North Carolina will try to accomplish something it has never done before when the Tar Heels welcome No. 1 Miami to Kenan Stadium on Halloween night – defeat the nation’s top-ranked college football team.
The Hurricanes (7-0, 5-0 ACC) bring one of the country’s most explosive offenses and stingiest defenses to Chapel Hill for Saturday’s 7:30 p.m. showdown on ABC. But UNC (4-3, 2-2 ACC) has enjoyed remarkable success against Miami in recent years, winning five consecutive meetings and 12 of 20 since the Hurricanes joined the ACC in 2004.
Can Bill Belichick’s Tar Heels conjure up a Halloween surprise against a Miami team with national championship aspirations? Here’s everything to know about Saturday’s matchup, including kickoff time, TV information, betting odds, injury updates, statistical comparisons and series history.
🔄 Last Updated: October 29, 2026 2:09 am
🏟️ How to Watch UNC-Miami Football
Matchup: Miami Hurricanes (7-0, 5-0 ACC) at UNC Tar Heels (4-3, 2-2 ACC)
Date: Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Kenan Stadium (Chapel Hill, NC)
TV Station: ABC
Broadcast Crew: Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst), Katie George (sideline)
📻 How to Listen to UNC Football
Tar Heel Sports Network: WCHL 97.9 FM / 1360 AM (Chapel Hill), WPTF 98.5 FM / 680 AM (Raleigh), WBT 99.3 FM / 1110 AM (Charlotte), WPTI 94.5 FM (Greensboro/Winston-Salem) and other statewide affiliates.
Broadcast Crew: Jones Angell (play-by-play), Joe Jauch and Bryn Renner (analysts), Dave Nathan (pre-game and post-game host)
📊 UNC-Miami Betting Odds
Spread: Miami -14.5
Over/Under Total: 52.5 points
Moneyline: Miami -650 | UNC +470
Lines courtesy FanDuel Sportsbook. Odds will be refreshed periodically during the week. All lines are subject to change.
🩹 Injury & Availability Updates
The Atlantic Coast Conference released its initial injury and availability report for UNC-Miami on Wednesday evening.
Defensive back Peyton Waters and offensive linemen Jordan Hall and Andrew Threatt were among the North Carolina players listed as questionable. Miami starting guard Max Buchanan is one of six Hurricanes ruled out.
UNC
OUT
- DB #6 Tre Miller
- DL #56 Viliami Moala
- WR #82 Keeyun Chapman
- DL #88 Vodney Cleveland
- DL #92 Jimmy-Phrisco Alo-Suliafu
QUESTIONABLE
- DB #7 Peyton Waters
- LB #8 Jonathan Agumadu
- DL #29 Zavion Griffin-Haynes
- OL #66 Jordan Hall
- OL #75 Andrew Threatt
Miami
OUT
- WR #3 Joshua Moore
- RB #6 CharMar Brown
- DB #16 Ja’Boree Antoine
- DB #29 Romanas “OJ” Frederique Jr.
- OL #66 Max Buchanan
- TE #88 Luka Gilbert
⏪ 2026 Season Rewind
UNC 2026 Results (4-3, 2-2 ACC)
UNC 15, TCU 10
UNC 35, ETSU 3
Clemson 28, UNC 20
Notre Dame 37, UNC 26
UNC 21, Pitt 17
UNC 24, Duke 20
Syracuse 31, UNC 30 (OT)
Miami 2026 Results (7-0, 5-0 ACC)
Miami 45, Stanford 6
Miami 77, Florida A&M 7
Miami 33, Wake Forest 20
Miami 52, Central Michigan 3
Miami 41, Clemson 13
Miami 43, Florida State 35
Miami 52, Pittsburgh 23
Last Time Out
Syracuse 31, UNC 30 (Oct. 24): The Tar Heels let leads of 10-0 and 20-10 slip away late. Both teams scored touchdowns in OT. But Syracuse opted to go for two and converted, though Steve Angeli’s completion to Calvin Russell III has come under question. Replay officials ultimately upheld the call on the field, giving Syracuse the win.
Miami 52, Pittsburgh 23 (Oct. 24): On a day the Hurricanes honored their 2001 national championship team, the 2026 ‘Canes won big over the Panthers. Miami led 31-7 at the break. Darian Mensah completed 31-of-37 passes for 387 yards and four touchdowns. Malachi Toney made 16 catches for 194 yards and three scores.
