For the third time in four years, the Tar Heels will be starting the season ranked.
On Monday morning, the Associated Press announced their preseason rankings for the 2023 season. After being ranked No. 20 in the USA Today Coaches Poll last Monday, the team came in a spot lower at No. 21 in today’s poll.
This is the 21st time in program history that the team will be preseason ranked by the AP and fifth times in the last eight years. Of those 21 teams that have been preseason ranked, just six have finished the season in the final AP poll that season, including one since Mack Brown left after his first tenure in Chapel Hill.
The Tar Heels are one of three ACC teams ranked in the rankings, joining Florida State and Clemson who are both top ten teams. The team’s opening week opponent, the South Carolina Gamecocks, are just on the outside looking in among others receiving votes.
Just like with the Coaches Poll, only one of the Tar Heels opponents this season starts the season ranked, Clemson. Five of the team’s opponents are among those receiving votes.