Miami leaves Chapel Hill with a 38-35 win and an undefeated record, but it was closer than I wanted. The offense kept answering, while the defense struggled to tackle and get off the field.
Getting past UNC matters, especially considering how frustrating this matchup has been for Miami. But with Notre Dame next, plenty remains to clean up. These are my four takeaways.
1. The tackling needs to be better
My biggest issue was the tackling and the yards Miami allowed after the catch. Too often, the defense had a chance to limit a gain and didn't finish the play. Those extra yards kept UNC moving.
After forcing a punt on UNC’s opening possession, Miami allowed touchdowns on four straight possessions, except the one that ended the half. Those drives covered 84, 75, 75, and 75 yards. One lasted 16 plays and took 8:28 off the clock.
UNC converted eight of 11 third downs and both fourth-down attempts. Miami couldn't get off the field, and missed tackles made that job harder.
The run defense held UNC to 66 yards and 2.2 yards per carry, but Miami needs to finish plays better in space. Allowing another 75-yard touchdown drive in just 55 seconds after going up 10 late made the ending more uncomfortable than it needed to be.
2. The offense kept answering, but I wanted more on the ground
The offense had little room for error, and it kept answering. Miami punted just once and scored on its next five possessions before running out the clock to end the game. Three of those touchdown drives covered at least 75 yards.
Mensah finished 22/29 for 274 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Miami converted six of 10 third downs and both fourth-down attempts, and the offense finished with no turnovers. In a game where the defense struggled to get stops, that efficiency mattered.
But I wanted more from the running game. Miami finished with 150 rushing yards at 4.7 yards per carry, helped by Mensah’s 36 yards on four attempts. Mallory had 51 yards at 4.3 per carry, while Fletcher finished with 43 yards at 3.3 per carry and two touchdowns. Together, the backs averaged 3.8 yards per carry.
Fletcher’s two scores also brought him to 38 career touchdowns, the most in Hurricanes history. That deserves recognition. Even with the yards harder to come by, he found the end zone twice and put his name at the top of the record book.
Against a UNC defense that had struggled against the run, I expected Miami to establish more with its backs. The offense delivered 38 points, but I want more consistent production on the ground against Notre Dame.
3. Thurman was exactly the problem we expected
I highlighted Jelani Thurman in the preview because it felt like he was the guy UNC looked for whenever it needed a play. He finished with five catches for 70 yards and two touchdowns, and Miami did not do enough to take him away.
We have already seen tight ends give this defense problems, including Benji Blackburn against Stanford. Thurman reminded Miami it needs better answers at that position, especially on important downs and near the end zone.
Edwards completed 28/34 passes for 341 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. Jordan Shipp added four catches for 44 yards and a touchdown, but the production went beyond the two players I highlighted before the game.
The tackling after the catch was a major issue, but Miami also needs to make those completions harder to begin with. When the run defense is doing its job, the passing defense has to help finish possessions.
4. The offensive line did a better job protecting Mensah
I thought the offensive line did a better job in pass protection. Miami did not allow a sack, helping Mensah put together an efficient night throwing the ball.
With the defense struggling to get stops, the offense could not afford to keep getting pushed behind the chains. The protection helped Miami sustain drives and keep answering UNC.
I still wanted more movement in the run game, but the pass protection deserves credit. That is something this group needs to carry into Notre Dame.
Now comes Notre Dame
I will take the win. UNC has made this matchup frustrating for Miami for years, and leaving Chapel Hill undefeated is what matters most.
But winning does not erase what needs to improve. Tackling, passing defense, and the ability to get off the field all need attention this week. The offense did its job, but Miami cannot keep asking it to answer with a touchdown every time.
The Canes handled UNC. Now the attention turns to Notre Dame, and Miami needs a cleaner performance.
Miami leaves Chapel Hill with a 38-35 win and an undefeated record, but it was closer than I wanted. The offense kept answering, while the defense struggled to tackle and get off the field.
Getting past UNC matters, especially considering how frustrating this matchup has been for Miami. But with Notre Dame next, plenty remains to clean up. These are my four takeaways.
1. The tackling needs to be better
My biggest issue was the tackling and the yards Miami allowed after the catch. Too often, the defense had a chance to limit a gain and didn't finish the play. Those extra yards kept UNC moving.
After forcing a punt on UNC’s opening possession, Miami allowed touchdowns on four straight possessions, except the one that ended the half. Those drives covered 84, 75, 75, and 75 yards. One lasted 16 plays and took 8:28 off the clock.
UNC converted eight of 11 third downs and both fourth-down attempts. Miami couldn't get off the field, and missed tackles made that job harder.
The run defense held UNC to 66 yards and 2.2 yards per carry, but Miami needs to finish plays better in space. Allowing another 75-yard touchdown drive in just 55 seconds after going up 10 late made the ending more uncomfortable than it needed to be.
2. The offense kept answering, but I wanted more on the ground
The offense had little room for error, and it kept answering. Miami punted just once and scored on its next five possessions before running out the clock to end the game. Three of those touchdown drives covered at least 75 yards.
Mensah finished 22/29 for 274 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Miami converted six of 10 third downs and both fourth-down attempts, and the offense finished with no turnovers. In a game where the defense struggled to get stops, that efficiency mattered.
But I wanted more from the running game. Miami finished with 150 rushing yards at 4.7 yards per carry, helped by Mensah’s 36 yards on four attempts. Mallory had 51 yards at 4.3 per carry, while Fletcher finished with 43 yards at 3.3 per carry and two touchdowns. Together, the backs averaged 3.8 yards per carry.
Fletcher’s two scores also brought him to 38 career touchdowns, the most in Hurricanes history. That deserves recognition. Even with the yards harder to come by, he found the end zone twice and put his name at the top of the record book.
Against a UNC defense that had struggled against the run, I expected Miami to establish more with its backs. The offense delivered 38 points, but I want more consistent production on the ground against Notre Dame.
3. Thurman was exactly the problem we expected
I highlighted Jelani Thurman in the preview because it felt like he was the guy UNC looked for whenever it needed a play. He finished with five catches for 70 yards and two touchdowns, and Miami did not do enough to take him away.
We have already seen tight ends give this defense problems, including Benji Blackburn against Stanford. Thurman reminded Miami it needs better answers at that position, especially on important downs and near the end zone.
Edwards completed 28/34 passes for 341 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. Jordan Shipp added four catches for 44 yards and a touchdown, but the production went beyond the two players I highlighted before the game.
The tackling after the catch was a major issue, but Miami also needs to make those completions harder to begin with. When the run defense is doing its job, the passing defense has to help finish possessions.
4. The offensive line did a better job protecting Mensah
I thought the offensive line did a better job in pass protection. Miami did not allow a sack, helping Mensah put together an efficient night throwing the ball.
With the defense struggling to get stops, the offense could not afford to keep getting pushed behind the chains. The protection helped Miami sustain drives and keep answering UNC.
I still wanted more movement in the run game, but the pass protection deserves credit. That is something this group needs to carry into Notre Dame.
Now comes Notre Dame
I will take the win. UNC has made this matchup frustrating for Miami for years, and leaving Chapel Hill undefeated is what matters most.
But winning does not erase what needs to improve. Tackling, passing defense, and the ability to get off the field all need attention this week. The offense did its job, but Miami cannot keep asking it to answer with a touchdown every time.
The Canes handled UNC. Now the attention turns to Notre Dame, and Miami needs a cleaner performance.
