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North Carolina Football: 3 reasons the Tar Heels will win the ACC

By Payton Wilkerson

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 02: North Carolina Tar Heels wait to take the field prior to the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on January 02, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 02: North Carolina Tar Heels wait to take the field prior to the game against the Texas A&M Aggies at the Capital One Orange Bowl at Hard Rock Stadium on January 02, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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North Carolina football has seen a resurgence over the last couple of years. Even though the Tar Heels have always been known for being an elite basketball program, their football team has made a lot of noise lately throughout college football.

In 2019, former Texas head coach Mack Brown was hired to turn the program around after they won just five games from 2017-2018. This is Brown’s second stint with North Carolina, as he coached in Chapel Hill from 1988-1997.

Last year, North Carolina finished with an 8-4 record in the shortened 2020 season, including their first-ever appearance in the Orange Bowl, where they faced Texas A&M.  According to 247 Sports, the Tar Heels finished with a top 15 recruiting class in 2021, ahead of big named Power Five schools such as Texas, Wisconsin, Auburn, and Penn State.

Going into the upcoming season, the race for the ACC championship will be one to keep an eye on. Here are a couple of reasons why North Carolina football could win the 2021 ACC title.

3. A (relatively) easy schedule to get to the ACC Championship Game

Getting to the ACC championship game starts with winning games during the regular season, and North Carolina football has a pretty favorable schedule this year.

Take a look at its 2021 opponents:

Sep 3-@ Virginia Tech

Sep 11-Georgia State 

Sep 18-Virginia 

Sep 25-@ Georgia Tech

Oct 2-Duke 

Oct 9-Florida State 

Oct 16-Miami 

Oct 30-@ Notre Dame 

Nov 6-Wake Forest 

Nov 11-@ Pittsburgh 

Nov 20-Wofford

Nov 26-@ NC State

North Carolina plays in the ACC Coastal division, with their division rivals including teams such as Miami, Virginia Tech, Pitt, and others.

While the Heels do have to play Notre Dame this season in South Bend, it will not affect their ACC record. Unlike last season, the Irish will not be playing in the ACC in 2021 and will resume being an independent team.

The Coastal division will likely be won on October 16th when the Miami Hurricanes come to Chapel Hill to take on the Tar Heels. Last season, North Carolina dismantled the top 10 ranked ‘Canes 62-26 on the road, so you can believe that D’Eriq King and company will be seeking revenge this season.

If the Tar Heels can get by Miami, it should be smooth sailing to the ACC Championship game.

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