ACC football media members predict bad 2026 season for Bill Belichick, UNC

ACC media members aren't expecting a bounce-back season in 2026 for Bill Belichick and UNC football, picking the Tar Heels to finish among the bottom three teams in the conference.

According to a poll of 185 media members, which was released Tuesday, July 28, by the ACC, Belichick's Tar Heels are predicted to finish 15th in the conference standings among the 17 teams in the league. Picked to finish eight ahead of Belichick's debut season, UNC posted a 4-8 record in 2025 that included a 2-6 mark in league games. The Heels were among the bottom five teams in the standings.

Miami, which competed in the championship game of the College Football Playoff last season, received 165 first-place votes as the favorite to win the league. The Hurricanes, who joined the ACC in 2004, have yet to win a conference championship. They play the Tar Heels at Kenan Stadium on Oct. 31.

Clemson (7), SMU (6), Louisville (4), Florida State (3), Georgia Tech (2) and Stanford (1) were the other squads to pick up first-place votes. Duke, the reigning ACC champion, was picked to finish 10th and N.C. State was the highest Triangle team at No. 7 in the poll. Coming off a nine-win season, Wake Forest is predicted to finish 13th in the ACC.

UNC had 70 newcomers on its 2025 roster and Belichick added 60 new players ahead of the 2026 season, including 40 freshmen. Despite the turnover, Belichick feels the Tar Heels are ahead of where they were at this point in his first season. Wide receiver Jordan Shipp and reigning ACC sacks leader Melkart Abou Jaoude are among UNC's familiar faces.

A six-time Super Bowl champion as an NFL head coach, Belichick begins his second college preseason camp on Thursday, July 30, as UNC tracks toward its season opener against TCU on Aug. 29 (Noon, ESPN) in Ireland.

ACC football preseason media poll, predictions 2026

First-place votes in parentheses

1. Miami (165)

2. SMU (6)

3. Louisville (4)

4. Clemson (7)

5. Georgia Tech

6. Virginia

7. N.C. State

8. Virginia Tech

9. Pitt

10. Duke

11. Florida State (3)

12. California

13. Wake Forest

14. Syracuse

15. UNC

16. Boston College

17. Stanford (1)

Rodd Baxley covers North Carolina Tar Heels athletics for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding UNC? Send them to [email protected] .

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: ACC football media members predict bad 2026 season for Bill Belichick, UNC

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