With #1 Miami (7-0) In Town, Heels Hope To Revisit History
By David Glenn
One win. Forty-six losses. One tie.
Since the launch of the Associated Press college football poll in 1936, that’s North Carolina’s all-time record against top-five AP opponents:
1-46-1.
The lone beautiful victory in that brutally ugly set of numbers is worth revisiting this week, whether for reasons practical, amusing or merely coincidental.
As the 14-point underdog Tar Heels prepare to host #1 Miami on Saturday (7:30 p.m., ABC), surely with a shocking upset on their minds, consider these historical parallels, even if just for fun.
In 2004, Miami played UNC while carrying a top-five national ranking.
In 2026, Miami is playing UNC while carrying a top-five national ranking.
In 2004, the setting for the matchup was Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill.
In 2026, the setting for the matchup is Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill.
In 2004, the Miami-Carolina game was played on a Saturday night, a relatively uncommon occurrence at the time.
In 2026, the Miami-Carolina game is being played on Saturday night, “under the lights” once again.
In 2004, the Miami-UNC game was selected for a prime-time national television slot (ESPN2).
In 2026, the Miami-UNC game was selected for an even more prominent prime-time national television slot (ABC).
In 2004, the Miami-Carolina game was played on Halloween weekend, when crazy stuff tends to happen, including in Chapel Hill.
In 2026, the Miami-Carolina game is being played on Halloween night itself. Getting that E-E-R-I-E feeling yet?!
In 2004, Miami was coming off a top-five campaign that put the Canes in the running for the national championship.
In 2026, Miami is coming off a top-five campaign that concluded with a trip to the national championship game.
In 2004, UNC was coming off a horrific 2-10 campaign that left the Tar Heels at the bottom of the ACC standings.
In 2026, UNC is coming off a horrific 4-8 campaign that left the Tar Heels near the bottom of the ACC standings.
In 2004, the #4 Hurricanes were 6-0 as they arrived in Chapel Hill.
In 2026, the #1 Hurricanes are 7-0 as they arrive in Chapel Hill.
In 2004, the Tar Heels were 4-3 as they prepared to meet the Canes.
In 2026, the Tar Heels are 4-3 as they prepare to meet the Canes.
In 2004, Carolina was in the midst of a middling 6-6 season that nevertheless represented a significant improvement over the previous year.
In 2026, Carolina is in the midst of a middling season that easily could end with a similarly mediocre record yet definitely represents a significant improvement over the previous year.
In 2004, after a dominant start to the season, the Hurricanes had shown just a bit of vulnerability in mid-October, during high-scoring victories over Louisville and NC State.
In 2026, after a dominant start to the season, the Hurricanes showed just a bit of vulnerability in mid-October, during a high-scoring victory over Florida State.
Remember that 1-46-1 record, UNC football’s all-time mark against top-five opponents?
Perhaps it’s obvious by now, but that lonesome victory came in 2004 — over Miami … under the lights … at Kenan Stadium … on national television … on Halloween weekend … during an otherwise mediocre season for the Tar Heels.
On Oct. 30, 2004, unranked Carolina beat top-five Miami 31-28.
image via Associated Press/Wilfredo Lee
John Bunting, a proud UNC alum, was the Tar Heels’ head coach. Darian Durant, who went on to a phenomenal career in the Canadian Football League, was the Tar Heels’ senior quarterback. Connor Barth, who went on to a long and distinguished NFL career, kicked the clutch, game-winning, walk-off, 42-yard field goal (after missing from a similar distance earlier in the game). Chad Scott, a backup senior tailback starting because of injuries to others, had the game of his life, with 25 carries for 175 yards and two touchdowns.
That Carolina victory over Miami simply wasn’t supposed to happen in 2004, and the list of reasons the 2026 Tar Heels are two-touchdown underdogs against the Hurricanes this year is as deep and varied as an old pillowcase stuffed with Halloween candy.
Miami’s Darian Mensah may be the best quarterback in college football this season. Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney is a probable All-American, too. UM leads the ACC in both scoring offense (49 points per game) and scoring defense (15 points per game). That list goes on and on.
Just listen to UNC coach Bill Belichick.
On Miami: “They’re the #1 team in the country, and they should be. Pretty much do everything well. They have good players who are well-coached. They look like the #1 team in the country to me.”
On Mensah: “He’s got NFL-type talent. Good arm, athletic, sees things well, makes good decisions, takes care of the ball. … He’s got a lot of production and very few negative plays. He’s one of the best quarterbacks in the country.”
On Toney: “He’s very good at setting up his routes and getting into space and helping his quarterback. He finds ways to get open, even when he’s double-covered. That doesn’t really stop him.”
On Saturday night, the UNC football team will play a top-five AP opponent for the 49th time in program history.
If the Tar Heels somehow manage their second all-time victory against such high-caliber opponents, there will be no shortage of similarities to the first.
David Glenn (DavidGlennShow.com, @DavidGlennShow) is an award-winning author, broadcaster, editor, entrepreneur, publisher, speaker, writer and university lecturer (now at UNC Wilmington) who has covered sports in North Carolina since 1987.
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