UNC came painfully close to pulling off the kind of upset Tar Heels fans had been circling all week, and the game turned on a handful of snaps that kept Miami standing and UNC one play short - twice.
The biggest reason the Tar Heels had a shot was Billy Edwards. His fumble with 5:33 left in the fourth quarter ended up being the swing moment, and he absolutely has to do a better job sensing pressure in the pocket.
But that mistake came after a night in which he played his best game as a college quarterback. UNC’s offense under Edwards, not counting the end-of-half kneel-down, went: Punt, Touchdown, Touchdown, Touchdown, Touchdown, Fumble, Touchdown.
Seven possessions, five touchdowns. Edwards finished 28-34 for 341 yards and four touchdowns, doing it while the run game managed just 69 yards after sacks were removed.
The operation around him was sharp all night, and Bobby Petrino deserved plenty of credit for that. UNC went 8-11 on third down and also converted two fourth downs after failing on third.
Shipp, Thurman, and Kekahuna kept finding the soft spots in Miami’s coverage, and the ball came out quickly for most of the night. Petrino stayed a step ahead, repeatedly identifying where Miami would be vulnerable and putting his quarterback and receivers in position to attack those openings.
It was an efficient, controlled performance from the offense, with no play longer than 28 yards. That makes the night even more striking, because it raises the obvious question of where this kind of passing game has been until now. It also leaves UNC wondering how dangerous this team could be down the stretch if the offense keeps humming against UConn, Louisville, Virginia, and NC State.
For one night, Bill Belichick’s plan for the program looked exactly the way he wants it to look - except for the part that cost UNC the game.
Belichick has made it clear what he wants: shorten games, cut down on chaos and mistakes, and win in the red zone on both sides of the ball. That kind of approach depends on an offense that can control the ball, and Petrino’s group delivered that piece.
UNC won the time of possession battle and averaged five points per possession. That’s usually enough.
Scoring five touchdowns on seven possessions while limiting the other team’s chances is the kind of formula that wins most nights.
Miami was the exception. The Hurricanes scored five touchdowns and a field goal on their seven possessions, and UNC’s defense kept running into trouble in the red zone.
Miami quarterback Darian Mensah was sacked once and pressured only four times. The Hurricanes piled up 142 yards on 33 carries, stayed on schedule, and used short passes to force UNC into repeated tackles in space.
Malachi Toney was the name you might have expected to pop there, but it was running back Mark Fletcher and tight end Elijah Lofton who made UNC safety Greg Smith miss on two key plays.
That kind of damage is easier to understand against the #1 team in the country and an offense as dangerous as Miami’s. Still, UNC entered the game 115th in the country in third-down defense, and the problem has been there all season.
In UNC’s losses, opponents had scored on 16 of 17 red zone trips, with 11 of those ending in touchdowns. This wasn’t just about Miami.
But on this night, that weakness was the difference between a signature win and another near miss.
Belichick’s level of investment in the program also looked different here. After the resignations of his son Steve and his close friend Michael Lombardi, it was fair to wonder how deeply he remained committed to pulling UNC out of last season’s hole. After seeing his team go toe to toe with Miami and Notre Dame for 60 minutes, that question feels answered.
Coaching is what Belichick has lived and breathed for decades, and he knows UNC will be his last stop. The sideline fire he showed after the pass interference flag on Jaiden Patterson in the end zone has shown up throughout the season, and he appears more locked in with his players every week.
UNC likely gets Belichick back for a third season, which could mean the program also picks up the optional fourth and fifth years of his contract. Whether that’s the right move or not is beside the point here.
The coach who does his best work when football is all-consuming had his team one play away from beating the #1 team in the country - twice. If he keeps bringing that kind of focus, UNC can keep moving forward.
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 🡒]