University of North Carolina Athletics
Saturday, October 31
Chapel Hill
7:30 P.M.
North Carolina
vs
#1 Miami
October 30, 2026 | Football
Trick or Treating
Kids coming to the game will have several ways to snag some Halloween candy throughout the night. First, the football team will be handing out candy during the Old Well Walk, which will start around 5 p.m. Cheer on the team as they walk from the Old Well through Polk Place and around the Bell Tower as they prepare for the game.
Once Kenan Stadium gates open at 6 p.m., kids aged 13 and under can trick or treat on the concourse pregame. Candy will be available at several locations around the main concourse, including at Gates 2, 3, and 6, as well as Blue Zone North Entrance, the Blue Zone South Entrance, and on the Blue Zone concourse.
Candy will be distributed from 6-7 p.m., or while supplies last. Clear bags will be provided.
First and Ten
• Carolina is in its 136th season of football (139th year) in 2026 and the Tar Heels own an all-time record of 759-587-54.
• For the sixth time in program history, Carolina will host the nation's top-ranked team, as the Miami Hurricanes head to Chapel Hill for Saturday's ACC matchup. Kickoff from Kenan Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. on ABC with Sean McDonough (PxP), Greg McElroy (Analyst) and Katie George (Sideline) on the call.
• Miami and UNC are meeting for the first time since 2023, when the 12th-ranked Tar Heels took down the 25th-ranked Hurricanes at Kenan Stadium in a matchup that also aired on ABC. In that game, Carolina compiled 508 yards of total offense, headlined by three receiving touchdowns from wide receiver Tez Walker.
• The Tar Heels have won the last five meetings against the Hurricanes, including a 3-0 mark in home games at Kenan Stadium during that stretch which dates back to the 2019 season.
• UNC has faced the nation's No. 1 team 11 times in program history and Saturday's game will mark the sixth time the top-ranked team in the Associated Press Poll will visit Kenan Stadium. The last time it happened was in 2019 when the Tar Heels played Clemson on Sept. 28.
• North Carolina's Derek McDonald was named ACC Linebacker of the Week for the second time this season on Monday, after recording a career and game-high 16 tackles against Syracuse. It marks the second consecutive week that the Tar Heels have earned ACC Linebacker of the Week, following Peyton Seelmann's honor last week, the first time the program has accomplished the feat since 2016.
• UNC wide receiver Jordan Shipp was named one of 20 semifinalists for the 10th annual Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, which recognizes leadership, integrity and sportsmanship on and off the field.
• Sophomore defensive lineman Xavier Lewis was recently named a Sporting News and Associated Press Midseason First Team All-American and a Lombardi Award Midseason Watch List, presented annually to the nation's top college football linemen and linebackers. Lewis ranks fourth nationally with 1.00 sacks per game, while his 1.43 tackles for loss per game is second in the conference and 15th in the country.
• The Tar Heels are fourth in the nation in fewest penalties (28) and fewest penalty yards with 222, both of which lead the ACC.
• Carolina's strength of schedule ranks 27th nationally, according to ESPN, the fourth best in the ACC.
A Win Over Miami Would…
• Give the Tar Heels their highest ranked win in program history and first over the nation's top-ranked team.
• Give Carolina its sixth straight win in the series with Miami, dating back to the 2019 season.
• Be the program's second win against a ranked opponent this season.
• Be Carolina's 760th all-time victory in program history.
Facing No. 1
• Saturday's game against Miami will mark the 12th time in program history that the Tar Heels have faced the nation's No. 1 team.
• It will be the first such occasion since Sept. 28, 2019, when Clemson visited Kenan Stadium as the nation's top-ranked team.
• Teams ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll have been to Kenan Stadium five times previously, UNC has traveled to the nation's best team four times and had two neutral site matchups.
