Miami Hurricanes at North Carolina Tar Heels

Injuries noted

Miami Hurricanes: Joshua Moore (out) — WR #3 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; CharMar Brown (out) — RB #6 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Ja'Boree Antoine (out) — DB #16 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Romanas "OJ" Frederique Jr. (out) — DB #29 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Max Buchanan (out) — OL #66 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Luka Gilbert (out) — TE #88 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report

North Carolina Tar Heels: Tre Miller (out) — DB #6 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Peyton Waters (questionable) — DB #7 listed Questionable on the ACC Update 2 report; Jonathan Agumadu (questionable) — LB #8 listed Questionable on the ACC Update 2 report; Viliami Moala (out) — DL #56 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Jordan Hall (questionable) — OL #66 listed Questionable on the ACC Update 2 report; Andrew Threatt (questionable) — OL #75 listed Questionable on the ACC Update 2 report; Keeyun Chapman (out) — WR #82 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Vodney Cleveland (out) — DL #88 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report; Jimmy-Phrisco Alo-Suliafu (out) — DL #92 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report

QUARTERBACK

• Darian Mensah is MIA's projected starter

  10.64 Y/A

  Darian Mensah is MIA's projected starting quarterback. Current-week previews (The Miami Hurricane, Oct 28; Sports Talk Florida, Oct 30; Roundtable Sports via Yahoo, Oct 31) present Mensah as Miami's quarterback: 2,151 yards and 22 TDs through seven games. None of the opened sources has a Miami coach, release or depth chart naming him the starter for this game. None of them reports an injury from Miami's last game or a limited practice this week, and he is not on the opened availability reports. That does not confirm he is fully healthy. 2026 line: 2139 passing yards, 81.6% completions, 10.64 yards per attempt, 21-1 TD-INT over 7 games.

• Billy Edwards Jr. is UNC's projected starter

  7.64 Y/A

  Billy Edwards Jr. is UNC's projected starting quarterback. Current-week previews (The Miami Hurricane, Oct 28; Sports Talk Florida, Oct 30) name Edwards as UNC's quarterback: 1,530 yards, 11 TDs and 5 INTs this season. The SI All Tar Heels injury article (via Yahoo, Oct 30) says Edwards is not on the injury report. None of the opened pages has a UNC statement or depth chart naming him the starter for this game; the Miami-week Belichick transcript was paywalled. None of the opened sources reports an injury in the Oct 24 Syracuse game or a limited practice this week. 2026 line: 1506 passing yards, 59.9% completions, 7.64 yards per attempt, 10-5 TD-INT over 7 games.

TRENCHES

• MIA: 60.1 rushing yards allowed per game to UNC's 154.1

  94 YPG

  Miami holds opponents to 60.1 rushing yards a game over 7 games, while North Carolina allows 154.1. Seven games is enough to call Miami's front stout, even if the opponents behind the number are not listed here. North Carolina's offense will likely find little on the ground, and Miami should find room against a defense that gives it up. Games like this often tilt toward the team that can run, so lean on that when sizing up Miami's offense.

PACE & SCRIPT

• MIA: 49 points per game to UNC's 24.4

  24.6 PPG

  Miami scores 49 points a game, double UNC's 24.4. The Hurricanes jumped from 30.9 last season, and UNC rose from 19.3. Scoring 49 a game over 7 games is hard to keep up, so some slowdown is likely against a better defense. UNC's improvement is more modest, and it may struggle to keep pace if Miami scores at anything close to its current rate.

TURNOVERS

• MIA: 0.43 turnovers committed per game to UNC's 1.43

  1 TO

  MIA is at 0.43 turnovers committed per game over 7 games; UNC is at 1.43 over 7 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 30. Last season MIA was at 0.94 over 16 games and UNC at 1.25 over 12 games.

MISMATCH

• MIA: 336.7 pass yards a game to UNC's 218.3

  336.7 VS 218.3

  Miami is throwing for 336.7 yards a game, up from 253.2 last season, so a passing attack that was already good has climbed further. North Carolina is up too, to 218.3 from 183.5, but still well behind. Miami's air game puts pressure on UNC to match points, and over seven games the Miami number looks like its real identity. Expect UNC to need long drives and fewer Miami possessions to keep this close.

REPLACEMENT

• Romanas "OJ" Frederique Jr. (DB) is out for MIA

  OUT

  DB #29 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Max Buchanan (OL) is out for MIA

  OUT

  OL #66 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Luka Gilbert (TE) is out for MIA

  OUT

  TE #88 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Tre Miller (DB) is out for UNC

  OUT

  DB #6 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Viliami Moala (DL) is out for UNC

  OUT

  DL #56 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Keeyun Chapman (WR) is out for UNC

  OUT

  WR #82 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Vodney Cleveland (DL) is out for UNC

  OUT

  DL #88 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Jimmy-Phrisco Alo-Suliafu (DL) is out for UNC

  OUT

  DL #92 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Joshua Moore (WR) is out for MIA

  OUT

  WR #3 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• CharMar Brown (RB) is out for MIA

  OUT

  RB #6 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

• Ja'Boree Antoine (DB) is out for MIA

  OUT

  DB #16 listed Out on the ACC Update 2 report ACC availability report (Update 2, published 2026-10-30 20:00:00 ET) (2026-10-30)

SITUATIONAL

• MIA: 336.7 team passing yards per game to UNC's 218.3

  118.4 YPG

  Miami throws for 336.7 a game while UNC throws for 218.3. The Hurricanes are up from 253.2 last season and UNC from 183.5, so both passing games improved, with Miami far ahead. Combined with Miami's strong rushing, this is a balanced and dangerous offense. UNC will need to keep the game close through its own passing game.

• MIA: 28.1 first downs per game to UNC's 19.3

  8.9 FD

  MIA is at 28.1 first downs per game over 7 games; UNC is at 19.3 over 7 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 30. Last season MIA was at 21.7 over 16 games and UNC at 16.6 over 12 games.

• MIA: 54.5% third-down conversion rate to UNC's 39%

  15.5 PP

  MIA is at 54.5% third-down conversion rate over 7 games; UNC is at 39% over 7 games. Those are this season's games through Oct 30. Last season MIA was at 45.7% over 16 games and UNC at 36.9% over 12 games.

TEAM RECORD

• MIA is 3-0 on the road; UNC is 1-2 at home

  3-0

  Miami has won all three games it has played away from home, while North Carolina has dropped two of its three in its own building. Three games apiece is a small sample on both sides, so neither split says much about who these teams are yet. Home field has not been an edge for UNC so far, which removes one of the usual reasons to lean toward the home side here.

• ACC game: MIA 5-0, UNC 2-2 in conference

  CONFERENCE

  These two share the ACC. MIA is 5-0 against it, UNC is 2-2. 2026 standings through 2026-10-31.