The No. 1 Miami Hurricanes take their unbeaten record on the road Saturday to face the North Carolina Tar Heels at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Miami enters at 7-0 and averaging 49 points per game, while North Carolina sits at 4-3 and coming off a 31-30 overtime loss to Syracuse. The biggest question heading into Saturday is whether the Tar Heels defense can slow down a Hurricanes offense that has scored at least 33 points in every game this season.
Miami Vs North Carolina Game Information
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 31
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC
- TV: ABC
Can North Carolina’s Defense Slow Down Miami’s Passing Attack?
Miami quarterback Darian Mensah has completed 166 of 204 passes for 2,151 yards, 22 touchdowns and just one interception this season. Those numbers extend across Miami’s full season totals, which show a completion rate of 80.9% and 10.4 yards per pass attempt, both figures that rank among the most efficient in the sport. North Carolina’s pass defense has given up plenty of chances to make plays, with the Tar Heels defense recording 28 passes defended and 14 sacks through seven games, but their offense has turned the ball over 10 times this season, a total that puts pressure on the defense to create short fields.
Mensah’s top target, receiver Malachi Toney, has caught 66 passes for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns. That workload accounts for a significant share of Miami’s receiving production, which averages 340.7 yards per game through the air. If North Carolina commits extra attention to Toney, Mensah still has a offense averaging 551.9 total yards per game to spread the ball around.
Is North Carolina’s Offense Good Enough To Keep Pace?
North Carolina quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. has thrown for 1,531 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions, completing 59.9% of his passes on the season. The Tar Heels average 24.4 points per game, well below Miami’s 49-point average, and their turnover differential sits at minus-1 for the year. Running back Benjamin Hall has carried 57 times for 283 yards, part of a rushing attack that averages just 114 yards per game as a team.
North Carolina has split its last five games, with wins over Pittsburgh and Duke sandwiched around losses to Clemson, Notre Dame and Syracuse. The Tar Heels converted 40.48% of third downs this season, a figure that will need to climb against a Miami defense that has forced seven takeaways overall.
What Are The Expected Starters?
No injuries appear on the official report for either team heading into Saturday. Mensah is expected to start under center for Miami, with Javian Mallory, who has rushed for 444 yards and seven touchdowns on 59 carries, projected to lead the backfield. Toney is expected to be the primary target in the passing game.
For North Carolina, Edwards is projected to start at quarterback, with Hall as the lead back and Jordan Shipp, who has 41 catches for 543 yards and two touchdowns, as the top receiving option.
By The Numbers
- Points per game: Miami 49.0, North Carolina 24.4
- Total yards per game: Miami 551.9, North Carolina 335.9
- Passing yards per game: Miami 340.7, North Carolina 221.9
- Rushing yards per game: Miami 211.1, North Carolina 114.0
- Third-down conversion rate: Miami 54.55%, North Carolina 40.48%
- Turnover differential: Miami +4, North Carolina -1
- Sacks: Miami 20, North Carolina 14
- Completion percentage: Miami 80.9%, North Carolina 59.9%
Key Matchup: Miami’s Offensive Line Vs North Carolina’s Pass Rush
Miami’s offensive line has allowed just nine sacks across seven games, a rate of 1.3 per game, giving Mensah time to operate behind 10.4 yards per attempt. North Carolina has recorded 14 sacks and 23 tackles for loss on the season, numbers that suggest the Tar Heels can generate some pressure. How quickly North Carolina’s front gets to Mensah could determine whether the Tar Heels can keep the game within reach, since Miami has outscored opponents by an average of nearly 25 points per contest this season.
What To Watch
Miami climbed to the No. 1 ranking after surviving Florida State in double overtime and followed that with a 52-23 win over Pittsburgh, as detailed in Miami’s win over Pittsburgh. A road trip to Chapel Hill presents a different type of test against a North Carolina team that has shown it can win close games, beating both Pittsburgh and Duke by single scores. North Carolina’s lone home previous matchup entering this stretch came against Syracuse, a game the Tar Heels lost in overtime.
The outcome Saturday will factor into Miami’s case for holding the top spot, a topic covered after the Florida State game in Miami’s case for No. 1. For background on Miami’s pass rush heading into ACC play, see the earlier Pitt vs Miami preview.
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