Miami vs. UNC: Hurricanes Hold Off Tar Heels 38-35
Quick answer
Miami beat North Carolina 38-35 on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026. The Hurricanes led 17-14 at halftime, fell behind 28-24 early in the fourth quarter, then scored two touchdowns to lead 38-28 before North Carolina scored again with 1:42 left.
Key facts
- Final score: Miami 38, North Carolina 35 (North Carolina was the listed home team).
- Points by quarter: Miami 7-10-7-14; North Carolina 0-14-7-14.
- Total yards: Miami 416, North Carolina 407.
- North Carolina passed 28-of-34 for 341 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions, but rushed for only 66 yards (2.2 per carry).
- Miami's M. Fletcher scored three touchdowns: a 31-yard catch from D. Mensah and two 2-yard runs.
- Miami sacked the North Carolina quarterback four times and had no turnovers; North Carolina lost one fumble.
- Before the game, Miami was ranked No. 1 and unbeaten at 7-0, according to a Field Level Media preview published Oct. 27. By our count of the results feed, Miami is now 8-0 and North Carolina is 4-4.
How the game unfolded
Miami struck first when D. Mensah threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to M. Toney in the first quarter. North Carolina answered in the second quarter with two touchdown passes from B. Edwards to J. Thurman, each covering 8 yards. Mensah found M. Fletcher for a 31-yard score in between, and a 25-yard field goal by J. Weinberg with 25 seconds left in the half put Miami ahead 17-14 at the break.
The lead changed hands again in the second half. Edwards hit J. Shipp for a 16-yard touchdown to put North Carolina up 21-17 in the third quarter, and Fletcher answered with a 2-yard run that was upheld after a replay review, putting Miami in front 24-21. D. June's 1-yard run gave North Carolina a 28-24 lead early in the fourth quarter.
That was the last time North Carolina led. Fletcher ran in from 2 yards out to put Miami up 31-28 with 7:52 left, and Mensah threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Toney with 2:37 remaining to make it 38-28. Edwards connected with T. Kekahuna for a 15-yard score with 1:42 left, cutting the margin to 38-35, and that is where it ended.
Why Miami won
The box score points to balance and ball security. Miami ran 33 times for 142 yards (4.3 per carry) while North Carolina managed 66 yards on 30 carries. Miami had no turnovers and forced one, and it sacked Edwards four times for 22 yards. North Carolina's passing game was efficient, with an 82.4 percent completion rate and 341 yards, but it could not turn that into a lead it held. Miami also made its only field goal try and was flagged three times for 30 yards, compared with six penalties for 37 yards for North Carolina.
Scoring plays
| Quarter and clock | Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 8:40 | Miami | D. Mensah 2-yard pass to M. Toney (kick good) | Miami 7, UNC 0 |
| Q2 11:54 | North Carolina | B. Edwards 8-yard pass to J. Thurman (kick good) | 7-7 |
| Q2 7:49 | Miami | Mensah 31-yard pass to M. Fletcher (kick good) | Miami 14, UNC 7 |
| Q2 2:00 | North Carolina | Edwards 8-yard pass to Thurman (kick good) | 14-14 |
| Q2 0:25 | Miami | J. Weinberg 25-yard field goal | Miami 17, UNC 14 |
| Q3 10:59 | North Carolina | Edwards 16-yard pass to J. Shipp (kick good) | UNC 21, Miami 17 |
| Q3 5:19 | Miami | Fletcher 2-yard run (kick good), upheld on replay review | Miami 24, UNC 21 |
| Q4 11:52 | North Carolina | D. June 1-yard run (kick good) | UNC 28, Miami 24 |
| Q4 7:52 | Miami | Fletcher 2-yard run (kick good) | Miami 31, UNC 28 |
| Q4 2:37 | Miami | Mensah 9-yard pass to Toney (kick good) | Miami 38, UNC 28 |
| Q4 1:42 | North Carolina | Edwards 15-yard pass to T. Kekahuna (kick good) | Miami 38, UNC 35 |
Team stats
| Stat | Miami | North Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Total yards | 416 | 407 |
| Rushing | 142 yards on 33 carries | 66 yards on 30 carries |
| Passing | 22-of-29, 274 yards | 28-of-34, 341 yards |
| Passing touchdowns | 3 | 4 |
| Sacks taken | 1 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| First downs | 25 | 27 |
| Penalties | 3 for 30 yards | 6 for 37 yards |
| Time of possession | 29:09 | 30:51 |
What's next
Miami is scheduled to play at Notre Dame on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m. ET, then host Duke on Nov. 14 (time to be announced). A Field Level Media preview called Notre Dame No. 5 as of Oct. 27.
North Carolina is scheduled to play at UConn on Saturday, Nov. 7, at noon ET, then host Louisville on Nov. 14 (time to be announced).
What we could not confirm
- Updated national rankings after this weekend's games. We only confirmed the pre-game No. 1 ranking for Miami.
- Full names and positions for players listed by initial in the data feed. D. Mensah is identified as Miami's quarterback in the Field Level Media preview; we did not confirm the other players' positions.
- How North Carolina's final possession played out after its 1:42 touchdown. The feed shows the scoring plays but we did not confirm the closing sequence.
- Season records are our own tally from the game results feed, not an official source.
Frequently asked questions
Who won Miami vs. North Carolina?
Miami won 38-35 on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
How did Miami come back in the fourth quarter?
North Carolina led 28-24 early in the fourth quarter. Miami answered with a 2-yard touchdown run by M. Fletcher to lead 31-28, then a 9-yard touchdown pass from D. Mensah to M. Toney to lead 38-28 with 2:37 left.
Who scored the most touchdowns?
Miami's M. Fletcher scored three: one receiving touchdown of 31 yards and two rushing touchdowns of 2 yards each. North Carolina's B. Edwards threw four touchdown passes.
When does Miami play next?
Miami is scheduled to play at Notre Dame on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Sources
- Sportradar college football data feed: final score, team stats and play-by-play, retrieved Nov. 1, 2026
- Field Level Media: No. 1 Miami not overlooking North Carolina as Notre Dame showdown looms (Oct. 27, 2026)