North Carolina football debuted in the AP poll at No. 18 on Saturday, three spots in front of season-opening opponent LSU.
UNC is among five ACC teams in the top 25, with Virginia Tech (No. 10), Miami (No. 13), Georgia Tech (No. 16) and Florida State (No. 20).
Media members who cover the ACC picked the Tar Heels to finish fourth in the Coastal Division of the ACC. The three ACC teams in front of UNC are all part of that division, a testament to the strength of that side of the ACC.
The No. 18 rank, which is shared by the USA Today poll, is UNC’s highest since 1998, when the Tar Heels entered the season ranked No. 12.
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