Keeping It Heel
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UNC Football Moves Up In National Polls Following Rivalry Win

By Jordan Falls

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 16: Power Echols #23 of the North Carolina Tar Heels celebrates after their win against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Kenan Memorial Stadium on September 16, 2023 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Tar Heels won 31-13. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 16: Power Echols #23 of the North Carolina Tar Heels celebrates after their win against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Kenan Memorial Stadium on September 16, 2023 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Tar Heels won 31-13. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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The UNC Football program beat rival Duke 47-45 in double-overtime on Saturday evening. How did the National Polls react to the Tar Heels win?

The UNC Football program entered Saturday night’s game versus rival Duke, ranked No. 24 in the Associated Press Poll and No. 23 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. It wasn’t easy versus the 6-3 unranked Blue Devils for the Tar Heels on Senior Night, even without starting quarterback Riley Lenoard available.

Freshman Grayson Loftis made big plays for Duke, keeping them in the game and even giving them the lead at 36-33 with 41 seconds remaining. Luckily for the Tar Heels, they had Drake Maye. Maye led North Carolina down the field and put them in position to send the game to overtime and eventually win the game in double-overtime, 47-45.

So, how did the national media and coaches view the win for the UNC Football program in the rankings?

The Tar Heels moved up three spots in the Coaches Poll to No. 20 this week and two spots in the AP Poll to No. 22. Ultimately, these rankings are just for fans and the media. At this point in the season, the only poll that truly matters for New Year’s Six consideration is the College Football Playoff Rankings, which will be released on Tuesday night.

In last week’s rankings, the UNC Football program was No. 24 in the College Football Playoff Rankings. Next up for the Tar Heels will be a trip to Death Valley to face the Clemson Tigers on November 18th at 3:30 PM on ESPN.

Next. MUST SEE: Celebration after UNC football’s win over Duke. dark

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