The defending Atlantic Coast Conference football champions have been picked once again to win this upcoming season, but where do Duke, UNC and NC State football rank?

The UNC Tar Heels begin a new era this fall with Bill Belichick as their coach. It’s unclear just how they’ll perform under the first-year coach, but members of the the ACC media predicted where the team will finish in its annual rankings. The 2025 ACC preseason poll doesn’t have UNC finishing top 3, but the Tar Heels are in the top 10 at No. 8.

North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick was the main attraction Thursday at the final day of the ACC Kickoff event in Charlotte.