Bill Belichick didn’t exactly hide his respect for Miami this week. If anything, he laid it out plainly: North Carolina is staring at the No. 1 team in the country, and the Tar Heels are getting a giant challenge at home.
Miami comes into the matchup with a résumé that’s hard to poke holes in. The Hurricanes have already stacked up wins over ranked Wake Forest, Florida State, Pittsburgh, Clemson, and other strong programs. Belichick sees the whole picture, not just the record, and he made it clear he views Miami as the real deal.
“Miami, they're the No. 1 team in the country, and they should be," Belichick said, per the Miami Herald. "Really impressive.
Mario has done, as usual, a great job down there. They're a very well-balanced team, pretty much do everything well.
Good in the kicking game. The return game is dangerous.
Offensively, they can run it. They can throw it.
The quarterback's good. The receivers are good.
Offensive line's really good. They work well together.
Very well coached. A lot of explosive plays, but they can grind it out, too.
"They just do a really good job defensively. Good pass rush.
Put a lot of pressure on the offense. There are several good players that we ought to be conscious of who are game-wreckers.
They're the product of the linebackers. It's a solid team all the way through.
They have good players who are well coached. They look like the No. 1 team in the country to me.
Good opportunity for us. Good challenge for us.
Looking forward to playing our best game. Look forward to the challenge.
Excited to see them come to town. They played pretty well on the road, too.
They play well everywhere."
That’s a pretty complete scouting report, and it matches what Miami has shown on the field. The Hurricanes have been the country’s most dangerous offense all season, with the ability to pile up points in a hurry. They can get to 40-plus with ease.
The one area that has shown some cracks lately is defense. Miami gave up 35 points to Florida State, and Pittsburgh managed to make things uncomfortable in a 52-23 loss to the Hurricanes. Even so, the overall body of work still points to a team that’s been rolling.
North Carolina may not be getting treated like a hopeless underdog, but plenty of people still think Miami is the better team. Others are eyeing this one as a possible trap game for the Hurricanes.
Either way, Belichick isn’t pretending otherwise: this is a major test, and Miami has earned the attention. After this, the Hurricanes still have Notre Dame, Duke, and Virginia Tech waiting on the schedule, so the next couple of weeks should tell a lot about what kind of team they really are.
In Other News...
Belichick Brings Another Off-Field Distraction To North Carolina
Bill Belichicks arrival in Chapel Hill has already brought plenty of attention, and now theres another layer to the off-field conversation around North Carolina. According to sources close to Jordon Hudson, the two reportedly ended their relationship late last year, even though they have remained close friends and continued their business partnerships.
The pair has still been seen together publicly this year, which has only kept the spotlight on a relationship that drew notice in the first place because of their age difference. For the Tar Heels, it is another reminder that Belichicks presence is going to come with plenty of scrutiny beyond the football field. [Read more 🡒]
Philip Rivers Could Change The Carolina Rivalry In A Way Fans Hate
Philip Rivers has surfaced in the kind of rumor that instantly grabs attention across the Triangle, because the former NC State quarterback is now being linked to the Wolfpacks opening after Dave Doerens firing. Rivers is currently coaching at a high school in Alabama, and he has already acknowledged the chatter while making clear there is nothing concrete yet, but even the possibility is enough to stir up old memories and fresh debate.
For North Carolina fans, the idea carries an extra edge because Rivers is not just a former Wolfpack star, he is one of the most recognizable figures ever tied to the rivalry. The discussion has also brought up his connections to former teammates and what a hire like this could mean for NC States direction, but for now it remains exactly that, a conversation without an official decision. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Still Has One Big Roster Concern Before No. 1 Miami
North Carolinas Friday night availability report brought a little clarity ahead of its matchup with No. 1 Miami, and a little more uncertainty too. Five Tar Heels are still ruled out, while four others are listed as questionable, leaving the staff to sort through a roster picture that is still very much in flux as kickoff approaches.
There was one bit of good news for the Tar Heels, with defensive lineman Zavion Griffin-Haynes now considered available. Miami will also be short-handed, with six players out for the game, but the biggest update for UNC may still be coming later, when the final availability report is released two hours before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]