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Bill Belichick Explains Why Double Teams Have Not Stopped Hurricanes Heisman Candidate
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- Bill Belichick Explains Why Double Teams Have Not Stopped Hurricanes Heisman Candidate
Bill Belichick has faced elite offenses for decades, but his North Carolina team now meets one of the most explosive attacks in college football.
The Tar Heels fell 31-30 in overtime to Syracuse on Saturday and dropped to 4-3. Top-ranked Miami arrives at Kenan Stadium on Halloween night. Ahead of that showdown, Belichick shared a candid view of one Hurricanes star. His answer says a lot about the challenge ahead.
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Bill Belichick praises Malachi Toney's skill against double coverage
Miami sophomore wide receiver Malachi Toney earned high praise from North Carolina coach Bill Belichick days after Miami's 52-23 win over Pittsburgh.
The comments came via Inside Carolina and were shared by On3 on X.
"You would think it would, but not really. He's made several big plays off double coverage because he knows how to beat double coverage. At his age, that's pretty impressive. I don't see any weak points in his game," Belichick praised Toney.
The numbers back up that view. Toney led the nation with 109 catches last season, and opponents began to double him more often as that year went on.
Oct 24, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney (1) breaks a tackle against Pittsburgh Panthers defensive lineman Isaiah Neal (2) and defensive back Josh Guerrier (14) during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Saturday against Pittsburgh, the WR set a Miami single-game record with 16 catches for 194 yards and three touchdowns. Earlier this season, he piled up 12 catches for 234 yards and three scores at Stanford. That was also a school record for receiving yards in a game.
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In the double-overtime win over Florida State, Toney added 11 catches for 154 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw the two-point conversion pass after his overtime score.
Miami also uses him as a runner, including two carries for 31 yards against the Seminoles, which makes him harder to track. Stopping that kind of production is a major task for North Carolina's defense.
However, the Tar Heels have shown recently that big upsets are possible.
How Belichick's win over Pitt gives North Carolina hope
North Carolina topped then No. 25 Pittsburgh 21-17 on Oct. 10 at Acrisure Stadium. It was Belichick's first win over a ranked opponent as Tar Heels coach and the program's first since 2023. The result briefly eased criticism from fans and analysts questioning his future in Chapel Hill.
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North Carolina trailed 10-7 at halftime, then outscored the Panthers 14-7 in the second half. Miami faced the same Pittsburgh team and won by 29 points.
The Tar Heels followed the Pitt win with another road victory at Duke before momentum stalled. Even so, the Pitt result showed this roster can beat quality teams away from home. A similar effort could keep Saturday competitive and quiet the frustration among Tar Heels supporters.
North Carolina is 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the ACC. Miami is 7-0 and 5-0 in conference play. The teams meet at Kenan Stadium on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET, with Toney and the Hurricanes looking to stay perfect.
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