North Carolina vs. Miami Postgame Notes
Posted Nov 1, 2026
Top-ranked Miami defeated Carolina, 38-35, Saturday evening in Kenan Stadium.
With the loss, Carolina drops to 4-4 on the season, and 2-3 in the ACC standings. Saturday was the 26th all-time matchup between the Tar Heels and Hurricanes. North Carolina leads the all-time series, 14-12, with UNC holding a 7-4 record in Chapel Hill.
• The matchup was UNC’s 12th meeting in program history against the country’s top-ranked team. The last occurrence for the Tar Heels against No. 1 was at home versus Clemson in 2019.
• Saturday was Carolina’s 46th all-time matchup against a top-five opponent in the Associated Press Poll.
• Carolina tied its season-high in points (35), and tied the most points allowed by the Miami defense this season.
• UNC’s 341 passing yards were a season best, and the most allowed by Miami’s defense all season.
• The Tar Heels’ 14 first-half points tied the most allowed by Miami in an opening half in 2026.
• Tight end Jelani Thurman posted his fifth and sixth touchdowns of the season, his second career game with two-or-more receiving touchdowns. Both efforts were against top-five programs: No. 3 Notre Dame and No. 1 Miami.
• Quarterback Billy Edwards finished the night 28-34 for 341 yards and four touchdowns. Edwards set season-high marks in completions (28), completion percentage (82%) and yards (341). His four touchdowns were a career best. This season, Edwards has three-or-more touchdowns in the air against No. 3 Notre Dame and No. 1 Miami.
• Edwards’ 152 first-half passing yards were the second-most by UNC in a half this season (156 yards against ETSU in first half).
• Demon June’s fourth-quarter rushing touchdown was his eighth of the season. Seven of his eight rushing touchdowns on the year have come from within the 10-yard line.
• June is the first Tar Heel with a rushing touchdown in four-straight games since Omarion Hampton in 2023 (at Georgia Tech, vs. Campbell, vs. Duke in 2 OT, at Clemson).
• Fellow running back Jaylen McGill posted a career-best 69 receiving yards, leading the Tar Heels on the night. McGill’s seven receptions were a career-high.
• Receiver Trech Kekahuna posted his first touchdown as a Tar Heel late in the fourth quarter, on a 15-yard pass from Edwards. The Hawaii native ended the night with a season best 57 yards.
• Linebacker Derek McDonald led the Tar Heels with 11 tackles on the night, his sixth game this season with 10-or-more tackles.
• Linebacker Peyton Seelmann posted a sack for the second-straight game.
• Defensive back Kenton Dopson III led the Tar Heels with six solo tackles.
• Carolina punted just once on the night, a 28-yard punt by Aeron Burrell in the first quarter.
• Carolina travels to UConn next weekend in non-conference action.
• Kickoff between the Tar Heels and Huskies from East Hartford, Conn. is set for Noon, televised on CBS Sports Network.
Courtesy UNC Athletics
UNC recovered consecutive onside kicks in the final two minutes against No. 1 Miami, but consecutive penalties negated the recoveries in a 38-35 loss. "It’s...