North Carolina won 11 games last season, but its schedule was largely derided because it:

1) Played two FCS teams

and

2) Beat only five teams with winning records

plus

3) It lost to 3-9 South Carolina in the opener.

So the opportunity is upon the Tar Heels to show that they can beat a marquee team or two while they try to take the next step with their program. There is no better time to prove it than the season opener against Georgia in Atlanta.

Especially now.

Georgia is facing major uncertainty at running back -- the position that should be its strongest on offense. Nick Chubb continues to rehab his injured knee, and his status for the opener remains up in the air. Backup Sony Michel recently broke his arm in an ATV accident and now his status is up in the air for the opener. Does anybody need to be reminded that the North Carolina run defense ended last season in tatters?

While every competitor wants to face an opponent that is at full strength, North Carolina stands to benefit if neither Chubb nor Michel can play or is less than 100 percent. Next on the depth chart is Brendan Douglas, who had 36 carries last year. Meanwhile, Georgia has yet to name a starting quarterback. But true freshman Jacob Eason could very well be starting from the get-go, potentially leaving the Bulldogs without many valuable reps at the quarterback or running back spots.

North Carolina had a similar opportunity in the season opener last year against South Carolina, hoping to make a statement against a team from the SEC. But the game ended miserably, and the loss hung like an albatross as the season wore on and the Gamecocks imploded. To its credit, North Carolina did not fold after the loss and ended up making it to the ACC championship game.

But its resume was never taken seriously by the College Football Playoff selection committee for the reasons cited above. Plus, none of the five bowl teams the Tar Heels beat had more than eight wins. This year, they have to play two FCS teams again because of late bailouts, so their playoff chances have already taken a hit before the season begins.

But they do have two Power 5 opponents in nonconference (the other is Illinois) and add a road game against Florida State. The regular-season schedule is undoubtedly tougher, at least on paper.

A win over Georgia to open up the year at least fancies up the resume and solidifies North Carolina as a team to keep an eye on in 2016.