Chapel Hill, with the first official practice being scheduled for Thursday morning in the Bill Koman Practice Complex. WCHL will be covering the practice as well as post-practice press conferences for Howell and head coach Mack Brown.
The Tar Heels open the regular season at Virginia Tech on Friday, September 3rd at 6 p.m. You can listen to the game on 97.9 FM or 1360 AM, or watch on television on ESPN.
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.
Related Stories
‹

UNC Football Holds on to Beat No. 25 Pitt, Earn Belichick's First Ranked WinBilly Edwards and Shamar Easter connected on a 75-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter to give the Tar Heels a lead they wouldn’t relinquish, helping UNC beat No. 25 Pitt on the road Saturday afternoon. It’s Carolina’s first ranked win under head coach Bill Belichick, and the program’s first ranked win on the […]

UNC Football at Pittsburgh (2026): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Kickoff TimeUNC will head up to the Steel City Saturday to face No. 25 Pitt, which enters the game with a 5-0 record. The Tar Heels have won 8 of 11 meetings with the Panthers since they joined the ACC. If you aren’t traveling north with the team, here’s how you can follow along at home: […]

Against Wounded Pitt, UNC Football Seeks More Consistency — And a WinStop me if you’ve heard this before: UNC has a chance for a key road win against a team which is making a quarterback change.

100 Years of Kenan Stadium: Swamping the GatorsThe term "football weather" doesn't usually mean a rainstorm, but a memorable Kenan Stadium win for UNC came on just that kind of day.

100 Years of Kenan Stadium: Dress for SuccessUNC alumnus Hal Fischer recalls his surprise at seeing Tar Heel fans at Kenan Stadium dressed in coats and ties.

2026 UNC Football Opponent Preview: PittsburghUNC will make the trip up north to face No. 25 Pittsburgh Saturday. The Panthers are making their debut in the AP Top 25 this week after beginning the season 5-0. Pitt is coming off a thrilling 35-33 win at Virginia Tech which saw the Hokies miss a potential game-winning field goal as time expired. […]

With a Long Stretch Ahead, UNC Football Can't Afford to Look BackwardInstead of taking any sort of moral victory from Saturday's loss to No. 3 Notre Dame, UNC is focusing on its long road ahead.

No. 3 Notre Dame Pulls Away in Second Half, Beats UNC Football in Chapel HillNo. 3 Notre Dame imposed its will in the second half at a rainy Kenan Stadium, pulling away from a spunky Tar Heel team for a 37-26 win Saturday. “Hard-fought game,” head coach Bill Belichick said afterward. “Proud of the way our guys competed. We just weren’t able to make enough plays, really in any […]
![]()
The Morning News: Chatham Housing, UNC Football PreviewIn today's news: Chatham County officials tackle affordable housing, and UNC football prepares to tackle Notre Dame.

As a Heavy Underdog, UNC Football Focusing on Itself vs. No. 3 Notre DameWill UNC beat No. 3 Notre Dame Saturday at a sold-out Kenan Stadium? History tells us that’s not likely to happen.
›