No. 23 Iowa | No. 25 San Diego State | Top 25
No. 24: North Carolina
Last Season: 11-3 (8-0 ACC Coastal)
Under defensive coordinator Gene Chizik, the Tar Heels' defense had the biggest improvement in the Power 5 last year, going from 39.0 points allowed per game to just 24.5. UNC returns seven starters on both offense and defense, most notably RB Elijah Hood (1,463 yards and 17 touchdowns), and four players from my second-best offensive line. Mitch Trubisky steps in at quarterback after completing 40 of 47 passes last season in limited time. UNC won't match last year's total of 11 regular-season wins, but it could be favored in as many as nine games.
North Carolina's chances to win each game
09.03 vs. Georgia (Georgia Dome): 38.1%
09.10 @ Illinois: 82.4%
09.17 vs. James Madison: 97.6%
09.24 vs. Pitt: 64.3%
10.01 @ Florida State: 14.3%
10.08 vs. Virginia Tech: 74.8%
10.15 @ Miami: 50.6%
10.22 @ Virginia: 78.1%
11.05 vs. Georgia Tech: 82.6%
11.10 @ Duke: 72.4%
11.19 vs. The Citadel: 98.0%
11.25 vs. NC State: 76.6%
It has been six years since a Coastal Division champion as repeated, and the Tar Heels face a more difficult schedule this year, having to travel to Florida State. Still, the defense is expected to be better, and the offense remains in good hands despite the quarterback change. Anything less than 9-3 will be considered a disappointment. -- Andrea Adelson
The schedule is tougher, but the defense should be better. And the offense is simply loaded relative to the rest of the Coastal. A 10-2 campaign and repeat trip to Charlotte for the league title game is on the horizon for these rising Heels. -- Matt Fortuna
Mitch Trubisky should pick up right where Marquise Williams left off as the Tar Heels' QB, and if the defense takes a step forward in Year 2 under Gene Chizik, there's no reason North Carolina can't finish 10-2 and a Coastal Division title again in 2016. -- David M. Hale
The rush defense might not be much better, but the offense has the potential to score from anywhere on the field and mask defensive deficiencies. A 10-2 regular season will have them as repeat Coastal champions. -- Jared Shanker
No. 23 Iowa | No. 25 San Diego State | Top 25
