The Daily Nole

Opposing Views: Can UNC Eventually Join ACC Brethren FSU, Clemson as a National Power?

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After a rough month of September that includes games against Ole Miss, Louisville and South Florida — all away from Tallahassee — Florida State’s October doesn’t get much easier.

FSU begins the month at home with the reigning ACC Coastal division champion North Carolina Tar Heels. After dropping the season-opener to South Carolina in 2015, North Carolina won 11 straight games. The season however, didn’t end as the Tar Heels had hoped with losses to Clemson in the ACC title game and Baylor in the Russell Athletic Bowl.

“The 2015 season was a fun one,” said Zack Pearson, editor of FanSided’s North Carolina blog, Keeping it Heel. “It started with a heartbreaking loss to South Carolina, but winning those 11 in a row really showed that this team is moving in the right direction. The ceiling this year is making the ACC Championship game again and winning it.”

The 11 victories a season ago was a big step forward in the fourth season under head coach Larry Fedora. In his first three seasons in Chapel Hill, the Tar Heels won eight, seven and six games, respectively. With FSU and Clemson already making their presences known as national powers, North Carolina may have the best chance of being the next ACC team to do so.

“Going forward I believe Fedora can get this team to be a legit ACC powerhouse in years to come,” Pearson said. “It’s going to take a few years, but with the 2017 class coming in, this team is hopefully built to be a championship contender in the (next) 3-4 years as their ceiling.”

Despite going 11-1 during the regular season, Pearson said North Carolina was hurt somewhat in the polls because it played two FCS schools. With FSU as a crossover opponent in the ACC and taking on Georgia to open the year, that probably won’t be a problem this season for the Tar Heels. Of those two games, Pearson said the trip to Tallahassee is the more important one.

“Beating a team like Florida State would not only help them in the standings, but it would show that UNC can play with the powerhouses in the ACC,” Pearson said. “It would go a long way to helping them build their program for the future. This game is bigger than the Georgia one to open the season. The ACC often gets overlooked by how good the SEC has been, and for fair reasons too. But this year, the ACC has FSU and Clemson as two title contenders. If UNC can somehow find a way to get into that group, it will go a long way for the conference in the future.”

The showdown between Florida State and North Carolina is seen by some as a potential ACC Championship preview. The Tar Heels are extremely talented on offense with Elijah Hood, Mack Hollins, Ryan Switzer and a veteran offense line. Pearson expects North Carolina to be solid in the secondary, but shoring up its run defense will be the biggest key for North Carolina to return to Charlotte.

“I think UNC has the easier route to the ACC Championship game due to the fact that the Coastal (division) is weaker than the Atlantic,” Pearson said. “Florida State has to go through Clemson, whereas UNC’s toughest Coastal opponent is Miami. Bias aside, I think UNC makes it to Charlotte again so that rematch is going to depend on how FSU does against Clemson.”

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