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UNC Football: Tar Heels crack Top 10 in early 247 Sports rankings

By Zack Pearson

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 02: Sam Howell #7 of the North Carolina Tar Heels drops back to pass during the first quarter of the Capital One Orange Bowl against the Texas A&M Aggies at Hard Rock Stadium on January 2, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - JANUARY 02: Sam Howell #7 of the North Carolina Tar Heels drops back to pass during the first quarter of the Capital One Orange Bowl against the Texas A&M Aggies at Hard Rock Stadium on January 2, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images) /
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With the end of the 2020 college football season, we take a look at where the UNC Football program ranks in the early 247 Sports rankings

The UNC Football program is trending upwards following their 2020 season in which they finished 8-4 with an Orange Bowl appearance. Despite the loss to No. 5 Texas A&M, which the Tar Heels held a lead in the fourth quarter, it’s pretty clear that the Tar Heels are on their way to where they want to go.

Mack Brown will enter his third year in his second stint and this could be the most important one so far.

They will welcome in a 2021 recruiting class that might not be complete yet plus a roster that is returning all but one starter from the Orange Bowl including quarterback Sam Howell who is a Heisman favorite for next season. UNC does lose a LOT of production from running backs Javonte Williams, Michael Carter as well as receivers Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome on offense. Plus, senior linebacker Chazz Surratt is headed to the NFL.

But that doesn’t mean they can’t take that next step.

As college football ends their season tonight with the national championship between Alabama and Ohio State, 247 Sports released their Way Too Early Preseason Top 25 for next season and you don’t have to look far for the Tar Heels.

UNC checks in at No. 6 overall in the preseason poll by 247 Sports which is pretty damn good and higher than we thought. Here is what 247 Sports had to say about the Tar Heels ranking:

"Is Mack Brown’s third season back in Chapel Hill the breakthrough season? UNC rose to a bowl team in his first season, and finished as a top 25 in Year 2. Now Brown and quarterback Sam Howell head into 2021 with the biggest expectations so far. Howell, fresh off a 3,500-yard, 30-touchdown season, heads into next year as a Heisman Trophy candidate and top NFL Draft prospect."

The 2021 season should be going back to close to normal in terms of scheduling as UNC will have their Atlantic Coast Conference schedule plus non-conference games against Notre Dame, Georgia State, Wofford, and Wake Forest. They do avoid Clemson this year but get their rematch against Florida State.

Next season could be a special one for the Tar Heels and the expectations should be to win the ACC and earn another big bowl game berth.

Next. UNC Football looking to add to 2021 recruiting class. dark

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