CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Larry Fedora thought last year should have been North Carolina’s first ACC Championship game appearance.

Year three of the Fedora Era in Chapel Hill was a roller coaster. After consecutive losses to East Carolina, Clemson, Virginia Tech and Notre Dame, 2014 ended with a 35-7 home drubbing by NC State and 40-21 loss to Rutgers in the Quick Lane Bowl.

Twelve months later, the Tar Heels are on the brink of the school’s first league title since 1980.

“I really wanted all this to happen last year. I thought (in) year three that we had the pieces in place,” Fedora said.

Just a year removed from 6-7, his worst at UNC, Fedora is enjoying his best.

“I did a poor job last year with the football team, so we didn’t achieve those goals,” he said. “Right now, yeah, I think we’re where we want to be. I think our program is going to grow from this point.

“I think, because of the things that happened in the past, I think the future is extremely bright for where our program is.”

Marquise Williams has played as big a role as anybody in the transformation. This season, the senior from Charlotte, has passed for 2,605 yards with 18 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Three of his eight interceptions were grabbed by South Carolina in UNC’s season-opener at Bank of America Stadium. Fedora said Williams’ improved ball-security blazed their trail back to Charlotte.

“If he doesn’t do it. We’re not sitting here. If he doesn’t take care of the football, we’re not here today, I can assure you,” Fedora said. “That is our No. 1 key to victory in every game we go into…you go back and look at the games that we didn’t turn it over at all, we’ve been pretty dominant.”

Over the last six days, the Coastal side of the ACC became a tougher road to hoe, with Virginia Tech adding Justin Fuente and Miami’s hire of Mark Richt.

“Look at the strength of the ACC right now. Look at the coaches in this league, look at what they’re doing with these teams,” Fedora said. “You can put the ACC up with any conference in the country. I have the utmost respect for Mark Richt and what he’s done. I don’t know Justin that well, but I’m looking forward to meeting him and getting to know him. I’ve heard tremendous things about him.”