Few people expected the UNC football team to have a remote shot of upsetting top-ranked Miami (FL) on Saturday night.
North Carolina entered as two-touchdown underdogs, while the Hurricanes dominated most of their previous seven opponents. The Tar Heels trailed by just a field goal entering the fourth quarter, then took a 4-point lead on Demon June's lone touchdown.
UNC had two final chances to win the game, but onside kick penalties on recoveries thwarted those chances. North Carolina gave Miami everything it had, but fell just short in a 38-35 loss.
The Tar Heels (4-4, 2-3 ACC) stayed in this game behind their best offensive performance of 2026 so far, totaling 407 yards against a Miami (8-0, 6-0 ACC) defense that entered holding opponents under
300 yards per contest. The Hurricanes made a game-changing strip sack on a potential game-winning North Carolina drive, overcoming their previous struggles on Halloween night.
UNC quarterback Billy Edwards picked apart the Hurricanes with 341 passing yards and four touchdowns, the latter a career-high. Jelani Thurman hauled in his team-leading fifth and sixth-receiving touchdowns, Jordan Shipp caught one for the third-straight week and Edwards' former Wisconsin teammate, Trech Kekahuna, scored his first Tar Heel touchdown.
North Carolina's offense was electric, but Miami played inches better. Duke transfer Darian Mensah continued his Heisman Trophy candidacy, throwing for 274 yards and a trio of touchdowns, including a pair to fellow Heisman contender Malachi Toney. Mark Fletcher scored twice on the ground, leading a Hurricanes run game that totaled 142 rushing yards.
There's no moral victories in college football, but fans should at least feel good about UNC taking a National Championship contender to the wire. Here's how social media reacted to the Tar Heels' close loss.
Miami HAS to make the playoff...
On one hand, look around college football and realize every contending team is flawed. On the other, Miami should send the ACC offices some thank you cards after this season.
— Joe Ovies (@joeovies) November 1, 2026
Last week:
— Bad Sports Refs (@BadSportsRefs) November 1, 2026
Florida State hits back to back Hail Mary TDs on Miami, refs take both away
This week:
UNC recovers two consecutive onside kicks on Miami, refs take both away
You’ll never see that sequence of events again in your lifetime
HELLO!! Idk why any team wastes their time or risks injury. The ACC is not going to risk losing its chance to get into the CFP by letting any team beat Miami https://t.co/ViISRctPyI
— Nicole/Nicolasa (@LilNiK8) November 1, 2026
Nobody, and I do mean nobody, gets bailed out of late game gaffes by the officials quite like Miami. It’s unreal. ACC refs call shit you’ve never even heard of to help them out.
— Graham Coffey (@GrahamCoffeyDC) November 1, 2026
A first for Bill Belichick
Tar Heels coach Bill Belichick has been a Head Coach in the NFL/NCAA since 1991.
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) November 1, 2026
Saturday vs Miami marked the first time in his head coaching career that his team scored at least 35 points and LOST😬
He had been 103-0 entering the day🤯 pic.twitter.com/1BX5GD6WTO
Happy with the result?
Can’t even be mad about that game. UNC played their butts off.
— The Ginger Caniac (@ginger_caniac) November 1, 2026
Not one for moral victories but this team is WAY better than what their record shows.
— UNC Zone (@unc_zone) November 1, 2026
I understand that D1 football is a no excuses, no moral victories business. But if you can’t feel some pride in the grit that UNC football put on display, I can’t help you. #tarheels #gdtbath
— Bury me in Kenan (@Burymeinkenan) November 1, 2026
One of the best Carolina Football performances from plan and execution to players making plays that I’ve seen in a long while.
— Tommy Ashley (@TAshleyIC) November 1, 2026
Now, do it again. That’s the key to this. Do. It. Again. Every. Week.
Fans not happy with the calls
Investigate these refs. You make UNC score 3 TDs to get one. You call the softest PI anyone has ever seen that leads to a TD the next play and you call BS to nullify not one but TWO recovered onside kicks? Yeah that’s just a coincidence when all the breaks go for the #1 team🤬
— Charles Hadley (@BigC54) November 1, 2026
Hey @espn , that Miami/Toney "catch" in your #SCTop10 was NOT a catch. Check yourself. Sheesh. And while you're at it, show the onside kicks. Closer than your reporting insinuates. C'mon man.
— dmc4UNC (@DMC4UNC) November 1, 2026
The ACC needs to be investigated for how they instruct their referee to call Miami games, it’s clear they’re starving for a team to make the playoffs and win it all seeing the big ten and sec do it and Miami is your only chance. This Miami team should have two losses but the refs pic.twitter.com/aM2bRgfFvU
— Scottthedweebharris (@Scotthedwharris) November 1, 2026
BREAKING: THIS IS ONE OF THE WORST CALLS YOU WILL EVER SEE.
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) November 1, 2026
North Carolina recovered an onside kick against #1 Miami with a chance to tie the game and pull off a HISTORIC upset.
The refs called UNC for offsides, wiping out the recovery.
ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS.…
Trouble in Chapel Hill?
#UNC freshman wide receiver CJ Sadler via Instagram. Sadler played zero snaps on offense for a second-straight game on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/MrDUULSphk
— Michael McCleary (@MikeJMcCleary) November 1, 2026
Recruits enjoyed their time at the game
Great atmosphere love Unc thank yall for having me as always ⏰⏰⏰💯💙 pic.twitter.com/ahioQIS43I
— Treveon “Qb killer”Lewis 27’(ILB) (@Trulytr3) November 1, 2026
Bill Belichick getting a little testy in his postgame presser
Bill Belichick on what he noticed on #UNC’s 3rd- and 4th-down defense. Miami was 6-of-11 on 3rd and 2-of-2 on 4th.
— Noah Weiskopf (@NoahWeiskopf) November 1, 2026
“What did I notice? What I just said. They’re really good. They’ve got a lot of really good players. They’ve got two great players. They made some great plays.”
No more ACC?
@UNCFootball GET the hell out of the ACC
— Two Growls One Roar (@TGORPodcast) November 1, 2026
Annoyed with the Miami fans?
90% of Miami’s bandwagon ass fan base has probably never stepped foot in coral gables and they’re the 3rd most annoying fanbase in this whole conference.
— Cody (@The_SpacePope) November 1, 2026
This gave us a good laugh
UNC having “Motrin” on the field is on brand given the headaches they give me
— Duke (@HeelCalledDuke) November 1, 2026
We still don't understand NC State fans...
It's amazing how state fans always want to find themselves in my mentions. Focus on hiring Philip rivers or whatever yall got going on over there.
— ♛Young Simba♛ (A Leaky Black Stan Account) (@CrownedPrinceHC) November 1, 2026
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: How social media reacted to UNC's close loss to top-ranked Miami
