Way-too-early Top 25 projections for 2021 college football season

North Carolina still has plenty of goals to shoot for in 2021. The Tar Heels reached a New Year’s Six bowl, but they missed out on a shot at the ACC championship. That is their next target as Mack Brown’s team closes out 2020 and looks ahead to the new season. Though they lose a lot of talent in the running game, AP voters are going to look at North Carolina and put them among the top 10 teams in the preseason Top 25.

It certainly helps that Sam Howell will enter 2021 with a chance to emerge as the top quarterback in the ACC. Howell’s sophomore campaign saw him throw for 30 touchdowns and nearly 300 yards per game, and he will be called on to do even more through the air. North Carolina’s defense was perfectly ordinary, with a lot of young talent getting reps. There is plenty of room to grow on that side of the ball as players become more familiar in the scheme.

The Tar Heels get another chance against North Carolina out of conference after losing to the Fighting Irish in ACC play in 2020. They also play Georgia State and FCS Wofford out of conference. On the ACC slate, North Carolina has the advantage of avoiding Clemson in interdivisional play during the regular season and would only see the Tigers if both teams reach the ACC championship game.