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UNC Football: Tar Heels add Appalachian State Mountaineers to future schedule

By Brandon Griffin

Dec 5, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Larry Fedora argues a call on the field in the second half against the Clemson Tigers in the ACC football championship game at Bank of America Stadium. Clemson defeated North Carolina 45-37. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 5, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Larry Fedora argues a call on the field in the second half against the Clemson Tigers in the ACC football championship game at Bank of America Stadium. Clemson defeated North Carolina 45-37. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
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North Carolina adds Appalachian State to its future schedule. What does this mean for the Tar Heels?

North Carolina football continues to make moves, trying to improve itself and be in the best position possible to make the College Football Playoff.

Less than two weeks after National Signing Day, the school announced that it has reached an agreement to play Appalachian State three times beginning in 2019.

The first matchup will be at Kenan Stadium in 2019. That will be followed by games in 2022 and 2023 at Appalachian State and North Carolina, respectively.

So why is this good news for the Tar Heels?

First, unlike some of the non-conference opponents from the last two years, Appalachian State is a FBS opponent. The committee has shown time and time again that it cares about strength of schedule (it’s why Ohio State got in this past year).

In 2019, three of UNC’s opponents will now be against FBS competition, including two power five schools.

Nov 5, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Larry Fedora leads his players onto the field before the game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Kenan Memorial Stadium. The North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 48-20. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Larry Fedora leads his players onto the field before the game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Kenan Memorial Stadium. The North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 48-20. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /

Also, though not a Power Five school, the Mountaineers are a very good team. When they were still a FCS school, the team won 87 games from 2005 to 2012, including three national championships.

In its past two seasons as a FBS program, Appalachian State has played 21 games and been in two consecutive bowl games. The Mountaineers are good and a win against them should mean something to the committee.

Secondly, this should also help in-state recruiting. North Carolina is the flag-ship school of the state but consistently watches top talent leave to go to schools like Clemson, Tennessee, and Florida State. Big in-state games like this are great opportunities to bring recruits in against another school they may be familiar with.

Overall, this should help make UNC a better team. The school has really shown a commitment to football since the 11-win season in 2015. If they continue to find ways to build off that success, the Tar Heels might be a little more nationally recognized in a sport that doesn’t play on a hardwood floor.

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