No. 1 Miami brings high-powered offense to face North Carolina

Miami arrives at Kenan Stadium with a 7-0 record and an offense averaging 49 points and 551.9 yards per game, both tops in the Bowl Subdivision. The Hurricanes are favored by 14 points for the Saturday night matchup, which begins at 7:30 p.m. Eastern and airs on ABC. North Carolina is 4-3 overall and 2-2 in the ACC; Miami is 5-0 in conference play.

Quarterback Darian Mensah and receiver Malachi Toney have powered Miami’s attack. Mensah has thrown for 22 touchdowns and averages 307.3 passing yards per game. Toney has 66 catches and 11 touchdown receptions, including a 16-catch, 194-yard, three-touchdown performance against Pittsburgh last week. North Carolina coach Bill Belichick praised Toney’s ability to beat double coverage and make plays at every level of the field.

The Tar Heels’ defense has allowed 22.5 points per game in regulation. Linebackers Derek McDonald and Peyton Seelmann lead the ACC in tackles, while defensive lineman Xavier Lewis has seven sacks. North Carolina is coming off an overtime home loss to Syracuse, which entered the game without an ACC win. Defensive back Coleman Bryson said the team is focused on its own assignments rather than any one Miami player.

Miami has lost its last five games against North Carolina, with its most recent win coming in 2018. The Tar Heels are 0-11 against teams ranked No. 1, and Miami coach Mario Cristobal said the team is concentrating on this game rather than its following-week trip to Notre Dame. One forecast favors North Carolina to stay within the spread and expects the total to finish below 52.5 points.