Miami 38, North Carolina 35: Toney's late touchdown and a clean sheet on turnovers

No. 1 Miami is 8-0, but it needed a late 10-point cushion to get there. Malachi Toney's 9-yard touchdown catch with 2:33 left made it 38-28. That margin proved necessary when North Carolina scored again 55 seconds later.

The difference came down to the ball. Miami finished with zero turnovers. North Carolina had one. In a game where the teams were separated by nine total yards, that was enough.

How it was won

This was a game of answers. The lead changed hands repeatedly, and neither side led by more than seven until Toney's second touchdown.

Miami struck first. Darian Mensah found Toney from 2 yards at 8:33 of the first quarter. North Carolina tied it early in the second on Billy Edwards Jr.'s 8-yard pass to Jelani Thurman. Mensah answered with a 31-yard touchdown to Mark Fletcher Jr. Edwards and Thurman connected from 8 yards again at 1:56. Jake Weinberg's 25-yard field goal with 22 seconds left sent Miami to the half up 17-14.

North Carolina took its first lead at 10:51 of the third, when Edwards hit Jordan Shipp from 16 yards for a 21-17 edge. Fletcher's 2-yard run at 5:14 put Miami back in front, 24-21.

The fourth quarter followed the same pattern. Demon June's 1-yard run at 11:46 gave the Tar Heels a 28-24 lead. Fletcher scored again from 2 yards at 7:49 for a 31-28 Miami lead. Mensah then found Toney at 2:33. Edwards responded with a 15-yard touchdown to Trech Kekahuna at 1:38 to close the scoring.

The box score was close to even. Miami outgained North Carolina 416 to 407 and ran for 142 yards against 66. North Carolina had more first downs, 27 to 25, and held the ball slightly longer, 30:51 to 29:09.

Mensah was efficient, going 22 of 29 for 274 yards and three touchdowns. Toney caught seven passes for 75 yards and two scores. Cooper Barkate added four catches for 71 yards. Javian Mallory led the ground game with 51 yards on 12 carries. Fletcher had 43 yards on 13 carries and both rushing touchdowns, plus his receiving score.

Edwards was arguably better on paper: 28 of 34 for 341 yards and four touchdowns. North Carolina converted 8 of 11 third downs. Miami went 6 of 11. Thurman caught five passes for 70 yards and two scores, and Jaylen McGill had six for 69. The Tar Heels' one turnover was the only giveaway of the day.

Against the number

Miami closed at -13.5. A 3-point win left North Carolina covering comfortably.

The total closed at 52.5. The teams combined for 73 points, so the over cleared by 20.5.

On the moneyline, Miami closed at -535 and North Carolina at +400. The favorite won. Anyone holding the Tar Heels at +400 watched them have the ball down three with 1:38 left. Full closing prices are on the game page.

This is the second straight week Miami has allowed at least 23 points. It beat Florida State 43-35 three weeks ago, and now North Carolina came within a field goal. The Hurricanes have won every game, but the recent margins are tighter than the early-season scores.

What's next

Miami travels to No. 5 Notre Dame on Saturday, November 7 (NBC). It is the biggest test yet for an unbeaten team that has looked less dominant in close games.

North Carolina falls to 4-4 after two straight losses by a combined four points, including 31-30 to Syracuse last week. The Tar Heels visit UConn on Saturday, November 7 (CBSSN).