UNC Football Ranked No. 20 in Preseason Coaches Poll, Eyes Strong 2023 Season
The NCAA Football Coaches poll for the 2023 season has been released, and the UNC football program has landed a spot in the top 25 rankings. This comes as no surprise, as the Tar Heels have been consistently mentioned in various top rankings throughout the off-season. In the latest preseason poll, UNC holds the No. 20 spot.
Despite stumbling towards the end of the 2022 season with four consecutive losses after a promising 9-1 start, the UNC football program is filled with high expectations for the upcoming season. One of the main factors contributing to these expectations is the return of Drake Maye, who was voted ACC Preseason Player of the Year at ACC Media Day. Maye is projected to be a strong contender for the Heisman Trophy and will be a key player for the Tar Heels throughout the season.
To fully capitalize on Maye’s talent, the Tar Heels will need to develop offensive weapons around him and find a suitable replacement for the talented Josh Downs. Additionally, the team’s defense will need to show improvement for UNC to meet and exceed the preseason expectations set for them.
UNC’s first opponent of the season, South Carolina, did not make the cut in the Coaches Poll rankings. The Tar Heels are currently the third-ranked team in the ACC, trailing behind No. 8 Florida State and No. 9 Clemson.
The complete top 25 coaches poll can be found in the tweet below.
As the countdown to the start of the season continues, UNC football fans are undoubtedly excited and hopeful for a strong showing from their team. With the talent and potential within the program, the Tar Heels have all the necessary ingredients to make a significant impact in the 2023 season.