BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell will open the 2020-21 season with a pair of nationally-ranked dual matchups, starting New Year's Day at No. 12 North Carolina inside Carmichael Arena.

The Camels' 6:00 p.m. matchup with the Tar Heels in Chapel Hill, N.C. will mark the first NCAA Division I dual of the 2020-21 season, more than nine months after the 2019-20 campaign was cut short just before the NCAA Championships.

One day later, CU will take on another ranked ACC opponent, traveling to Blacksburg, Va. on Saturday to face No. 9 Virginia Tech at 3:00 p.m. at Cassell Coliseum. North Carolina and Virginia Tech will be the Camels' only nonconference duals of the 2020-21 season.

Watch both matches on ACC Network Extra, and follow on Twitter @GoCamelsWrestle.

The Camels are coming off their best season in program history, finishing the regular season at 11-2 overall and a perfect 7-0 in Southern Conference duals, winning its final nine matchups, including all seven conference bouts. Additionally, five Camels earned All-American status from the NWCA.

Five Camels claimed individual SoCon titles at the 2020 conference championship, helping secure Campbell's second straight and third SoCon tournament championship in four years (2017, 2019, 2020). CU's six NCAA qualifiers tied a school record (2019).

Campbell, ranking as high as No. 12 in the country (InterMat), completed a sweep of the SoCon during the regular season, claiming its second straight league dual championship.

Seniors Benjamin Barton at 157 pounds and Austin Kraisser at 165 were named 2020-21 Preseason All-SoCon earlier this week. Barton is ranked No. 33 at 157, while Kraisser checks in at No. 32 at 165, according to The Open Mat. At 184 pounds, Andrew Morgan is No. 7 and Josh Heil is No. 10 at 149, while Korbin Meink is also No. 26 at 133.

The Tar Heels are ranked No. 12 by The Open Mat, with ranked wrestlers at all 10 weight classes, highlighted by top-ranked 149-pounder Austin O'Connor. Friday's tilt will be Campbell's first meeting with UNC since 2013.

The Hokies are No. 9 in The Open Mat's dual rankings with eight ranked wrestlers, including another top-ranked individual in Mekhi Lewis at 165 pounds. Hunter Bolen is also ranked No. 3 at 184 pounds. Campbell and Virginia Tech last met in 2018.

Next up, Campbell will jump straight into its SoCon slate, beginning in Lexington, Va. on January 16, squaring off with second-year program Presbyterian and host VMI.

Campbell probable lineup
125: Zurich Storm or Domenic Zaccone
133: Gabriel Hixenbaugh or Chris Rivera
141: Shannon Hanna or Justin Rivera
149: No. 10 Josh Heil or Jason Kraisser
157: No. 33 Benjamin Barton, Troy Nation or Chase Warden
165: No. 32 Austin Kraisser, Bilal Bailey or Jack Ervien
174: Austin Murphy, Michael Ferree or Josh Kenny
184: Caleb Hopkins
197: Levi Hopkins or Taye Ghadiali
285: Luke Davis
*Rankings according to The Open Mat