North Carolina football schedule: Ranking Tar Heels' 2022 opponents

What to expect from UNC in the 2022 college football season.

A year ago, North Carolina was one of the darlings of the college football preseason hype machine, but by October, the Tar Heels weren't anybody's sexy pick.

UNC started 2021 as a Top 10 team, but opened up 0-1, then 2-2, then 4-4. And finished out 6-7 with a Duke Mayo's Bowl loss to rival South Carolina.

North Carolina finds itself playing in a slightly-more competitive ACC that should find a resurgent Clemson, a rejuvenated Miami, a quick-striking Wake Forest, and a defending conference champion in Pittsburgh.

Mack Brown has a decision to make at quarterback in addition to replacing four starters on the offensive line. But the Heels have recruited well, especially on defense, where they signed five-star lineman Travis Shaw to lead what figures to be a solid front seven group.

What can North Carolina look forward to this fall? Let's look at the games on the Tar Heels' slate in 2022, from the easiest to the hardest.

North Carolina football schedule: Ranking the Tar Heels' 2022 opponents

12. Florida A&M

When: Aug. 27

Where: Chapel Hill

What to expect: About as easy a season opener as the Tar Heels could ask for, against an FCS opponent at home in Week 0. A good opportunity to open things up on an offense breaking in a new quarterback, running back, and much of a new offensive line, in that will be UNC's only home game in its first three outings.

11. Georgia State

When: Sept. 10

Where: Atlanta

What to expect: An interesting schedule quirk for North Carolina, which goes on the road early in the year against a team that finished second in the Sun Belt East a year ago and won eight games. UNC routed this team last fall, but the Panthers also played Auburn close in a 10-point loss and won five of their last six, including an upset over Coastal Carolina.

10. Appalachian State

When: Sept. 3

Where: Boone

What to expect: An early road trip in Week 1 for the Heels against the first-place finisher in its conference last fall that lost at Miami by just two and upset a ranked Coastal Carolina team at home. App State has been one of the most solid Group of 5 programs in the last several years — including a win over North Carolina in 2019 — but this time the Mountaineers are debuting new faces at quarterback, running back, and offensive line.

9. Duke

When: Oct. 15

Where: Durham

What to expect: David Cutcliffe's 14th and final year ended with an eight-game losing streak, including a stretch in which Duke was outscored, 304 to 85. The first L in that marathon: UNC upending its rival, 38-7. Enter Mike Elko, tasked with making something out of almost nothing. He needs a quarterback, a running back, and some quick fixes for a defense that placed last in the ACC. Advantage, Heels.

8. Georgia Tech

When: Nov. 19

Where: Chapel Hill

What to expect: Tech lost two offensive pieces in quarterback Jordan Yates, who transferred out, and running back Jahmyr Gibbs, who left for Alabama. Head coach Geoff Collins needs to give a jolt to an offense that placed third-worst in the ACC at 24 points per game. Jeff Sims returns at quarterback after passing for 12 TDs and seven picks, but there isn't a ton to work with around him moving the ball. The Jackets were also the second-worst defense in the conference last season, and the unit brings back just two starters this fall.

7. Virginia Tech

USA Today Images

When: Oct. 1

Where: Chapel Hill

What to expect: Brent Pry takes over a program undergoing major structural change on the sideline and on this roster, which has question marks all over the place. One positive for the Hokies: they bring back seven starters on the defensive side of the ball. Tech upset then No. 10 Carolina in the opener last season and serves as the Heels' first ACC game in 2022, the team's last at home before playing four of their next five on the road.

6. Virginia

When: Nov. 5

Where: Charlottesville

What to expect: This was a 6-2 team heading into October but a four-game losing streak, including three ranked teams, killed that momentum. Brennan Armstrong led an offense that ranked No. 3 in college football last year, but that unit is about to lose all five starters on the offensive line. And this defense needs a new vision after surrendering almost five TDs per game in ACC play and surrendered over 45 points in three of its losses, including 59 to UNC and 66 to BYU.

5. Miami

When: Oct. 8

Where: Miami

What to expect: A potential up-and-comer in the ACC, Miami brings on a new head coach in Mario Cristobal, fresh off turning Oregon into a national recruiting power. He brings a great support staff with him, including offensive play caller Josh Gattis, who just helped Michigan get into the College Football Playoff. And he'll have Tyler Van Dyke at quarterback, a 2,900-yard passer with 25 TDs last fall, but who Carolina forced into three turnovers in a 45-42 victory last October. The U was a few points from a perfect record in the ACC last season.

4. Pittsburgh

When: Oct. 29

Where: Chapel Hill

What to expect: Kenny Pickett is gone from the defending ACC championship squad, but Pitt scored what could be the difference-maker at the position in former USC starter Kedon Slovis. And he inherits a blue-chip release valve in wide receiver Jordan Addison, one of college football's top five pass catchers, whose 17 TDs led the nation and were the ACC's most since Deandre Hopkins' 18 in 2012.

3. NC State

When: Nov. 25

Where: Chapel Hill

What to expect: The No. 20 ranked Wolfpack took this game last season in a wild finish including a 13-point fourth quarter comeback that left UNC fans sick. NC State should look similar this fall, returning 10 starters on defense in addition to quarterback Devin Leary, a 3,400-yard passer in 2021 with 35 touchdowns against three picks. Just four points kept the Wolfpack from going undefeated in ACC play.

2. Wake Forest

When: Nov. 12

Where: Winston-Salem

What to expect: Carolina has taken two of the last three from Wake, with a combined 225 points scored in the last two, with each team scoring at least 53 in those matchups. 

UNC handed the then-No. 9 ranked Deacs their first L last fall, out-dueling Sam Hartman by putting up 58 points at home. Carolina will need another one of those efforts in 2022 with Hartman back and leading what last season was college football's No. 4 ranked scoring offense.

1. Notre Dame

When: Sept. 24

Where: Chapel Hill

What to expect: Notre Dame is a big question mark coming into this season. It has a new head coach, new assistants, a new quarterback, and a new running back. But the Irish also return plenty of perimeter speed and can generate some legitimate pressure at the line. 

ND opens at Ohio State, so could already be at one loss coming to Kenan, which gives the Heels a shot at potentially ruining the Golden Domers' season early by handing them a costly second loss.

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