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UNC Football: Tar Heels won’t open season in AP Top 25

By Zack Pearson

CHAMPAIGN, IL - SEPTEMBER 10: Head coach Larry Fedora of the North Carolina Tar Heels is seen during the game against the Illinois Fighting Illin at Memorial Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - SEPTEMBER 10: Head coach Larry Fedora of the North Carolina Tar Heels is seen during the game against the Illinois Fighting Illin at Memorial Stadium on September 10, 2016 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /
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The first AP Top 25 poll of the season was released on Monday afternoon

It wasn’t a real big shocker when the North Carolina Tar Heels weren’t listed in the Associated Press Top 25 poll for Week 1.

UNC has lost over 95 percent of its offensive production from 2016 and ended that season losing three of their last four games. They enter 2017 with a lot of question marks as they look to rebuild and improve the program.

As for that Top 25 poll, the Alabama Crimson Tide took the top spot for the second year in a row followed by No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Florida State, No. 4 Southern California and No. 5 Clemson.

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For the Tar Heels, they didn’t even receive a vote for the poll. In the Coaches Poll from last week, UNC wasn’t in the Top 25 but did receive some votes.

The Tar Heels do face three teams that are currently ranked, however.

UNC will have a tough test in Week 2 when the Louisville Cardinals come to town with defending Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson leading the offense.

It will be the first ACC game for the Tar Heels this season and the first time they have played a conference game against Louisville since the Cardinals joined the ACC. The Cardinals are currently ranked No. 16 at the moment and will be likely ranked when the two teams meet on September 9th.

Coastal foes Miami and Virginia Tech are both ranked in the initial poll. The Hurricanes are No. 18 and come to Chapel Hill on October 28. Virginia Tech is No. 21 and will host the Tar Heels on October 21.

UNC has a tough three-game stretch starting at Virginia Tech, hosting Miami and then visiting Pitt starting in late October and lasting into November.

The Panthers weren’t ranked in the poll but they did receive votes, along with Notre Dame who UNC will host on October 7.

There’s some opportunities for UNC to get into the rankings but they will have to surely open the season 4-0 including a win over Louisville and Duke.

Next: UNC Football opponent preview: Louisville

You can view the full AP Top 25 poll by clicking here as the season is just over a week away.

Check back for more coverage on the Tar Heels football team.

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