Off to a 2-0 start in their 2026 season, the UNC football team is already showcasing plenty of improvement from a disastrous 2025.
North Carolina started its current campaign with a shocking, 15-10 upset of TCU across the pond in Week Zero. On Saturday, the Tar Heels played complete football from start to finish in an unsurprising, 35-3 stomping of ETSU.
How does UNC stack up against its college football counterparts? In USA TODAY Sports' re-rank of all 138 FBS programs, North Carolina lands at 54th overall, jumping two spots after Week One, fixated between California (53) and Colorado (55).
What's different about the 2026 Tar Heels? Their defense is off to a scorching start, holding both the Horned Frogs (1-1) and Buccaneers (1-2) under 300 yards.
UNC's pass defense, in particular, makes life miserable for opposing quarterbacks. TCU's Jaden Craig and ETSU's Mason Mims failed to reach 200 yards or throw a touchdown.
North Carolina's offense has significantly more depth, highlighted by its running back room. Junior Benjamin Hall got the start in each of the Tar Heels' first two games, but another pair of running back, Jaylen McGill and Demon June, have all four rushing touchdowns. Gio Lopez is playing well at Wake Forest, but new UNC starting quarterback Billy Edwards is a sizable upgrade.
An eventful weekend in college football caused significant changes to the NCAA Re-Rank 1-138, including a new team at the top spot. https://t.co/UBRRavF5tk
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) September 14, 2026
North Carolina still awaits a loaded ACC schedule, continuing with Clemson this coming Saturday. The Tigers (1-1) are struggling to start this fall, getting blown out at LSU and largely struggling with Georgia Southern, giving the Tar Heels a perfect chance to gain a signature victory.
UNC will play the likes of Notre Dame, Pitt, and Miami in October, followed by Louisville and NC State in November. Right now, North Carolina looks every early bit of an ACC dark horse.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC makes minimal jump in USA TODAY Sports' Week Two re-rank