UNC Against No. 1
2019 - Clemson (L, 21-20)
2015 - vs. Clemson (L, 45-37)
1999 - Florida State (L, 42-10)
1993 - Florida State (L, 33-7)
1987 - at Oklahoma (L, 28-0)
1982 - at Pitt (L, 7-6)
1956 - at Oklahoma (L, 36-0)
1953 - Notre Dame (L, 34-14)
1951 - Tennessee (L, 16-0)
1950 - at Notre Dame (L, 14-7)
1949 - vs. Notre Dame (L, 42-6)
Five In A Row
• Carolina has won each of the last five meetings against Miami, dating back to the 2019 season.
• That stretch includes three wins for the Tar Heels at Kenan Stadium, most recently in 2023, and a pair of road wins for UNC in Miami.
• The five-game win streak is Carolina's longest active win streak against an ACC opponent.
2023 - W, 41-31 - Chapel Hill
2022 - W, 27-24 - Miami
2021 - W, 45-42 - Chapel Hill
2020 - W, 62-26 - Miami
2019 - W, 28-25 - Chapel Hill
Last Time Versus Miami
• Tez Walker exploded for three receiving touchdowns and Omarion Hampton ran for 197 yards and a score as 12th-ranked North Carolina raced past No. 25 Miami, 41-31, on Oct. 14, 2023, at Kenan Stadium.
• After trailing, 17-14, at halftime, UNC scored the first 24 points of the second half to build a lead that withstood a pair of late Hurricane scoring drives.
• Quarterback Drake Maye threw for 273 yards and four touchdowns, completing 17 of 33 pass attempts.
• The two teams combined for 990 total offensive yards, including 508 by UNC and 482 by UM.
McDonald Named ACC Linebacker Of The Week
• For the second time this season, North Carolina's Derek McDonald has been named ACC Linebacker of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.
• It marks the second consecutive week that the Tar Heels have earned ACC Linebacker of the Week, following Peyton Seelmann's honor last week.
• McDonald tallied a career and game-high 16 tackles in Saturday's game against Syracuse.
• He graded out at 82.8, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), his highest of the season against his former team. McDonald played 81 of the team's 89 snaps on defense.
• This season, the Atlanta native leads the ACC in tackles with 72. His 16-tackle performance marked his fifth game of the year with 10+ tackles.
Starting Fast
• The Tar Heels have scored first in six of their seven games this season with Pitt as the only team that has scored before Carolina in a game this year.
One-Score Games
• Five of Carolina's seven games this season have been decided by one score, including the last two games.
• The Tar Heels are 3-2 in one-score games in 2026.
Dynamic Duo
• North Carolina linebackers Derek McDonald and Peyton Seelmann have formed the ACC's most prolific duo on defense this season.
• McDonald leads the ACC with 10.3 tackles per game, while Seelmann is second in the conference with 9.1. Those totals rank sixth and 18th in the nation, respectively.
• A native of Atlanta, McDonald has 72 tackles this season and Seelmann has 64.
• One of the two has led the Tar Heels in tackling every game this year with McDonald leading the way against TCU, Clemson, Notre Dame, Pitt and Syracuse, while Seelmann paced UNC on defense versus ETSU and Duke.
Smart Football
• Carolina has committed just 28 penalties for 222 yards through seven games this season, which is the fourth fewest penalty yardage in the nation.
• The Tar Heels had only three penalties in their season-opening win against TCU, five penalties against ETSU, five at Clemson, three against Notre Dame, three at Pitt, six at Duke, and three against Syracuse.
• UNC's 28 penalties are the fewest by an ACC team and third fewest nationally.
Dominant Defense
• North Carolina has allowed just 20.9 points per game to opponents, which is the sixth best in the conference and 40th nationally.
• The Tar Heels have held four of their seven opponents to 20 points or fewer.
Red Zone Defense
• The Tar Heels rank 20th nationally and third in the ACC in red zone defense, allowing opponents to score on just 73.7% of their trips to the red zone.
• UNC has yielded just eight touchdowns in the red zone and only six field goals, while forcing four turnovers on downs and a missed field goal.
Red Zone Offense
• Carolina's offense has been strong in the red zone this season, as the Tar Heels rank 33rd nationally and tied for second in the ACC with a 90% success rate.
• UNC has 22 red zone scores in 24 trips with 15 touchdowns and seven field goals.
