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UNC's Bill Belichick Just Gave Notre Dame Blueprint to Beat Miami
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- UNC's Bill Belichick Just Gave Notre Dame Blueprint to Beat Miami
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
The No. 1 Miami Hurricanes will travel to play Notre Dame on Saturday for one of the most anticipated contests of the college football season.
The Hurricanes survived a tight 38–35 game against North Carolina in Week 9. UNC's defense held Miami below its average number of points per game, creating drama until late in the fourth quarter when the Tar Heels were flagged on two onside kick recoveries.
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North Carolina's offense found ways to put up points on Miami's defense. While the running game only accounted for 66 yards on 30 carries, quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. had a big night for the Tar Heels, throwing for 341 yards and four touchdowns, though his lost fumble in the fourth quarter proved too much to overcome.
When speaking to reporters on Monday, UNC head coach Bill Belichick appeared to tip off opposing teams about how to beat Miami. He said the Hurricanes didn't mix up what they did on defense on Saturday night, running the same base defense the entire game, which pretty much matched what the defense has shown on tape throughout the season.
North Carolina was able to use that to its advantage, putting up five touchdowns on the Hurricanes.
That's huge information for Notre Dame going into Saturday night's game. Miami's defense has played well for most of the season, but the unit has had its concerning moments. The Hurricanes allowed Florida State to score 35 points in double overtime on Oct. 17.
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North Carolina has a big month ahead
The Tar Heels enter November with a 4-4 record overall and 2-3 in ACC play. They've lost two games in a row. North Carolina will travel to play UConn on Saturday before finishing the month against Louisville, Virginia, and NC State.
The Tar Heels need to win two of their remaining games to become bowl eligible. All four games are winnable, and it's not inconceivable that UNC could finish the regular season with an 8-4 record , which would be quite the achievement after the program was pretty much written off in August.
While North Carolina has played at a high level at times, the Tar Heels have had surprising disappointments, like the 31-30 loss at home to Syracuse in overtime. UNC will need Edwards and the offense to be consistent if the Tar Heels hope to win out.
Belichick needs all the momentum he can get as he recruits for 2027.
