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

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) /

2 of 3

(Photo by Andy Mead/ISI Photos/Getty Images) /

2. A Lawrence-less Clemson

The Clemson Tigers have become a powerhouse in college football over the last few years, winning a pair of national championships, six straight ACC championships, and regularly competing in the College Football Playoff.

However, they will enter 2021 without some significant names on their roster. Playmakers such as Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne, and Amari Rodgers were all selected in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Like other college powers like Alabama and Ohio State, Clemson recruits at an elite level, so they have former four and five-star recruits in waiting to take starting spots. Though DJ Uiagalelei will be a great starting QB for the Tigers, it will be hard to match what Lawrence was able to do at the position for the last three seasons.

If there was ever a year to overthrow Clemson from its ACC dominance, this is the year. While North Carolina did lose a pair of standout running backs from 2020 in Javonte Williams and Michael Carter, but it did pick up Tennessee transfer Ty Chandler, who accumulated 3,245 all-purpose yards during his time with the Volunteers.

Combine that with 18 other returning starters for the Tar Heels and we could see a new team representing the ACC in the CFP or a New Year’s Six Bowl.

Home/ACC