Kids coming to the game will have several ways to snag some Halloween candy throughout the night. First, the football team will be handing out candy during the Old Well Walk, which will start around 5 p.m. Cheer on the team as they walk from the Old Well through Polk Place and around the Bell Tower as they prepare for the game.
Once Kenan Stadium gates open at 6 p.m., kids aged 13 and under can trick or treat on the concourse pregame. Candy will be available at several locations around the main concourse, including at Gates 2, 3, and 6, as well as Blue Zone North Entrance, the Blue Zone South Entrance, and on the Blue Zone concourse.
Candy will be distributed from 6-7 p.m., or while supplies last. Clear bags will be provided.
First and Ten
• Carolina is in its 136th season of football (139th year) in 2026 and the Tar Heels own an all-time record of 759-587-54.
• For the sixth time in program history, Carolina will host the nation's top-ranked team, as the Miami Hurricanes head to Chapel Hill for Saturday's ACC matchup. Kickoff from Kenan Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. on ABC with Sean McDonough (PxP), Greg McElroy (Analyst) and Katie George (Sideline) on the call.
• Miami and UNC are meeting for the first time since 2023, when the 12th-ranked Tar Heels took down the 25th-ranked Hurricanes at Kenan Stadium in a matchup that also aired on ABC. In that game, Carolina compiled 508 yards of total offense, headlined by three receiving touchdowns from wide receiver Tez Walker.
• The Tar Heels have won the last five meetings against the Hurricanes, including a 3-0 mark in home games at Kenan Stadium during that stretch which dates back to the 2019 season.
• UNC has faced the nation's No. 1 team 11 times in program history and Saturday's game will mark the sixth time the top-ranked team in the Associated Press Poll will visit Kenan Stadium. The last time it happened was in 2019 when the Tar Heels played Clemson on Sept. 28.
• North Carolina's Derek McDonald was named ACC Linebacker of the Week for the second time this season on Monday, after recording a career and game-high 16 tackles against Syracuse. It marks the second consecutive week that the Tar Heels have earned ACC Linebacker of the Week, following Peyton Seelmann's honor last week, the first time the program has accomplished the feat since 2016.
• UNC wide receiver Jordan Shipp was named one of 20 semifinalists for the 10th annual Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, which recognizes leadership, integrity and sportsmanship on and off the field.
• Sophomore defensive lineman Xavier Lewis was recently named a Sporting News and Associated Press Midseason First Team All-American and a Lombardi Award Midseason Watch List, presented annually to the nation's top college football linemen and linebackers. Lewis ranks fourth nationally with 1.00 sacks per game, while his 1.43 tackles for loss per game is second in the conference and 15th in the country.
• The Tar Heels are fourth in the nation in fewest penalties (28) and fewest penalty yards with 222, both of which lead the ACC.
• Carolina's strength of schedule ranks 27th nationally, according to ESPN, the fourth best in the ACC.
A Win Over Miami Would…
• Give the Tar Heels their highest ranked win in program history and first over the nation's top-ranked team.
• Give Carolina its sixth straight win in the series with Miami, dating back to the 2019 season.
• Be the program's second win against a ranked opponent this season.
• Be Carolina's 760th all-time victory in program history.
Facing No. 1
• Saturday's game against Miami will mark the 12th time in program history that the Tar Heels have faced the nation's No. 1 team.
• It will be the first such occasion since Sept. 28, 2019, when Clemson visited Kenan Stadium as the nation's top-ranked team.
• Teams ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll have been to Kenan Stadium five times previously, UNC has traveled to the nation's best team four times and had two neutral site matchups.
UNC Against No. 1
2019 - Clemson (L, 21-20)
2015 - vs. Clemson (L, 45-37)
1999 - Florida State (L, 42-10)
1993 - Florida State (L, 33-7)
1987 - at Oklahoma (L, 28-0)
1982 - at Pitt (L, 7-6)
1956 - at Oklahoma (L, 36-0)
1953 - Notre Dame (L, 34-14)
1951 - Tennessee (L, 16-0)
1950 - at Notre Dame (L, 14-7)
1949 - vs. Notre Dame (L, 42-6)
Five In A Row
• Carolina has won each of the last five meetings against Miami, dating back to the 2019 season.
