The Tar Heels head into Saturday night in a tough spot, and the matchup at Miami only sharpens the edge on a rough stretch.
North Carolina is coming off a disastrous loss to Syracuse, one that saw the team blow a double-digit lead. That setback dropped the Tar Heels to 4-3 instead of 5-2, and it put their bowl hopes in real danger with four games left. If North Carolina loses again, the final month of the season gets a lot more complicated.
Miami, meanwhile, enters Week 9 at No. 1 in the country, a major contrast to North Carolina’s slide. That makes this one a heavy-underdog spot for the Tar Heels, even if the history between these programs has leaned their way recently.
North Carolina is 16-11 all-time against Miami and has won the last five meetings. The most recent matchup came in 2023, when the Tar Heels beat the Hurricanes 41-31. Drake Maye was the quarterback then, though that’s obviously a very different situation than what North Carolina is bringing to this game.
Miami’s quarterback situation is also in a better place than it was the last time these teams met, so recent history only tells part of the story. The teams are arriving at this matchup from very different directions, and the rankings reflect that.
For North Carolina, the quarterback question could soon come back into focus. If Billy Edwards Jr. struggles again in a game that already feels like an uphill battle, Miles O'Neill could get a look next week. That would mirror the Week 3 situation against Notre Dame, when Edwards Jr. had drawn concern but still kept the job because the Fighting Irish were such a heavy favorite.
This time, though, the season is deeper into October, and Edwards Jr. still hasn’t shown much growth. His same issues keep popping up. Head coach Bill Belichick stayed with him after the 37-26 loss to Notre Dame, but if the Wisconsin transfer is behind another rough offensive night, the leash may not be nearly as long.
Sean McDonough will handle play-by-play, with Greg McElroy as analyst and Katie George on the sideline.
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 🡒]