They are commonly referred to as Carolina, North Carolina, or simply The Heels, and the mascot of the Tar Heels is Rameses, a Bighorn Ram. It is represented as either a live Dorset sheep with its horns painted Carolina Blue, or as a costumed character performed by a male member of the Tar Heels cheerleading team. They are members of the Division I FBS and their athletics director is Dick Baddour. The football stadium is Kenan Memorial Stadium, and the official colors are carolina blue and white. North Carolina has won 39 team national championships in six different sports, ninth all-time, and 51 individual national championships.

The North Carolina football program has had periods of excellence and several great players pass through the program, including Greg Ellis, Willie Parker, George Barclay, Alge Crumpler, Dre Bly, William Fuller, Charlie "Choo Choo" Justice, Jeff Saturday, Bill Sutherland, Lawrence Taylor, Julius Peppers and Art Weiner. Also the team took a step toward possible prominence by hiring former Miami Hurricanes football head coach Butch Davis for the 2007 season. The Tar Heels have a rivalry with Virginia, known as the South's Oldest Rivalry.