• That stretch includes three wins for the Tar Heels at Kenan Stadium, most recently in 2023, and a pair of road wins for UNC in Miami.
• The five-game win streak is Carolina's longest active win streak against an ACC opponent.
2023 - W, 41-31 - Chapel Hill
2022 - W, 27-24 - Miami
2021 - W, 45-42 - Chapel Hill
2020 - W, 62-26 - Miami
2019 - W, 28-25 - Chapel Hill
Last Time Versus Miami
• Tez Walker exploded for three receiving touchdowns and Omarion Hampton ran for 197 yards and a score as 12th-ranked North Carolina raced past No. 25 Miami, 41-31, on Oct. 14, 2023, at Kenan Stadium.
• After trailing, 17-14, at halftime, UNC scored the first 24 points of the second half to build a lead that withstood a pair of late Hurricane scoring drives.
• Quarterback Drake Maye threw for 273 yards and four touchdowns, completing 17 of 33 pass attempts.
• The two teams combined for 990 total offensive yards, including 508 by UNC and 482 by UM.
McDonald Named ACC Linebacker Of The Week
• For the second time this season, North Carolina's Derek McDonald has been named ACC Linebacker of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.
• It marks the second consecutive week that the Tar Heels have earned ACC Linebacker of the Week, following Peyton Seelmann's honor last week.
• McDonald tallied a career and game-high 16 tackles in Saturday's game against Syracuse.
• He graded out at 82.8, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), his highest of the season against his former team. McDonald played 81 of the team's 89 snaps on defense.
• This season, the Atlanta native leads the ACC in tackles with 72. His 16-tackle performance marked his fifth game of the year with 10+ tackles.
Starting Fast
• The Tar Heels have scored first in six of their seven games this season with Pitt as the only team that has scored before Carolina in a game this year.
One-Score Games
• Five of Carolina's seven games this season have been decided by one score, including the last two games.
• The Tar Heels are 3-2 in one-score games in 2026.
Dynamic Duo
• North Carolina linebackers Derek McDonald and Peyton Seelmann have formed the ACC's most prolific duo on defense this season.
• McDonald leads the ACC with 10.3 tackles per game, while Seelmann is second in the conference with 9.1. Those totals rank sixth and 18th in the nation, respectively.
• A native of Atlanta, McDonald has 72 tackles this season and Seelmann has 64.
• One of the two has led the Tar Heels in tackling every game this year with McDonald leading the way against TCU, Clemson, Notre Dame, Pitt and Syracuse, while Seelmann paced UNC on defense versus ETSU and Duke.
Smart Football
• Carolina has committed just 28 penalties for 222 yards through seven games this season, which is the fourth fewest penalty yardage in the nation.
• The Tar Heels had only three penalties in their season-opening win against TCU, five penalties against ETSU, five at Clemson, three against Notre Dame, three at Pitt, six at Duke, and three against Syracuse.
• UNC's 28 penalties are the fewest by an ACC team and third fewest nationally.
Dominant Defense
• North Carolina has allowed just 20.9 points per game to opponents, which is the sixth best in the conference and 40th nationally.
• The Tar Heels have held four of their seven opponents to 20 points or fewer.
Red Zone Defense
• The Tar Heels rank 20th nationally and third in the ACC in red zone defense, allowing opponents to score on just 73.7% of their trips to the red zone.
• UNC has yielded just eight touchdowns in the red zone and only six field goals, while forcing four turnovers on downs and a missed field goal.
Red Zone Offense
• Carolina's offense has been strong in the red zone this season, as the Tar Heels rank 33rd nationally and tied for second in the ACC with a 90% success rate.
• UNC has 22 red zone scores in 24 trips with 15 touchdowns and seven field goals.
Players Mentioned
Defensive Line
/ Football
Linebacker
/ Football
Linebacker
/ Football
Wide Receiver
/ FootballFriday, October 30
Thursday, October 29
Thursday, October 29
Thursday, October 29