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Chapel Hill, Orange County

Chapel Hill: No. 1 Miami holds off UNC 38-35 at Kenan Stadium

Miami won 38-35 on Saturday night. The Hurricanes are 8-0 (6-0 ACC). UNC is 4-4 (2-3). The Tar Heels play at UConn next Saturday at noon.

ConfirmedThe main facts are confirmed by official or first-hand sources.

By Triangle Local Staff · Published

Franklin Street in downtown Chapel Hill

File photo: Mx. Granger (CC0), via Wikimedia Commons.

What we know

Confirmed

  • No. 1 Miami beat North Carolina 38-35 on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026, at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill. Kickoff was listed at 7:30 p.m. The game was an ACC matchup.Confirmed by UNC Athletics game center, box score and schedule; Miami Athletics recap
  • The line score was Miami 7-10-7-14 and North Carolina 0-14-7-14. Miami led 17-14 at halftime.Confirmed by UNC Athletics game center and box score
  • After the game, Miami is 8-0 overall and 6-0 in the ACC. UNC is 4-4 and 2-3.Confirmed by UNC Athletics game center and box score; UNC Athletics 2026 football schedule for UNC's 4-4, 2-3; Miami Athletics recap for Miami 8-0, 6-0 and UNC 4-4, 2-3
  • Billy Edwards Jr. threw for 341 yards. Darian Mensah threw for 274. Miami finished with 416 total yards and 142 rushing. UNC finished with 407 total yards and 66 rushing.Confirmed by UNC Athletics game center and box score
  • Demon June led UNC rushers with 44 yards. Jelani Thurman led UNC receivers with 70 yards. Malachi Toney led Miami receivers with 75 yards.Confirmed by UNC Athletics game center and box score
  • UNC converted 8 of 11 third downs and 2 of 2 fourth downs.Confirmed by UNC Athletics game center
  • UNC led 28-24 early in the fourth quarter. Miami then scored the go-ahead touchdowns. UNC scored with under two minutes left. Miami recovered the onside kick.Confirmed by UNC Athletics box score
  • UNC next plays at UConn on Saturday, Nov. 7, at noon.Confirmed by UNC Athletics 2026 football schedule and game center

Still unknown

  • Miami's public football schedule page still showed the 7:30 p.m. kickoff and a 7-0 record when checked. The school's recap lists the 38-35 final.

What happened

In Chapel Hill, No. 1 Miami beat North Carolina 38-35 Saturday night at Kenan Stadium.

Miami is 8-0 overall and 6-0 in the ACC. UNC is 4-4 and 2-3. The campus game center, box score and schedule, and Miami's recap, all list that 38-35 final.

How it finished

The quarters went 7-10-7-14 for Miami and 0-14-7-14 for Carolina. Miami led 17-14 at the break.

UNC went in front 28-24 early in the fourth quarter. Miami answered with the last go-ahead touchdowns. Carolina scored again with under two minutes to play. Miami recovered the onside kick.

The numbers

Billy Edwards Jr. threw for 341 yards. Darian Mensah threw for 274. Miami finished with 416 yards of offense, 142 of them on the ground. UNC finished with 407 and 66.

Demon June led Carolina's rushers with 44 yards. Jelani Thurman led its receivers with 70. Malachi Toney led Miami's receivers with 75.

UNC converted 8 of 11 third downs and both of its fourth-down tries.

What's next

Carolina plays at UConn on Saturday, Nov. 7, at noon, the schedule says.

This site is not UNC Athletics.

Photos

Text-only. No athletics or outlet photos are used here.

Why it matters

UNC is Chapel Hill's ACC football team. The home loss to the top-ranked Hurricanes drops the Tar Heels to 2-3 in conference play before a trip to UConn.

Sources

  1. Football vs #1 Miami on 10/31/2026, game center (Final 38-35; Miami 8-0, UNC 4-4; line 7-10-7-14 and 0-14-7-14; 7:30 p.m., Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, ACC; Mensah 274; Edwards Jr. 341; Miami 416 total, 142 rush; UNC 407 total, 66 rush; June 44; Thurman 70; Toney 75; UNC 8-11 third down, 2-2 fourth down; next at UConn, Nov. 7, noon)

    Official sourcePublished by UNC Athletics · Checked Oct 31, 2026, 11:47 PM

  2. Football vs Miami (FL) on 10/31/2026, box score (Final 38-35; Miami 8-0, 6-0 and UNC 4-4, 2-3; same line score; Edwards Jr. 341; Mensah 274; 416 and 407 total yards; 142 and 66 rushing; June 44; Thurman 70; Toney 75; UNC 28-24 early in the fourth; late UNC score under two minutes; onside kick recovered)

    Official sourcePublished by UNC Athletics · Checked Oct 31, 2026, 11:47 PM

  3. 2026 Football Schedule (vs. #1 Miami L, 35-38; 4-4, 2-3 ACC; at UConn, Nov. 7, noon)

    Official sourcePublished by UNC Athletics · Checked Oct 31, 2026, 11:47 PM

  4. No. 1 Miami Hangs On for 38-35 Road Win over North Carolina (game recap: 38-35 at Kenan Stadium; Miami 8-0, 6-0 ACC; UNC 4-4, 2-3)

    Official sourcePublished by Miami Athletics · Checked Oct 31, 2026, 11:47 PM

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