🚨🏈DG’s Week 9 Previews—NATIONAL🏈🚨 (Fun Facts, Point Spread, More) #1 Miami (7-0) at UNC (4-3), Sat., 7:30 pm (ABC) #2 Ohio State (6-1) at USC (6-2), Sat., 7:30 pm (NBC) #3 Georgia (6-1) vs. #17 Florida (5-2), Sat., 3:30 pm (ABC) (👇Article/Video👇) https://t.co/0F78RR47pZ https://t.co/FWYvQH0US3 — David Glenn Show (@DavidGlennShow) October 28, 2026
🔍 What to Know About the UNC-Miami Matchup
UNC has had the Hurricanes’ number recently
Miami has the football pedigree, but the Tar Heels have enjoyed their share of victories in the series since the ’Canes joined the ACC in 2004. North Carolina is 12-8 against Miami during that span, including winning the last five meetings.
Miami’s last victory in Chapel Hill came in 2017. The Heels own an 8-3 all-time record on home turf.
In 2004, John Bunting’s Tar Heels beat then-No. 4 Miami 31-28 in Chapel Hill on a walkoff field goal by Conner Barth – one of the signature wins in school history. The Tar Heels rolled 59-21 at home in 2015.
Michael Carter and Javonte Williams combined for 544 rushing yards in UNC’s 62-26 triumph in December 2020 in Miami Gardens. Carter rushed for 308 yards and two touchdowns, while Williams notched 236 yards and three scores. On that day, Mack Brown’s Heels finished with 778 total yards.
This Miami team is obviously much stingier on defense, allowing just over 15 points per game and 60.0 rushing yards per contest.
Miami’s offense is operating at another level
The Hurricanes enter Saturday’s game leading the FBS in scoring (49.0 points per game) and total offense (551.9 yards per contest).
Quarterback Darian Mensah has completed an astonishing 81.4 percent of his passes for 2,151 yards, 22 touchdowns and just one interception. His favorite target, Malachi Toney, has accumulated 952 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns through seven games. Both are in the conversation for the Heisman Trophy and other national awards.
But Miami is far from a one-dimensional offensive machine. The Hurricanes average 211.1 rushing yards per game and have scored 20 touchdowns on the ground, including seven apiece from Mark Fletcher Jr. and Javian Mallory. Miami’s offensive line has surrendered just nine sacks, while the Hurricanes have accumulated 199 first downs — an average of 28.4 per contest.
The challenge for UNC will be finding a way to disrupt an offense that has been unstoppable at times. The Tar Heels are allowing 372.7 total yards per game, including 218.0 through the air. UNC has recorded 14 sacks this season, with Xavier Lewis accounting for seven.
Can the Tar Heels move the football against Miami’s defense?
Miami has been nearly impossible to run against, allowing an FBS-low 60.0 rushing yards per game. That’s a difficult matchup for a UNC offense averaging just 114.0 yards on the ground.
The Hurricanes have allowed only 15.3 points per contest, while the Tar Heels average 24.4.
UNC quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. and receiver Jordan Shipp could be particularly important if the Heels struggle to establish their rushing attack.
Third downs could determine whether UNC can hang around
Miami converts 54.5 percent of its third-down opportunities, one of the best rates in the country. North Carolina’s defense has allowed opponents to convert 43.1 percent of the time.
The Hurricanes also dominate time of possession, averaging 34 minutes, 18 seconds per game. UNC averages just 27:13.
If the Tar Heels cannot get Miami off the field on third down, the Hurricanes could control the clock while limiting UNC’s opportunities to score.
Could Miami be looking ahead?
The Hurricanes have a major showdown with No. 5 Notre Dame looming on Nov. 7, one week after their visit to Chapel Hill.
Miami has championship aspirations and little margin for error as one of the nation’s remaining unbeaten teams. UNC, meanwhile, has the opportunity to play spoiler against an opponent it has defeated five consecutive times.
The Tar Heels also have something to prove after surrendering a late lead in last week’s 31-30 overtime loss to Syracuse.
Chasing History: Can the Tar Heels finally beat No. 1?
North Carolina is 0-11 all-time against teams ranked No. 1 nationally, according to CFBTrack. The Tar Heels came agonizingly close in 2019, falling 21-20 to top-ranked Clemson in Chapel Hill after a late two-point conversion attempt failed. UNC also lost 7-6 at No. 1 Pittsburgh in 1982.
