Ford averaged 18.6 points and 7.0 assists per game. His assists average established a UNC single-season record until Ed Cota averaged 7.4 assists during the 1997-98 season. Ford led UNC to a first-place finish during the ACC regular season and was a First Team All-ACC selection, an honor he would also receive in his Junior and Senior seasons. He also was a consensus second-team All-American. After his sophomore season, Ford was the starting point guard for the 1976 U.S. Olympic team, coached by Dean Smith, which won the gold medal that summer. In 6 Olympic games, Ford totaled 54 assists for a very high 9.0 average.