ACC football media members are not projecting a strong 2026 season for Bill Belichick and North Carolina. In the league's preseason poll, UNC was picked to finish among the bottom three teams in the conference, a sign that expectations remain low for the Tar Heels.
The result suggests voters do not see North Carolina making a quick climb in the ACC standings. Rather than forecasting a rebound, the preseason outlook places UNC near the bottom of the league before the season begins.
For Belichick, the poll adds another layer of scrutiny as attention stays fixed on how UNC will perform under his leadership. Preseason rankings do not decide the final standings, but they do reflect how the broader ACC media views the program entering the year.
With the Tar Heels facing a skeptical projection, UNC will enter 2026 trying to outperform a modest conference forecast. The preseason poll makes clear that, at least for now, ACC voters are not expecting North Carolina to be one of the league's top contenders.
