Miami falls to North Carolina in heartbreaking ACC opener for third consecutive loss

The recent begin is over — and so is any honeymoon interval for University of Miami coach Mario Cristobal simply 5 video games into his tenure.

The Hurricanes opened their Atlantic Coast Conference slate Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium with one other irritating efficiency, shedding their third consecutive recreation 27-24 to the North Carolina Tar Heels and falling to 2-3 general.

But you possibly can’t blame Canes quarterback Tyler Van Dyke for this one.

After being benched in UM’s final recreation two weeks in the past, Van Dyke accomplished 42 of 57 passes for a career-high 496 yards, three touchdowns — and an interception with eight seconds left that sealed UNC’s victory.

Van Dyke’s 16-yard landing move to Colbie Young with 2:20 left within the recreation obtained Miami inside three factors. The Hurricanes practically recovered their subsequent onside kick earlier than it was dominated that Al Blades Jr. was out of bounds when he swatted the ball to maintain it in play for what appeared like a UM restoration by Chase Smith. Instead, North Carolina took over.

But UM pressured a three-and-out to get one remaining possession, which began on the Miami 10-yard line with 1:13 left. Van Dyke accomplished 5 of his first eight passes to get Miami to the UNC 47 earlier than being intercepted by DeAndre Boykins.

UM has not had a lead for the previous three video games.

UNC, which beat UM for the fourth consecutive time, hit a 19-yard subject purpose that culminated an 81-yard drive that took 8:21 off the clock to go up 27-17 with 4:10 left.

UNC star quarterback Drake Maye, who entered the sport with 19 touchdowns towards only one interception, completed 19 of 28 for 309 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Miami, a 3 ½-point favourite coming off a bye week, has begun its ACC slate at 0-1, with the ultimate seven regular-season video games all league opponents. UNC (5-1, 2-0 ACC) belongs to UM’s Coastal Division within the league, which can make it even more durable for the Hurricanes to win the Coastal en path to a purpose of enjoying within the ACC title recreation.

Not solely did UM’s quest for early ACC supremacy take successful, the introduced crowd of 53,751 included no less than 9 of Miami’s 17 Class of 2023 commits, plus different prime recruits as nicely. How they view this system and the place they slot in stays to be seen.

The final time the Hurricanes began 2-3 was simply final season below former coach Manny Diaz. In 2021, UM went to 2-4 earlier than ending 7-5 by profitable 5 of its final six video games.

With UNC up 24-17 and the Canes driving from the Tar Heels 26, the ball slipped out of tailback Jaylan Knighton’s hand after he ran by way of a gap on fourth-and-1 for what would have been a primary down. UNC’s Giovanni Biggers recovered with 12:31 left within the recreation. That started the 81-yard game-sealing drive.

UNC made it a one-touchdown lead — 24-17 — at 7:58 of the third quarter on a seven-play, 24-yard drive that ended with a 38-yard subject purpose by Noah Burnette.

The Hurricanes have been pressured to punt on their opening drive, and pinned the Tar Heels on the UNC 5-yard line. But on third-and-3 from the UNC 26, Maye’s move was caught on the UNC 48 by J.J. Jones, who beat Canes cornerback Tyrique Stephenson and sprinted down the left sideline for a 74-yard landing. Stephenson tried to catch up however wasn’t even shut. The Tar Heels led 7-0 at 8:55 of the primary quarter.

UM took over at its personal 25, drove to the UNC 30 in 5 performs, then stalled and was left with nothing when Andy Borregales’ 53-yard try sailed extensive left. After two drives, Van Dyke was 5 of 6 for 56 yards.

The Canes took over on downs after they stopped UNC on three performs from inside the 8-yard line. By the time the drive was interrupted by the primary quarter’s finish, Van Dyke was 7 of 8 for 74 yards. When the drive continued, Van Dyke’s first move was a 41-yard completion to Jaylan Knighton. Four performs later, UM had first-and-goal from the UNC 2.

Thad Franklin rushed for 1 yard on first down, however UM was stopped on its subsequent three makes an attempt from the 1. In the method, heart Jakai Clark and proper guard Justice Oluwaseun have been injured and left the sport on consecutive performs. To make issues worse, the Heels took over on the 1 and drove 99 yards on eight performs, culminating with a 2-yard dashing landing by Omarion Hampton. UNC led 14-0.

The Canes roared again by scoring on their remaining three drives of the half — a 20-yard landing move from Van Dyke to Key’Shawn Smith, an acrobatic 7-yard move to Henry Parrish and a 38-yard subject by Boregales with two seconds left (following Keontra Smith’s interception).

Van Dyke’s throw to Parrish got here with UNC’s Myles Murphy hanging from the quarterback’s left aspect. But Van Dyke, within the midst of being tackled, leaned to his proper and threw for the rating.

In between UM’s two touchdowns, Maye hit Josh Downs for a 15-yard landing.

Van Dyke completed the primary half 20 of 25 for 289 yards and two touchdowns, greater than twice the yards than he threw within the loss to Middle Tennessee State.

UNC, booed by UM followers as they bumped into their locker room, led 21-17 on the half.

Miami travels to Blacksburg, Virginia, to fulfill the Virginia Tech Hokies at 12:30 p.m. Oct. 15. The Hokies have been scheduled to play at Pitt at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. The Hokies have been 2-2 general and 1-1 within the ACC heading into Saturday.