North Carolina’s 2023 football schedule has been released.

The Tar Heels have major expectations entering next season with quarterback Drake Maye considered to be one of the best in the country. Carolina went 9-4 in 2022, narrowly missing out on the program’s first 10-win season since 2015.

North Carolina could contend for the ACC Championship again in 2023. With the ACC choosing to abandon divisions going forward, UNC will need to finish the regular season with a top 2 record in order to reach the conference title game. Clemson, Florida State and NC State are the other favorite to reach the ACC Championship Game.

Here’s a breakdown of North Carolina’s 2023 schedule:

Biggest home game: Miami (Oct. 14)

North Carolina will face a tough test at home in mid-October as it hosts Miami. This game has lost some importance with the Coastal division race no longer a consideration, but the Hurricanes should be much improved in Year 2 under Mario Cristobal. Given the rest of UNC’s schedule, it’s tough to see it seriously contending for the ACC title if it can’t beat the Canes at home.

Biggest road game: at Clemson (Nov. 18)

North Carolina will face a tough road test at Clemson during the penultimate week of the regular season. North Carolina has not beaten Clemson since 2010 (5 straight losses) and it hasn’t won on the road against the Tigers since 2001. The Tar Heels will have to snap a 2-plus decade-old streak if they want to beat Clemson in 2023.

Biggest trap game: vs. Duke (Nov. 11)

It’s tough for a rivalry matchup to be considered a “trap” game, but this year’s meeting with Duke definitely qualifies. North Carolina will host the Blue Devils a week before its pivotal matchup with Clemson and 2 weeks prior to its rivalry game at NC State. Duke has a very tough schedule in 2023, so it might have an underwhelming record entering this contest. But North Carolina would do well to not underestimate the Blue Devils as long as Mike Elko and Riley Leonard are leading the charge.

Toughest stretch: September

North Carolina’s November is brutal (Duke, Clemson, NC State), but September also looks brutally difficult. The Tar Heels open the season with South Carolina in Charlotte. They’ll also face App State, Minnesota and Pittsburgh before the calendar flips to October. All 4 of those teams could be at least bowl-eligible in 2023.

Here’s North Carolina’s full schedule:

  • Sept. 2: South Carolina (Charlotte)
  • Sept. 9: App State
  • Sept. 16: Minnesota
  • Sept. 23: at Pittsburgh
  • Sept. 30: Idle
  • Oct. 7: Syracuse
  • Oct. 14: Miami
  • Oct. 21: Virginia
  • Oct. 28: at Georgia Tech
  • Nov. 4: Campbell
  • Nov. 11: Duke
  • Nov. 18: at Clemson
  • Nov. 25: at N.C. State