UNC Football: What should your 2023 Expectations be?

The UNC football program will kick off its season on Saturday night against South Carolina. What are the expectations for the 2023 team?

It’s finally here. We are just outside of 24 hours before the UNC football team takes the field for the first time in 2023. Are you excited? What are your expectations? What should they be? Let’s dive into all of those questions and more about the Tar Heels.

The offseason hype is officially ending with the start of the regular season. Many UNC football fans, myself included, have reservations about buying into that hype, and with valid reason, given past history. It is no secret that the Tar Heels have their most talented quarterback in program history in Drake Maye. The question is, can he replicate his 2022 season and get help from other units?

There is no question that we are excited about college football returning and seeing Drake Maye back on the field. But what are the realistic expectations of the UNC football program among the fanbase?

With the returning 2022 ACC Player of the Year and pre-season 2023 ACC Player of the Year, it is worth believing that the Tar Heels should and could win the ACC Championship. However, we have to recognize that there are other good teams in the ACC (FSU and Clemson, most notably). Some fans may believe if a team has a Heisman Trophy candidate, then that team should be in playoff contention.

Let’s be honest. The Tar Heels aren’t there yet. Could they be in the discussion by the end of the season? Potentially. But that shouldn’t be your expectation for 2023. With what we know of the UNC football defense, the College Football Playoff isn’t even worth considering unless they make massive strides.

Drake Maye can’t carry this team on his own. We saw what happened at the end of 2022 when defenses keyed in on Maye and forced other players to step up as the Tar Heels finished the season with an 0-4 record. Maye will need improvements in the running game and on the defensive side of the ball if Carolina wants to accomplish its goals.

Last season the defense only recorded 17 sacks and 54 tackles for loss in 14 games played. That is not a good recipe for success. Being disruptive, creating pressure, and putting offenses in uncomfortable situations is the key to being successful on the defensive side of the ball, and that did not happen in 2022. In Year 2 under defensive coordinator Gene Chizik, the Tar Heels need to see massive strides in a positive direction.

Mack Brown has mentioned during fall camp doing what it takes to go from good (9 wins, ACC runner-up last year) to great (10/11 wins, ACC Champion?). That starts on the defensive side of the ball. Keeping your expectations low with the past history of living up to preseason expectations. In recent memory, the defense hasn’t improved from one year to the next, so until they do that on the field, why should fans believe anything different?

While we can keep our expectations low for the defensive side of the ball, I still believe that a nine or ten-win season is within reach, and the difference is having Drake Maye at quarterback. Another appearance in the ACC Championship game should be the floor for this team. Anything less, and the 2023 season should be considered a disappointment. An ACC Championship being brought back to Chapel Hill should be the ultimate goal to label this season a success.

The talent is on the roster to compete and win the ACC. Putting that talent together and in a position to succeed is the challenge. The schedule is somewhat favorable (outside of the opener); the Tar Heels have three straight home games in the month of October, including Miami. The toughest portion of the schedule is down the stretch, where they travel to Clemson and to NC State. Both of these would be tough games, regardless of where they fall on the schedule.

Final Answer on Expectations: 9-3/10-2 with an ACC Championship game appearance

It all will start tomorrow night against South Carolina in Bank of America Stadium at 7:30 PM ET. The game against the Gamecocks will set the tone for the entire season. Has the defense taken that step forward? Does Drake Maye have weapons on offense to replace Josh Downs and Antoine Green? Has the running game improved? Can the Tar Heels accomplish their 2023 goals? All of our questions will begin to be answered soon.

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