ACC media members have predicted a dismal season for Bill Belichick's North Carolina Tar Heels in 2026, with the team expected to finish 15th in the conference standings. The poll of 185 media members, released Tuesday, July 28, by the ACC, shows Belichick's Tar Heels eight places behind their 2025 finish, which was a 4-8 record.
The ACC media poll has Miami as the favorite to win the league, with 165 first-place votes. The Hurricanes, who joined the ACC in 2004, have yet to win a conference championship. They play the Tar Heels at Kenan Stadium on October 31.
Bill Belichick has been working to turn things around at UNC, adding 60 new players to the roster, including 40 freshmen. Despite the turnover, Belichick feels the Tar Heels are ahead of where they were at this point in his first season.
A six-time Super Bowl champion as an NFL head coach, Belichick begins his second college preseason camp on Thursday, July 30. The Tar Heels track toward their season opener against TCU on August 29 in Ireland.
The ACC media poll has Clemson, SMU, Louisville, Florida State, Georgia Tech, and Stanford receiving first-place votes. Duke, the reigning ACC champion, was picked to finish 10th, while N.C. State was the highest Triangle team at No. 7 in the poll.
Wake Forest, coming off a nine-win season, is predicted to finish 13th in the ACC. The Demon Deacons have a tough road ahead, with a strong conference schedule and a new coach at the helm.
The ACC media poll is a snapshot of the conference's expectations heading into the 2026 season. With a tough schedule and a predicted 10th-place finish, Duke will be looking to prove the doubters wrong.
Belichick and the Tar Heels will face a tough test in their season opener against TCU on August 29 in Ireland. The game will be broadcast on ESPN at noon.
Source: Yahoo Sports