Miami Edges North Carolina 38-35 in Chapel Hill
Mark Fletcher Jr. scored the go-ahead touchdown on fourth down as Miami remained unbeaten in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Football
Miami defeated North Carolina 38-35 on Saturday night, improving to 8-0 overall and 6-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Fletcher's 2-yard fourth-down touchdown run with 7:49 left gave Miami the lead, and Darian Mensah's 9-yard touchdown pass to Malachi Toney extended it to 38-28 with 2:33 remaining.
Why it matters
The win keeps Miami undefeated in conference play and sets up a road matchup with No. 5 Notre Dame next week. North Carolina, now 4-4 overall and 2-3 in the conference, fell to 0-12 against No. 1-ranked teams.
Austin Edwards threw for 341 yards and four touchdowns for North Carolina, while Fletcher tied the program's career rushing touchdown record. North Carolina has fallen to 0-12 against No. 1-ranked opponents, and Mensah's offense averaged 39.4 points against North Carolina teams.
The players
Miami Hurricanes
The University of Miami's football program, which competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference and is currently unbeaten at 8-0 this season.
North Carolina Tar Heels
The University of North Carolina's football program, which plays its home games in Chapel Hill and competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Mark Fletcher Jr.
Miami running back who scored the go-ahead 2-yard touchdown on fourth down and tied the program's career rushing touchdown record.
Darian Mensah
Miami quarterback who threw the 9-yard touchdown pass to Malachi Toney that extended the lead to 38-28.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The University of Notre Dame's football program, currently ranked No. 5, which Miami faces on the road next week.
The details
Lightfoot stripped Edwards from behind as Edwards attempted a throw, and Justin Scott recovered the fumble with 5:33 left. Miami later recovered an onside kick after North Carolina had two recoveries negated by penalties, and North Carolina's 16-play touchdown drive consumed nearly 8.5 minutes.
Timeline
Fletcher scored his go-ahead 2-yard touchdown run with 7:49 left in the fourth quarter.
Scott recovered the Lightfoot-forced fumble with 5:33 left in the fourth quarter.
Mensah's touchdown pass to Toney made it 38-28 with 2:33 left in the fourth quarter.
Miami plays No. 5 Notre Dame on the road next week.
Season Trajectory
Miami's unbeaten conference start positions it as a contender in the Atlantic Coast Conference race, with the Notre Dame road game serving as a significant test. North Carolina's 0-12 mark against No. 1-ranked teams continues a pattern of struggle against elite competition, even as it kept this game close.
Fans tracking Miami's conference race will see the Notre Dame road game shape the ACC standings picture. Fantasy managers should note Fletcher's touchdown production and Edwards' 341-yard passing performance for North Carolina.
The takeaway
Miami's ability to close out a close game despite allowing its highest regulation point total this season shows resilience that will matter as the schedule tightens. Readers following the conference should watch how the defense responds against Notre Dame.
What happens next
Miami plays No. 5 Notre Dame on the road next week.
Further reading
For more on college football across the country, explore the Football section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The North State Journal.
