With kickoff for the 2023 college football season under a month away, the preseason polls are starting to roll out. And on Monday, the first USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll has been released.
The North Carolina Tar Heels made the initial poll, checking in at No. 20 for the upcoming season. Last year, the Tar Heels were not in the poll but did receive 34 votes.
UNC is one of three Atlantic Coast Conference teams in the first poll of the year, joining No. 8 Florida State and No. 9 Clemson.
For North Carolina, they enter this season with high hopes. They return key players such as Heisman hopeful Drake Maye at quarterback, linebacker Cedric Gray at linebacker as well as newcomers Devontez Walker and Nate McCollum. After starting 9-1 a year ago, UNC had a disappointing end to the season, losing four-straight games including the ACC title game and the Holiday Bowl.
A look at the full USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll powered by USA TODAY Sports:
| Rank | Team | Record | Points | Change |
| 1 | Georgia | 0-0 | 1,643 (61) | – |
| 2 | Michigan | 0-0 | 1,510 | – |
| 3 | Alabama | 0-0 | 1,489 (4) | – |
| 4 | Ohio State | 0-0 | 1,485(1) | – |
| 5 | LSU | 0-0 | 1,294 | – |
| 6 | USC | 0-0 | 1,228 | – |
| 7 | Penn State | 0-0 | 1,181 | – |
| 8 | Florida State | 0-0 | 1,145 | – |
| 9 | Clemson | 0-0 | 1,078 | – |
| 10 | Tennessee | 0-0 | 9991 | – |
| 11 | Washington | 0-0 | 941 | – |
| 12 | Texas | 0-0 | 848 | – |
| 13 | Notre Dame | 0-0 | 841 | – |
| 14 | Utah | 0-0 | 839 | – |
| 15 | Oregon | 0-0 | 820 | – |
| 16 | TCU | 0-0 | 655 | – |
| 17 | Kansas State | 0-0 | 440 | – |
| 18 | Oregon State | 0-0 | 365 | – |
| 19 | Oklahoma | 0-0 | 320 | – |
| 20 | UNC | 0-0 | 315 | – |
| 21 | Wisconsin | 0-0 | 309 | – |
| 22 | Miss | 0-0 | 303 | – |
| 23 | Tulane | 0-0 | 225 | – |
| 24 | Texas Tech | 0-0 | 200 | – |
| 25 | Texas A&M | 0-0 | 196 | – |
Others Receiving Votes
Iowa 169; South Carolina 89; Florida 63; Texas-San Antonio 59; Pittsburgh 52; UCLA 42; Kentucky 34; Baylor 28; Troy 25; Arkansas 20; NC State 19; Fresno State 19; Boise State 18; Auburn 18; Minnesota 16; Miami 16; Mississippi State 13; Oklahoma State 12; Missouri 11; Maryland 10; Southern Methodist 8; South Alabama 8; Illinois 7; Wake Forest 6; Air Force 6; Toledo 5; Washington State 4; Houston 3; Duke 2; Brigham Young 2; Arizona 2; Memphis 1; Kansas 1; James Madison 1.
The next poll will be released in early September after the first week of games.
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