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UNC Football: How does Sporting News rank the 2020 Tar Heels?

By Blake Cockrum

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 31: Head coach Mack Brown of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts after defeating the South Carolina Gamecocks 24-20 in the Belk College Kickoff game at Bank of America Stadium on August 31, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - AUGUST 31: Head coach Mack Brown of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts after defeating the South Carolina Gamecocks 24-20 in the Belk College Kickoff game at Bank of America Stadium on August 31, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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The UNC football program has been tabbed a top-25 team for next season by a number of publications. What does Sporting News think about the Tar Heels’ prospects in 2020?

With the 2019 NCAA football season in the books, the focus has now shifted to next year’s top teams and storylines. Among them is North Carolina, and what head coach Mack Brown can do with the much-improved Tar Heels in just his second season back on the sideline.

Many publications have already released their “way-too-early” preseason rankings for next season, and Sporting News joined the party on Tuesday evening. Theirs are similar to others that we’ve seen over the past week or so, specifically as it pertains to the Tar Heels.

North Carolina is ranked No. 21 in Sporting News’ top 25, noting that “the momentum under Mack Brown is real.” And it appears to be, particularly given the team’s massive turnaround from a season ago. North Carolina made its first bowl game appearance in three years, and won its first bowl game since 2013.

North Carolina has one of the best players in the nation in freshman signal caller Sam Howell. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Monroe, North Carolina native was named ACC Rookie of the Year and ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year after compiling 3,641 yards and 38 touchdowns. Both were No. 1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and he threw just seven interceptions in 13 games.

Howell’s 38 TD passes ranked fourth in the nation behind an elite trio of quarterbacks that includes 2019 Heisman Trophy winner and national champion, Joe Burrow. They also put Howell at third-place on the ACC’s all-time single-season touchdown list. And on Friday, he was the recipient of one more prestigious honor: a spot on the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-American team.

Also returning to North Carolina next season is 1,000-yard rusher Michael Carter, and a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in Dazz Newsome and Dyami Brown. The standout trio combined for 25 touchdowns on the season, and will play pivotal roles on the UNC offense in 2020. They’re joined by sophomore running back Javonte Williams, who rushed for 933 yards and five touchdowns as part of a three-pronged attack in the UNC back field.

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For a complete list of Sporting News’ 2020 college football top 25, click here. For everything else on the UNC football program, check back with Keeping It Heel.

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