UNC Football: Tar Heels rank 29th in ESPN Football Power Index

UNC football comes in at No. 29 on ESPN’s 2020 Football Power Index

There’s been a lot of talk during the offseason about the North Carolina Tar Heels, and their return to relevance. In Mack Brown’s first season back as a head coach, he was able to bring in a top-20 recruiting class nationally, followed by a seven-win season that was capped off with a blowout victory over Temple in the 2019 Military Bowl.

In year two, he’s currently got the nation’s No. 4-ranked recruiting class, one that boasts ten 4-star prospects and 14 of the top 40 recruits in the state of North Carolina. His dominance in recruiting the state, despite only being back on campus for a year and a half, has been impressive to watch.

With a core of returning players that includes sensational sophomore quarterback Sam Howell, pass catchers Dazz Newsome and Dyami Brown and running backs Javonte Williams and Michael Carter, the Tar Heels and their fans have every reason to be excited about the upcoming season.

Many have already tabbed the Tar Heels as the prohibitive favorite to win the ACC’s Coastal Division this season. That’s not necessarily reflected in ESPN’s 2020 College Football Power Index,  however, which ranks the Tar Heels at No. 29 overall, 11 spots behind division foe Virginia Tech.

Based on the FPI algorithm, the Tar Heels are projected to win 7.7 games and lose 4.7, while the Hokies are expected to be a little over a game better in both categories. FPI gives the Tar Heels a 92.4 percent chance to win at least six games, and a 34 percent shot at winning the division. The Tar Heels have a 2.7 percent chance to win the conference according to FPI, while national powerhouse Clemson has an 87.5 percent chance.

Regardless, things are looking up for Mack Brown and the Tar Heels, as their current trajectory Is pointed straight up.

Check back with Keeping It Heel for all the latest on the UNC football program throughout the offseason and leading up to the opening kickoff.