At UCF, Auburn, at Virginia, VT. An analysis of UNC’s 2020 football schedule
North Carolina has a chance to make a splash in 2020.
After two consecutive seasons of losing football in 2017 and 2018, the Tar Heels turned it around and finished the 2019 season at 7-6. They earned bowl eligibility, where they blew out Temple in the Military Bowl 55-13.
In an interview with the News & Observer last week, Mack Brown said his expectations for the Tar Heels in 2020 is that they create depth and play well consistently. They also want to get to a better bowl game each year.
But to do that, they must win more games.
The ACC released its 2020 schedule on Wednesday, which also means the dates for the Tar Heels’ schedule is complete. Among their opponents next season is Auburn, N.C. State, at UCF, at Boston College and their normal Coastal Division foes.
UNC’s games at UCF and against N.C. State are both on a Friday.
In a statement, Brown said he was not pleased with playing on a Friday.
“We do not like playing on Friday nights because Friday night is for high school football, and we’ve always believed that,” he said. “North Carolina high school football is at the top of our list when it comes to things that are important to us. We really don’t like being in a position where we could take away from the great coaches and players in our state because they’re our lifeblood and deserve to have the spotlight on Friday nights.
“We have requested that our TV partners and the conference make our Friday game after Thanksgiving an afternoon game to avoid going head-to-head with the high school games. Hopefully, that is something they will accommodate, because it’s important, especially on a weekend where there will be playoff games taking place.”
Here are some key dates on the Tar Heels’ schedule:
Best game
Sept. 12 Auburn
This will likely be the toughest game on UNC’s schedule and a real chance for the Tar Heels to show what they are capable of.
Auburn finished 2019 at 9-4, with wins over Alabama, Oregon, and a three-point loss to LSU, which won the national championship earlier this month.
Toughest stretch
Oct. 3 at Virginia, Oct. 10 vs. Virginia Tech, Oct. 17 at Duke, Oct. 24 at Miami
There’s no doubt UNC’s toughest stretch is the four games it plays in October. The Tar Heels will start with an away game against Virginia, then a home game against Virginia Tech, an away game at Duke, and finally an away game at Miami.
Three of those four teams made it to a bowl game last season. And two teams — Virginia and Virginia Tech — finished higher than UNC in the Coastal Division Standings.
One to skip
Nov. 7 vs. UConn
The Huskies were not good in 2019. They finished the 2019 season at 2-10, which included a 49-17 loss to Temple in the season-finale. A team UNC destroyed.
UConn coach Randy Edsall will enter his fourth season of his second stint with the Huskies as he tries to turn a program around that has won six games in the last three seasons.
Must-win
Oct. 3 at Virginia
The Tar Heels lost to Virginia 38-31 last season in what was an important game. Had the Tar Heels won that game, they would have been in contention for the division title.
But they didn’t, and the Cavaliers went on to the win the Coastal Division. As the defending champs, the Cavaliers will be the team to beat.
UNC’s 2020 schedule
April 18 UNC spring game
Sept. 4 at UCF
Sept. 12 vs. Auburn*
Sept. 19 vs. James Madison
Sept. 26 vs. Georgia Tech
Oct. 3 at Virginia
Oct. 10 vs. Virginia Tech
Oct. 17 at Duke
Oct. 24 at Miami
Nov. 7 vs. Connecticut
Nov. 14 vs. Pitt
Nov. 21 at Boston College
Nov. 27 vs. N.C. State
*neutral site in Atlanta.
This story was originally published January 22, 2020 at 9:29 AM.
