UNC Football ranked in initial 2023 AP Top 25 Rankings

The UNC football program has earned a ranking of No. 21 in the first initial Associated Press Top 25 ranking of the 2023 college football season.

Last week the USA Today’s Coaches Poll was released and the UNC football program found itself ranked at No. 20 in the first edition. Their first opponent, South Carolina, wasn’t ranked in that top 25 edition.

Now, the first week of the Associated Press Poll has been released, 19 days before the Tar Heels kick off the season in Charlotte against the Gamecocks.

Carolina checks in one spot lower in the AP poll than the Coaches, coming in at No. 21. This is the first time that the Tar Heels have been ranked in the preseason top 25 since 2021 when it was ranked No. 10.

As many remember, that was a disappointing season for the expectations that are built that offseason. The Tar Heels were coming off an Orange Bowl appearance and returning Sam Howell at quarterback, who was a projected preseason Heisman candidate. That season didn’t go the way many thought it would – the Tar Heels went 6-7 and lost the Duke’s Mayo Bowl to South Carolina.

This year’s Tar Heels will be looking to avoid repeating history as there are plenty of similarities between that team and this one as far as off-the-field expectations go. The news of Tez Walker’s eligibility was announced following the Coaches Poll voting, so needless to say, that likely had an impact on the Tar Heels AP ranking.

Only three ACC teams made the top 25 rankings, with Florida State and Clemson coming in at No. 8 and No. 9, respectively. The Gamecocks didn’t make the AP rankings in the opening week, just missing the field by two spots, receiving 73 votes and coming in at No. 27.

You can view the entire Associated Press preseason rankings for the 2023 college football season here.

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