No. 11 Notre Dame Holds Off No. 1 Miami 31-24, Keeps College Football Playoff Hopes Alive

College Football Separation Saturday Leads to Upset

Notre Dame delivered a statement victory Saturday night, avenging last season’s heartbreaking loss to Miami by holding off the top ranked Hurricanes 31-24 at Notre Dame Stadium. The No. 11 Fighting Irish built a 21 point lead before surviving a late Miami rally to secure one of the biggest victories of the college football season.

Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Irish to their eighth victory of the season. Micah Gilbert caught two touchdown passes from Carr, Jordan Faison hauled in another, and Nolan James Jr. added a rushing touchdown for Notre Dame (8-1), which entered the matchup knowing another loss to Miami could seriously damage its College Football Playoff hopes.

The victory also provided redemption for the Irish, who lost 27-24 to Miami last season in a game that ultimately contributed to their exclusion from the CFP field. This time, Notre Dame never trailed, controlling much of the contest before Miami made things interesting in the second half.

The Hurricanes (8-1) entered Saturday ranked No. 1 in the CFP rankings but struggled offensively early in their first game without injured wide receiver and Heisman Trophy hopeful Malachi Toney. Miami eventually found its rhythm behind quarterback Darian Mensah, who threw three touchdown passes, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome.

Notre Dame Builds 21-Point Lead Before Miami’s Rally

The Fighting Irish controlled the opening half, taking advantage of Miami’s offensive struggles to establish a 17-3 halftime advantage. The Hurricanes entered the game averaging 27 first-half points and had scored at least 14 points before halftime in each of their first eight contests.

Miami missed a major opportunity in the second quarter when it reached first-and-goal at the Notre Dame 1 yard line but settled for a field goal. Three consecutive rushing attempts, including one by Fletcher and two quarterback keepers by Mensah, failed to reach the end zone.

Notre Dame continued to capitalize after halftime, stretching its advantage to 24-3 early in the third quarter and eventually building a 21 point lead. However, Miami refused to go away. Mensah connected with Cooper Barkate for two touchdown passes, while Elija Lofton caught another scoring pass as the Hurricanes gradually worked their way back into the game.

Barkate provided Miami with two important scoring plays, helping the Hurricanes get within one touchdown on multiple occasions and turning what appeared to be a comfortable Notre Dame victory into a tense finish.

Luke Talich Makes Critical Defensive Play to Seal Victory

The defining moment came with 3:36 remaining when Miami appeared to complete a fourth-down touchdown pass to Lofton in the end zone. Lofton appeared to secure the catch and get both feet down, potentially making it a 31-30 game and setting up a dramatic finish. However, Notre Dame defensive back Luke Talich knocked the ball away, and officials ruled that Lofton did not complete the catch.

Talich, who had already intercepted Mensah in the third quarter, delivered another enormous defensive play to preserve the Irish advantage. Notre Dame took possession on downs, ran valuable time off the clock and held on for the seven-point victory.

Miami coach Mario Cristobal was furious with the decision, saying afterward that he was “beyond upset” that Lofton’s play was not ruled a touchdown. The disputed call will undoubtedly remain a major talking point following a game that carried significant College Football Playoff implications for both programs.

Notre Dame Keeps CFP Hopes Alive as Miami Suffers First Loss

With the victory, Notre Dame improved to 8-1 and strengthened its position in the College Football Playoff race. The Irish entered Saturday knowing they could not afford another damaging loss to Miami after last season’s result helped keep them out of the playoff.

This year’s team has played with that disappointment as motivation, embracing a mantra built around leaving no doubt about its postseason credentials. Saturday’s performance delivered an important statement, even if the final minutes became more uncomfortable than Notre Dame would have preferred. Miami, meanwhile, suffered its first defeat of the season and saw its hold on the No. 1 ranking and undefeated record disappear.

With the Hurricanes falling, only two unbeaten teams remain in the Football Bowl Subdivision: Utah and UCLA, both of which improved to 9-0 on Saturday. It marks the first time since 2003 that only two teams have remained undefeated through the first nine games of the season. TCU and Oklahoma accomplished the feat that year.

Notre Dame Stadium Welcomes NFL Scouts and Former Irish Stars

Saturday night’s atmosphere was fitting for a matchup of two of college football’s premier programs. A jam packed crowd at Notre Dame Stadium included 43 NFL scouts, with temperatures around 40 degrees Fahrenheit at kickoff before dropping into the mid-30s as the game progressed.

Notre Dame also welcomed several former stars for on-field tributes, including Joe Montana, Jerome Bettis Sr., Tony Rice, Chris Zorich, Ricky Watters and Ron Powlus. NBA President of Basketball Operations Byron Spruell was also among those recognized. Pat Murphy, manager of the World Series champion Milwaukee Brewers, received recognition as well. Murphy previously coached at Notre Dame, where he won 73% of his games.

The celebrations provided an appropriate backdrop for an Irish program looking to put last season’s playoff disappointment behind it. More importantly, Notre Dame delivered on the field against the nation’s top ranked team.

Up Coming Football Games Miami and Notre Dame

Miami will look to regroup next Saturday when the Hurricanes return home to host Duke. Cristobal’s team will need to respond quickly after losing its undefeated record and facing questions about its offense without Toney.

Notre Dame also returns home next Saturday for a matchup against Boston College. The Irish will look to build on their signature victory and continue strengthening their College Football Playoff résumé. After avenging last season’s loss and knocking off No. 1 Miami, Notre Dame has made one thing clear: its playoff hopes are very much alive.