Billy Edwards Jr. picked the right night to put together the best game of his season.
The North Carolina quarterback was named ACC Quarterback of the Week on Monday, Nov. 2, after torching No. 1 Miami in a performance that gave the Tar Heels exactly what they needed from their senior transfer. Edwards carved up the Hurricanes for a career-high four passing touchdowns, finishing 28 of 34 for 341 yards and an 82.4% completion rate.
That kind of efficiency stood out even more against the top-ranked team in the country. Miami’s offense has been the headline all season, but its defense had no answer for Edwards, who also posted a 205.4 quarterback rating. The ACC release said he turned in "one of the best" completion percentages "of his collegiate career."
The numbers backed up the eye test in a big way. Edwards earned a 77.7 grade from Pro Football Focus, which was a new season high for the Virginia native. He spread the ball around, too, with nine different receivers catching passes and eight of them finishing with more than one reception.
The start was a little rocky, with Miami forcing him into a pair of incompletions on the opening two throws. After that, Edwards settled in and took over, completing 12 straight passes before ending the game by hitting eight of his final nine attempts.
It was the kind of outing Bill Belichick has been waiting to see since arriving from the NFL, and it came at a perfect time for UNC. The Tar Heels are still a couple of wins shy of bowl eligibility, but they should have a clear path to win No. 5 on Saturday, Nov. 7 against UConn.
Edwards’ season has not been spotless. He threw for 209 yards or fewer in three of four games from Sept. 19 to Oct. 17, and he also had back-to-back two-interception games.
Even so, his two picks against No. 25 Pittsburgh did not cost UNC in the end.
Overall, Edwards has been solid as the Tar Heels’ quarterback. But against Miami, he finally delivered the kind of breakout performance that showed why UNC targeted him in the portal.
In Other News...
UNC Just Landed An In-State QB Fans Will Be Watching Closely
North Carolina got an early jump on its 2028 class with the commitment of four-star quarterback Levi Kerr, a highly regarded in-state prospect from Marvin Ridge High School. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound signal-caller becomes the first player to join the Tar Heels next wave of recruits, giving the program an early foundation at the most important position on the field.
Kerr had drawn interest from multiple major programs, but UNC made a strong enough impression during two visits to land his pledge. For a staff trying to build momentum on the trail, securing one of the top quarterbacks in his class this early is a notable start, even if the bigger question now is how the Tar Heels keep building around him. [Read more 🡒]
Belichick Just Highlighted UNCs Toughest Roster-Building Problem
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Belichick said college football still lacks the kind of transparency that comes with the NFLs collective bargaining agreement, and he framed the current setup as something still taking shape. He also noted that pending legislation could bring more changes to the sport, a reminder that roster-building now comes with as much uncertainty off the field as it does on it. [Read more 🡒]
UNCs Offense Showed Up Against No. 1 But One Problem Loomed
For a team that needed its offense to answer a heavyweight, North Carolina got exactly that in a 38-35 loss to No. 1 Miami. Jelani Thurman and Billy Edwards, Jr. helped keep the Tar Heels in striking distance, and Bobby Petrinos offensive plan gave UNC enough rhythm and punch to make the game feel winnable deep into the night.
The problem was on the other side of the ball, where Miami kept finding the answers when it mattered most. The Hurricanes turned key third- and fourth-down chances into the kind of drives that separate a close game from a comeback, leaving North Carolina with more proof that its offense can travel against elite competition, but also a reminder that the defense still has to hold up its end. [Read more 🡒]