Which of the following teams was a recent contender in the ACC?

North Carolina has consistently been a powerhouse in college basketball and has maintained its status as a strong contender in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in recent years. The Tar Heels have a storied tradition, highlighted by multiple national championships and a history of producing top-tier talent that competes at a high level both in the NCAA tournaments and in the ACC. Their involvement in the conference means they frequently face some of the best teams in the nation, and their performance in these matchups has kept them relevant in discussions about recent contenders.

Other teams listed do not compete in the ACC; for instance, Penn State is part of the Big Ten, Ohio State also belongs to the Big Ten, and Cincinnati is affiliated with the American Athletic Conference. Consequently, these teams, while they may be competitive within their own conferences, do not have the same direct influence or recent performance within the ACC context as North Carolina.