Miami walked out of Chapel Hill still unbeaten, but it took every bit of 60 minutes and then some to do it, edging North Carolina 38-35 in a game that never settled down.
The Hurricanes got the night rolling with a 74-yard march in 13 plays, capped by Darian Mensah’s two-yard touchdown toss to Malachi Toney. The throw went toward the sideline in the end zone, and Toney hauled it in with an incredible blind catch over the shoulder for the opening score.
North Carolina briefly stalled on its next possession, but Miami gave the ball right back six plays later, and from there the game turned into a track meet with very little defense attached. The Hurricanes’ tackling broke down on the perimeter, and their zone coverage got picked apart as UNC answered with a pair of long second-quarter touchdown drives. Both ended with touchdown passes to tight end Jelani Thurman, who kept finding space and punishing Miami for it.
Miami did have an answer in the middle of that stretch. Mark Fletcher, Jr. lined up wide on the backside of a diamond formation near the sideline, took a quick pass from Mensah, and followed blocking in front of him for a 31-yard touchdown. A field goal before halftime sent the Hurricanes into the break with a 17-14 lead.
North Carolina’s Billy Edwards kept the pressure on after halftime. He finished with 341 yards on 28-of-34 passing and four touchdowns without an interception, and he opened the third quarter by rolling right and hitting Jordan Shipp in the end zone to put UNC ahead 21-17. Miami answered with another long drive, and Fletcher powered in for a score that survived a review to push the Hurricanes back in front 24-21.
That lead didn’t last. UNC put together a 16-play, 75-yard drive that chewed up almost eight and a half minutes, with Demon June finishing it off from a yard out to make it 28-24 Carolina with under 12 minutes to go.
Miami finally seized control for good after that. Toney, who had been bracketed much of the night, broke free for a 31-yard catch and run to spark the drive. Fletcher then punched in a fourth-and-1 touchdown from the two to put the Hurricanes back on top.
The biggest swing came moments later when Marquise Lightfoot got to Edwards, forced a fumble, and Justin Scott recovered it. Six plays after that, Toney made another defender miss and turned a slant into a touchdown, giving Miami a 38-28 cushion with a little more than 2:30 left.
UNC still had one last burst in it, racing 75 yards in 55 seconds to keep the pressure on. The Tar Heels also recovered two onside kick attempts, but offsides and illegal block flags wiped both away. Miami then recovered the third try and ran out the clock.
Mensah finished 22 of 29 for 274 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Fletcher carried 13 times for 43 yards, scored twice on the ground, and added the receiving touchdown.
Toney caught seven passes for 75 yards and two scores. On defense, Chase Smith, JJ Dunnigan, and Mohamed Toure each finished with nine total tackles.
In Other News...
Mark Fletcher Jr. Just Reached A Miami Milestone Few Ever Touch
Mark Fletcher Jr. added another line to his Miami legacy against North Carolina, and it came in a way that fit his value to the Hurricanes offense. The senior running back scored on a 31-yard receiving play for his 36th career touchdown, moving past Stephen McGuire and Edgerrin James to stand alone atop the programs all-time list for total touchdowns.
For a player who has been a steady part of Miamis attack across four seasons, the milestone speaks to both his durability and his production in key moments. It is the kind of mark that usually belongs to the most celebrated names in school history, and Fletcher now sits in that company with plenty of season still left to shape how far he can push the record. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Has Become A Quarterback Destination Fans Can't Ignore
The transfer portal has turned Miami into one of the sports most interesting quarterback stops under Mario Cristobal, and the recent track record is hard to ignore. Cam Ward and Carson Beck both used their time in Coral Gables as a launchpad to the NFL Draft, giving the Hurricanes a level of credibility in the portal that resonates with quarterbacks looking for a place to reset, produce and get noticed.
Darian Mensah has only added to that appeal by giving Miami strong play at the position, keeping the program in the conversation with other high-end quarterbacks who are watching closely. With the spring transfer portal window opening in early 2027, the Hurricanes are positioned to stay active in that market, and the bigger question is how far this run of quarterback success can continue to carry the programs recruiting pitch. [Read more 🡒]
No. 1 Miami Heads Back To A House Of Chapel Hill Horrors
Halloween has not always been kind to Miami in Chapel Hill, and the history is part of what makes this trip feel a little different. The Hurricanes have been here before on a spooky weekend, most memorably in 2004 when an upset loss jolted a team that arrived with bigger expectations, and again in 2017 when Miami escaped with a narrow win. Those memories still linger as the No. 1 Hurricanes head back to North Carolina for the 2026 matchup, carrying an undefeated record and one of the nations most productive offenses.
North Carolina, meanwhile, has not been especially steady lately, but the Tar Heels have shown they can make life uncomfortable for a top-ranked visitor in this setting. Their history against No. 1 teams is not long, yet it adds another layer to a game that already comes wrapped in old Miami anxieties. For the Hurricanes, the challenge is not just the ranking or the numbers, but the setting itself, where past trips have had a way of turning ordinary autumn football into something far less predictable. [Read more 🡒]