Expectations around the voting ACC media for UNC’s first season under head coach Bill Belichick are neither high nor low. In fact, they’re somewhere in the middle.

Almost exactly in the middle.

UNC was picked eighth out of 17 teams in the league’s annual preseason poll, which was released Wednesday afternoon.

At the top of the conference sits defending champion Clemson, which received 167 of 183 first-place votes and will visit Kenan Stadium on October 4. Following the Tigers were No. 2 Miami (seven first-place votes), No. 3 SMU (two), No. 4 Georgia Tech (two) and No. 5 Louisville. The Cardinals did not receive any first-place votes.

Elsewhere, Duke checks in at No. 6, NC State at No. 10 and Wake Forest at No. 16. Notably, two other schools received first-place votes: No. 6 Florida State received four despite finishing 2-10 in 2024, and No. 11 Virginia Tech received a single first-place vote.

Outside of Clemson, the next-highest ranked team on UNC’s schedule is Duke. The Tar Heels will also face No. 10 NC State, No. 12 Syracuse, No. 14 Virginia, No. 15 Cal, No. 16 Wake Forest and No. 17 Stanford this fall.

For a full look at the poll, click here.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
UNC Linebacker Khmori House to Enter Transfer Portal
UNC starting linebacker Khmori House plans to enter the transfer portal with two years of eligibility remaining. The portal will officially open January 2. View this post on Instagram House arrived in Chapel Hill via the transfer portal from the University of Washington last offseason. A sophomore, House led UNC in tackles with 78. He […]
Chansky's Notebook: A Full Cycle
Bill Belichick and Michael Lombardi's "first" national signing day class at UNC comes with some good news and some bad news.
'They Will Be a Foundation': Belichick, Lombardi Speak at UNC Football's National Signing Day Event
UNC officially announced the signings of 39 high school and junior college prospects Wednesday at the Kenan Football Center. The Tar Heels’ class is ranked No. 17 nationally and No. 3 in the ACC by 247 Sports. Of schools with classes ranked inside the Top 50, only West Virginia signed more players Wednesday. Of the […]
5 UNC Football Players Earn All-ACC Recognition
A quintet of Tar Heels earned all-conference recognition from the ACC Tuesday. Defensive end Melkart Abou-Jaoude was named to the ACC’s second team, while receiver Jordan Shipp, kicker Rece Verhoff and linebackers Khmori House and Andrew Simpson each received honorable mention nods. Abou-Jaoude had a productive debut season as a Tar Heel after transferring in […]
Chansky's Notebook: Postseason Reviews
Art Chansky reviews the negative feedback he's heard about Bill Belichick's first season as head football coach at UNC.
UNC and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Football Season
Yes, it was as bad as it looked. The Tar Heels went out with a whimper in their 42-19 shellacking at NC State Saturday night. It was the Wolfpack’s fifth straight win against UNC, tied for their longest such run in series history. Between wins No. 4 and 5, Carolina had seen a […]
UNC Football's Season Ends with Blowout Loss at NC State
The UNC defense had no answer for NC State in the first half Saturday night, as the Wolfpack scored on all four of their first-half possessions on their way to a 42-19 win in Raleigh. It’s NC State’s fifth consecutive win in the series, which is tied for its longest in program history. “It was […]
The UNC-NC State Rivalry is as Petty as it is Mediocre. That’s What Makes it Great.
The heated UNC-NC State rivalry never carries much weight nationally. It's purely regional, and that's why we love it.
UNC Football at NC State (2025): How to Watch, Cord-Cutting Options and Kickoff Time
UNC will wrap up its 2025 season Saturday night when it visits rival NC State in Raleigh. The Tar Heels are looking to snap a four-game losing streak against the Wolfpack. If you aren’t attending the game in person, here’s how you can follow along at home: Broadcast Schedule Those hoping to listen on the […]
Chansky's Notebook: The Prepared Pack
While he has acknowledged the rivalry between UNC and N.C. State, Bill Belichick is not aware how hostile Saturday night will be.
›