College Football Rankings 2020: Projected preseason Top 25 sans Pac-12, Big Ten

11. North Carolina Tar Heels

• Where they were ranked in the 2019 preseason: unranked (0 points)
• Where they were ranked at the end of 2019: unranked (0 points)
• Where they were in our way-too-early Top 25: 19th
• Where they ranked in the preseason Coaches Poll: 19th (415 points)

One team that already came into the 2020 season receiving a lot more love than their 2019 might anticipate is North Carolina. The Tar Heels came together quickly in Mack Brown’s first season back in Chapel Hill, as UNC saw a five-win improvement. More importantly, though, they were competitive in ever game they played — all six of North Carolina’s losses came by seven points or less, including their heartbreaking 21-20 loss against Clemson that turned on a failed two-point conversion.

There is a ton of optimism around the Tar Heels program this year, even as they failed to finish anywhere in the AP Top 25 at the end of 2019. A large part of that centers on the return of sophomore quarterback Sam Howell, who proved a revelation for the offense. Howell threw for 3641 yards with 38 touchdowns and only seven interceptions, finishing as the 10th most efficient passer in the entire country as a freshman.

A wealth of talent returns around Howell on offense, and while the defense is average in terms of the production that comes back from last season’s roster they should be a top-50 unit once again. Working as well in North Carolina’s favor is that both Louisville and Clemson fell off their reconfigured schedule and they get to play Notre Dame at home.

Put it all together and North Carolina will almost certainly be hovering on the cusp of the top 10 in the preseason AP Top 25.