Miami would have been within one headed to halftime if the kick would have been made. That is not why Miami lost, but it all adds up. The biggest miss was the blocked point after touchdown in the third quarter that would have tied the game. It forced Miami going for two after the go-ahead touchdown with 4:38 remaining.
The two-point conversion failed. That left the Hurricanes up 25-20 with North Carolina getting the ball back. The Tar Heels scored the go-ahead touchdown and converted their own two-point conversion to take a 28-25 lead with 1:01 remaining. If Miami makes the PAT in the third quarter North Carolina doesn’t go for two.
Baxa misses 49-yard field goal and #Canes lose 28-25 to drop to 0-2 for the first time since 1978
— Manny Navarro (@Manny_Navarro) September 8, 2019
The Tar Heels would have tied the game at 27 with just over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter instead of taking a three-point lead. Even with Baxa’s missed field goal at the end of the game, at the worst, the Miami football team and North Carolina would have headed to overtime.
3) Too many long pass plays by North Carolina
Last season the longest pass play allowed by the Miami Hurricanes defense was 48 yards. Through two games this season Miami has allowed three pass plays over 60 yards. Against North Carolina, the Miami defense allowed a 39-yard completion in the first quarter from Sam Howell to Antoine Green.