This will be a very important offseason for UNC.
For the second year in a row, North Carolina had a disappointing end to the season. That doesn’t mean there aren’t positives, but the way this year ended, especially with so much talent, has left a bitter taste in everyone’s mouth. How the program proceeds from here will be telling.
Painful Truth
In the last two seasons, there has been more than enough talent to get 10 wins. Unfortunately, both years ended with just 8. The Tar Heels had the best quarterback in program history and could not get to a New Year’s 6 Bowl. That has not only frustrated fans but also caught the eye of the national media. The recruiting classes that have been brought in have been very good; certain areas are just underperforming. There is no reason a team averaging 34.5 points per game should lose five games.
The defense has the talent to be good. They flashed that through the first five games, giving up less than 20 points three times in that stretch. After that, outside of the game against Campbell, every team scored over 30 points. Teams ran the ball all over UNC, and the defensive line got pushed around. The team tallied 28 sacks on the year, and nine of those came in the first game. That means over the last 12 games, the team only averaged 1.58 sacks per game. That simply isn’t enough to be a good defense.
What Comes Next?
North Carolina is going through portal season just like every other team. Guys are leaving, and the program is pulling players in. Luckily, no starters have decided to transfer as of this moment. Next year, there will be no Drake Maye or Cedric Gray. Losing two of your highest-impact guys on both sides of the ball is not great. The roster is wide open right now, and next year is a complete mystery. There have been more questions than answers in regard to the coaching staff.
Next season and the time leading up to it will be very interesting.
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