The calendar is getting set to flip over to July and that means we are getting closer and closer to the start of the 2023 college football season.
For Mack Brown and the North Carolina Tar Heels, they are hoping to bounce back after losing four-straight games including the ACC Championship and Holiday Bowl last season.
North Carolina will enter the year behind Clemson and Florida State in terms of the favorites in the conference but they do have the best quarterback in the conference with Drake Maye returning. Despite losing players like Josh Downs and Antoine Green as well as offensive coordinator Phil Longo, UNC does bring in some talent. And the offense should be good enough to keep them in every game.
As we get closer to the start of the season, Athlon Sports put out its full rankings for every team this season.
Athlon Sports has UNC ranked No. 25 going into the 2023 season:
After a 9-1 start last year, the Tar Heels slipped down the stretch by losing their last four games. Although the non-conference slate is challenging, coach Mack Brown’s team shouldn’t suffer any lingering effects from the late slide thanks to the return of quarterback Drake Maye – a second-team preseason All-American by Athlon Sports – and one of the ACC’s deepest backfields. Providing better protection (40 sacks allowed) for Maye is a must, and the Tar Heels are counting on transfers Devontez Walker (Kent State) and Nate McCollum (Georgia Tech) to alleviate the loss of Josh Downs at receiver. Also, this unit will have a new play-caller after Chip Lindsey was hired following Phil Longo’s departure to Wisconsin. North Carolina’s defense allowed the most points a game (30.8) in the ACC last year. With eight starters back and a solid haul of transfers, coordinator Gene Chizik should be able to generate some improvement from this group.
North Carolina’s schedule is a little tough to start but if they can get by South Carolina, Appalachian State and Minnesota, they should be in good shape going into conference play.
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