When the new AP Top 25 came out on Sunday, Oct. 25, Miami was the lone team in the poll that held steady. The Hurricanes stayed at No. 1 for a second straight week, keeping the top spot after moving up from No. 3 in Week 7.
That sort of stability at the top stands in sharp contrast to the chaos below it. Ohio State, which had the week off, climbed to No. 2 after No.
2 BYU took a major loss at UCF and slid all the way to No. 8.
The Buckeyes picked up 10 first-place votes, while Miami received 59. Utah also picked up one first-place vote at No. 6 after rising from No. 10 to No. 6, and the Utes are now 7-0.
For North Carolina, though, none of that matters much. The Tar Heels are unranked and didn’t receive any votes.
If they had managed to beat Syracuse, they could have joined the group of nine unranked teams that did get votes. Instead, UNC suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss to an ACC opponent that had not won a conference game all season.
That sets up a rough Week 9 trip to face the nation’s top team, and Miami comes in rolling. The Hurricanes are 7-0 after a 52-23 win over a previously ranked Pittsburgh team, and they also handled Clemson, 41-13, another opponent both teams have faced.
Miami is sitting at No. 1 for a reason, and North Carolina is walking into this matchup with almost no momentum. Bill Belichick, in his second year as head coach, knows how important the game is, especially with another home showdown on deck.
The Tar Heels’ fanbase is already starting to lose faith, and that reaction makes sense after the Syracuse loss. There is still a path where UNC at least makes a game of it, like the early stretches of the Notre Dame matchup, but a win would be a major surprise.
The good news for North Carolina is that the schedule gets easier later on. The bad news is the damage may already be done by then.
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 🡒]