Saturday’s game against Miami will mark the 12th opportunity for the Tar Heels to knock off the nation’s top-ranked team.
North Carolina football vs. No. 1 ranked teams
| Year | No. 1 opponent | Result | Site |
| 2019 | Clemson | L 20-21 | Home |
| 2015 | Clemson | L 37-45 | Neutral |
| 1999 | Florida State | L 10-42 | Home |
| 1993 | Florida State | L 7-33 | Home |
| 1987 | Oklahoma | L 0-28 | Road |
| 1982 | Pittsburgh | L 6-7 | Road |
| 1966 | Notre Dame | L 0-32 | Road |
| 1962 | Ohio State | L 7-41 | Road |
| 1956 | Oklahoma | L 0-36 | Road |
| 1953 | Notre Dame | L 14-34 | Home |
| 1944 | Army | L 0-46 | Road |
📊 UNC vs. Miami Stat Comparison
UNC Team Highlights
- Points For: 24.4 points per game
- Points Against: 20.9 points per game
- Passing Offense: 221.9 yards per game
- Rushing Offense: 114.0 yards per game
- Passing Defense: 218.0 yards per game
- Rushing Defense: 154.7 yards per game
UNC Individual Leaders
- Passing: Billy Edwards Jr. – 121-of-201, 1,531 yards, 11 TDs, 5 INTs
- Rushing: Benjamin Hall – 57 carries, 283 yards, 0 TDs
- Receiving: Jordan Shipp – 41 catches, 543 yards, 2 TDs
- Tackles: Derek McDonald – 72 tackles (25 solo)
- Interceptions: Greg Smith III – 3 interceptions
- Scoring: Demon June – 48 points (8 TDs)
Miami Highlights
- Points For: 49.0 points per game
- Points Against: 15.3 points per game
- Passing Offense: 340.7 passing yards per game
- Rushing Offense: 211.1 rushing yards per game
- Passing Defense: 239.1 passing yards per game
- Rushing Defense: 60.0 rushing yards per game
Miami Individual Leaders
- Passing: Darian Mensah – 166-of-204, 2,151 yards, 22 TDs, 1 INT
- Rushing: Javian Mallory – 59 carries, 444 yards, 7 TDs
- Receiving: Malachi Toney – 66 catches, 952 yards, 11 TDs
- Tackles: Mohamed Toure – 35 tackles (24 solo)
- Interceptions: Four players with one interception each
- Scoring: Malachi Toney – 66 points (11 TDs)
The Numbers Game
- Moving the chains: Miami averages 28.4 first downs per contest. UNC is averaging only 19.4.
- Protecting the passer: UNC defensive lineman Xavier Lewis has recorded seven sacks this season, accounting for half of the Tar Heels’ team total. He’ll face a stout Miami offensive line, which has allowed only nine sacks on the season.
- Flag on the play: North Carolina averages just 31.7 penalty yards per game, compared with 62.9 for Miami. The Tar Heels have been flagged 28 times, while the Hurricanes have drawn 48 penalties.
- Ground assault: Miami has scored 20 rushing touchdowns, including seven apiece from Mark Fletcher Jr. and Javian Mallory. UNC has scored nine rushing touchdowns, with Demon June responsible for seven.
- Punt, punt, punt: Miami’s defense has forced opponents to punt 44 times in seven games, compared with 21 punts forced by North Carolina.
- Playmaker extraordinaire: Sophomore wideout Malachi Toney already has nearly 1,000 receiving yards through seven games (952) – third-best in FBS. He has scored 11 touchdowns through the air, also third nationally.
📚 Series History
- North Carolina leads the all-time series 14-11
- Last meeting: North Carolina 41, Miami 31 (Oct. 14, 2023 in Chapel Hill)
- First meeting: North Carolina 21, Miami 0 (Oct. 4, 1946 in Coral Gables)
- UNC has won the past five meetings, including three times in Chapel Hill (2019, 2021, 2023). The last Miami win came during the 2018 season when the Hurricanes rolled 47-10 in Miami Gardens.
- North Carolina and Miami played every season from 2004-2023 when the teams were paired together in the ACC’s Coastal Division. Before that, the schools didn’t play for 41 years.
- UNC is 12-8 against the Hurricanes since Miami joined the ACC in 2004.
🔗 More North Carolina College Football Coverage
- North Carolina Football Schedule
- ACC Standings
- 2026 week-by-week schedule
- North Carolina college football scores
