No. 1 Miami is walking into one of the trickiest spots on its schedule, and Mario Cristobal knows exactly why.
The Hurricanes are 7-0 and 5-0 in the ACC after flattening Pitt 52-23, but the next test comes in Chapel Hill against a North Carolina team that looks nothing like the one Bill Belichick inherited in his first year. UNC stumbled through that opening season with too much chaos and not enough clean football.
Year two has been different. The Tar Heels are 5-3, 2-2 in the ACC, own one of the league’s better defenses, and already have a top-25 win.
That’s the kind of setup Cristobal is pushing his team to respect.
“Nothing in college is surprising,” Cristobal said during his Monday morning appearance on the Joe Rose Show. “You know, I say a weekend a week out because I do believe in, really good.
And remember, a to get into a conference championship runner to get into the playoffs, teams have to they need help from other teams, so they're not only playing against the teams or playing against. You're playing against all the staffs that need you to lose.
“So that they can get it also. So the amount of share of information, the amount of work, the amount of good players on different rosters that show up, the amount of think that happened out of the blue, you, last minute, you, illness, the last minute that's in the family that where you lose a guy, maybe mentally, or physically can't be there, there's a lot of things that go into this, so you've got to come in every single time, ready to play your best, if not, you're putting a winning at risk.”
Cristobal also sees a UNC team built in Belichick’s image. He called it an NFL-style group, one that brings size, discipline and enough toughness to make life miserable if Miami isn’t sharp.
“Built like an NFL team,” Cristobal said. “Big and powerful up front.
Can two-gap you also play four down, multiple on the back end, big physical offensive line, downhill in the run game. Quarterback is really accurate, at least penalized, one of the least penalized teams in the country.
I think they're number four, overall, at least in the red zone.
“They've got tons of guys who are returning starters as all-conference players. And you know what they do?
They're really smart. They win games by playing together as a team, and really, they're a player, two away in three games, or they could be undefeated.
So they've done an excellent job; great football team. Gonna be a great environment.”
The timing adds another wrinkle. Miami is headed to Chapel Hill on a Halloween night that already carries some bad memories for the Hurricanes, who had their foundation shaken last season by a loss to SMU on the holiday. This time, they’ll try to keep rolling before a trip to Notre Dame.
In Other News...
Belichick Calls Out ACC After Costly UNC Replay Controversy
The finish to North Carolinas overtime loss at Syracuse has turned into more than just a tough result on the schedule. Bill Belichick took aim at the ACCs replay setup, arguing that the league does not have enough camera angles to properly sort out the kind of goal-line and sideline plays that can decide a game in a matter of seconds.
His point was rooted in the review of Syracuses game-winning two-point conversion, where the available official footage left too much room for doubt from the booth and the ACC Replay Center. Belichick said clips circulating on social media offered better views than what the league had at its disposal, and he pushed for dedicated cameras on the critical lines the way other conferences use them to handle the most important calls. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Has A Fascinating Frontcourt Question With Alex Samodurov
Alex Samodurov has already given North Carolina a fresh look in the frontcourt, and the early impressions are enough to make his arrival worth watching. The 6-foot-11 forward from Greece comes to Chapel Hill after playing professionally for Panathinaikos, bringing a level of international seasoning that is not common for a new college big man. He also arrives with real pedigree, having helped Greece earn a bronze medal at the 2025 senior EuroBasket, and he flashed some of the reasons UNC is intrigued when he chipped in rebounds and a three-pointer in an exhibition against USC.
What comes next is the part the Tar Heels still need to sort out. UNC's staff is trying to figure out how fast Samodurov can adjust to the college game and where he fits in a frontcourt rotation that will have to account for his size, skill and experience. For a team looking for answers up front, he is an unusual addition: polished enough to raise expectations, but still new enough to leave the biggest questions unresolved. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Is Reaching A QB Crossroads Billy Edwards Can't Ignore
Billy Edwards Jr. is expected to take the first snap against Miami, a game that may also serve as his final collegiate start, and that gives North Carolina a natural moment to look ahead even while trying to finish on a steadier note. Edwards has provided the Tar Heels with a veteran presence this season, completing 60.2 percent of his passes for 1,531 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions, but the offense has still battled inconsistency enough to leave bigger questions hanging over the position.
Travis Burgess is the name those questions keep circling back to. The freshman arrived as a highly regarded recruit, and the Tar Heels would be wise to find him some playing time after the Miami game so they can get a clearer read on whether he can be the quarterback of the future. For a program looking to stabilize itself, the next stretch could matter as much for evaluation as it does for the present. [Read more 🡒]