USA Today revealed its annual Preseason College Football Coaches’ Poll on Thursday, with UNC coming into the season as the No. 19 team in the country.

After winning just five games combined in 2017 and 2018, the Tar Heels went 7-6 in 2019 in the first year of head coach Mack Brown’s second tenure with the school.

With a rising star at quarterback in sophomore Sam Howell and numerous weapons returning on both sides of the ball–not to mention Brown’s prowess on the recruiting trail–expectations for UNC are sky-high heading into 2020.

The Tar Heels may also benefit from the recent schedule change, as they had previously been scheduled to open the season with a pair of tough games away from home against UCF and Auburn.

In the new schedule, UNC opens the year on Sept. 12 in Chapel Hill against Syracuse before hosting a non-conference opponent that has yet to be determined.

The Tar Heels hope to be chasing preseason No. 1 Clemson for ACC supremacy this season.

Behind the Tigers in the top five are: No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Alabama, No. 4 Georgia and No. 5 LSU.

The rest of the top 10 includes No. 6 Oklahoma, No. 7 Penn State, No. 8 Florida, No. 9 Oregon and No. 10 Notre Dame–which will be a part of the ACC this season.

At No. 24, Virginia Tech represents the fourth ACC team among the poll.

For the full rankings, click here.

Photo via Dakota Moyer

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