North Carolina Falls to Miami 38-35

North Carolina lost a high-scoring Halloween night game to Miami after being forced into a passing-heavy shootout.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Football

North Carolina lost to Miami 38-35 on October 31, 2026, in a game played on Halloween night. The Tar Heels' rushing attack was uninvolved, forcing the team to throw the ball in a shootout.

Why it matters

The loss underscores how a stalled ground game can shift a football game toward an aerial shootout that the team may struggle to control. For North Carolina fans in the state, the result is a close defeat that leaves questions about the offense's balance.

Box score figures show North Carolina ran 67 offensive snaps and its defense played 63 snaps in the 38-35 loss to Miami. Demon June, Benjamin Hall, and Jaylen McGill combined for just 64 yards on 21 carries, while the sources do not explain the rushing shortfall.

The players

Andrew Threatt

Threatt is a North Carolina defensive player who played 63 snaps before suffering an injury in Week 8.

Greg Smith

Smith is a North Carolina defensive player who played every snap and recorded six total tackles in the Miami game.

The details

North Carolina's running backs Demon June, Benjamin Hall, and Jaylen McGill combined for 64 yards on 21 carries, leaving the offense to rely on the passing game. Trech Kekahuna recorded three receptions for 57 yards and one touchdown, while Andrew Threatt played 63 snaps before suffering an injury in Week 8.

- Week 8: Andrew Threatt suffered an injury.
- October 31, 2026: North Carolina lost 38-35 to Miami on Halloween night.

Season Trajectory

The 38-35 loss to Miami places North Carolina's 2026 season within the competitive ACC race, where a single high-scoring defeat can affect a team's standing. The result also highlights how an injury to a key defender like Andrew Threatt can strain depth through the second half of the season.

The Miami loss leaves North Carolina's defense without Andrew Threatt, who suffered an injury in Week 8 after logging 63 snaps. Fantasy managers tracking the Tar Heels' passing game should note Trech Kekahuna's 57-yard, one-touchdown output.

The takeaway

A balanced ground game keeps a team from being forced into a shootout it may not control. North Carolina's defense will need to absorb the loss of Andrew Threatt as the season continues.