All Tar Heels

UNC Football: Poll Puts 'Best in North Carolina' Tag at Risk

This week, UNC football slid almost to where it started the season in the rankings.

Matt Giles

UNC football defenders Alijah Huzzie and Caleb Lavallee (Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)
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Following a double-overtime 40-34 home win over the unranked Appalachian State Mountaineers (1-1, 0-0 Sun Belt) on Saturday night, the UNC football team fell a few spots on Sunday in the latest AP Top 25.

It's safe to say the voters were less than impressed with how the Tar Heels (2-0, 0-0 ACC) looked, especially on defense, compared to their much smoother 31-17 season-opening victory over South Carolina in Charlotte the previous Saturday night.

UNC dropped from No. 17 to No. 20, only one notch above where it stood in the preseason poll.

And rival Duke (2-0, 1-0 ACC), which remained No. 21 following the Blue Devils' 42-7 blowout in Durham over Lafayette after shocking reigning ACC champion Clemson at home as an unranked bunch in Week 1, is now officially nipping at the Heels for the "top-ranked squad in North Carolina" honor and being second among ACC programs.

On Saturday, Duke welcomes Northwestern (1-1, 0-1 Big Ten) to Wallace Wade Stadium.

Meanwhile, Miami (2-0, 0-0 ACC) sits just below the Blue Devils and Tar Heels at No. 23, giving the conference four ranked teams to match last week's total for the most from the ACC this season.

Florida State (2-0, 0-0 ACC), up one spot following a 66-13 win over visiting Southern Miss, paces the conference at No. 3, trailing No. 1 Georgia and No. 2 Michigan. The Seminoles' ranking is the highest by anyone from the ACC this go-round.

As for Clemson (1-1, 0-1 ACC), the Tigers are now unranked (first among "others receiving votes") after starting the year at No. 9, second among ACC schools at the time, below only then-No. 8 Florida State.

The 2023 UNC football campaign continues at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday (ESPN) when the Tar Heels host the unranked-yet-receiving-votes Minnesota Golden Gophers (2-0, 1-0 Big Ten) in Kenan Memorial Stadium.

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Depending on how the Blue Devils fare against the Wildcats, another less-than-stellar performance by Mack Brown's bunch could equate to being second in the state.

Duke and UNC meet in Chapel Hill on Nov. 11.

Stay tuned to All Tar Heels on SI.com for more UNC football news.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, Duke Blue Devils on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining UNC on SI in 2023, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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