While college football’s preseason AP Poll is still yet to be released, UNC football fans will enjoy seeing the USA Today Coaches Poll that was published Tuesday.

The Tar Heels are ranked No. 9 in the new poll. It is their highest preseason ranking since 1997, the last year of head coach Mack Brown’s first stint in Chapel Hill. The Tar Heels checked in at No. 8 in the Coaches Poll that season and finished No. 4.

Carolina is one of only three ACC programs to start the season ranked in the poll. Clemson is seven spots above the Tar Heels at No. 2, while Miami sits at No. 16. UNC plays Miami in Chapel Hill on October 16.

The only other ranked team on Carolina’s schedule for 2021 is No. 7 Notre Dame, who will host UNC on October 30 at 7:30 p.m. NC State, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh and Florida State are among the other teams receiving votes.

The ranking only adds to the hype around the team’s upcoming season. The football program announced Tuesday morning that this year’s home game against Virginia had sold out. It is the fifth of seven home games this season to sell out.

You can listen to Carolina football all season on 97.9 FM or 1360 AM.

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