UNC, NC State Football Seek End to ACC Title Drought…
During the ACC’s annual preseason football event in Charlotte, the usual optimism and clichés were present among coaches and players. This time of year brings renewed hope for improvement, new coaching impacts, and strengthened team chemistry. However, a notable shift this year was the heightened attention on N.C. State, while UNC received less than usual.
Since Mack Brown’s return to UNC in 2018, the Tar Heels have often been seen as a potential challenger to ACC dominance, usually represented by Clemson. Brown had previously brought national attention to the program in the 1990s and returned with the promise of replicating that success. Although UNC’s recruiting efforts initially matched this enthusiasm, on-field results have not lived up to expectations. The Tar Heels will begin the season at Minnesota without the heavy expectations of recent years. In contrast, N.C. State, under Dave Doeren, is now embracing the hype and expectations. Doeren, entering his 12th season, emphasized that the team is aiming higher, no longer satisfied with being merely “good” but aspiring to win a championship.
Both UNC and N.C. State have experienced long droughts without an ACC football title—UNC since 1980 and N.C. State since 1979. Despite their rivalry and mutual disdain, the two programs share a history of falling short when expectations rise. Neither has won the ACC in over 40 years, often seeing potential seasons derailed by various factors. It’s surprising that neither team has stumbled into a championship, especially given the fluctuating fortunes of the conference.
Brown’s second tenure at UNC has featured strong quarterback play but has been marked by missed opportunities and unfulfilled expectations. Despite entering the top 15 national rankings in the past four seasons, UNC has only finished ranked once, in 2020. Brown acknowledges the team’s struggle to handle expectations and the need to perform better.
For N.C. State, the excitement this season is centered around a revamped offense led by transfer quarterback Grayson McCall, and a defense striving to maintain its identity despite losing key players. The Wolfpack has had mixed success with preseason expectations, finishing in the top 25 of the final rankings in two of the last three seasons but faltering in 2022.
As both teams head into the 2024 season, the quest to end their long-standing ACC title drought continues. Despite past failures with talented players, both programs aim to finally break through and achieve a long-awaited conference championship. The drive is there, but whether this year will finally bring an end to their shared futility remains to be seen.
