Sporting News has UNC football team projected to this popular Florida bowl game

If you’re a college football fan and have been waiting for games since New Year’s Day, your wait is almost over.

On Saturday, Aug. 24 as part of “Week Zero,” eight schools will take the field for the official start of college football season. Fellow ACC rivals Florida State and Georgia Tech highlight the Week Zero slate, kicking off at 12 p.m. ET in Dublin, Ireland for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.

Just five days later on Thursday, Aug. 29, your North Carolina Tar Heels begin their season on the road with a rematch against Minnesota. For those who remember last season, Drake Maye threw for 400 yards in UNC’s 31-13 win over the Golden Gophers.

North Carolina has one of the ACC’s easiest schedules , as it doesn’t play another Power 5 team until Duke on Saturday, Sept. 28. The Tar Heels toughest games will be Saturday, Nov. 2 at FSU, then Saturday, Nov. 30 for senior day against in-state rival NC State.

With the way its schedule pans out, UNC should be able to make a bowl game this coming winter.

In Sporting News’ latest predictions for 2024-2025 bowl games , Bill Bender has North Carolina facing Oklahoma in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Thursday, Jan. 2.

The Tar Heels are no stranger to the Gator Bowl, having played in its seven times and most recently in 1998, a 42-3 domination of ACC rival Virginia Tech.

The Sooners are coming off a much-improved season under second-year head coach Brent Venables, finishing 10-3 (7-2 Big 12) and losing to Arizona in the Alamo Bowl.

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