Notre Dame Defeats Miami in Cold Air
CJ Carr threw for three touchdowns as the Irish extended their winning streak against top-ranked teams and left only two undefeated programs in the FBS.
By Aiko Nakamura ·
Fifty-three fans packed Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday night for a game that dropped into the mid-30s Fahrenheit by the end. The cold conditions did not stop the home team from seizing control early, as the fourth-ranked Irish built a 21-point lead against the top-ranked Hurricanes. Miami’s offense stalled without injured star Malachi Toney, allowing Notre Dame to take a 17-3 halftime lead. This margin was well below the Hurricanes' first-half average of 27 points in their previous eight games.
The matchup carries weight for both programs. Notre Dame lost to Miami 27-24 last season, a defeat that kept the Irish out of the College Football Playoff. Miami, meanwhile, had a 44-7 record when playing as the number one team in the AP Top 25. However, the Hurricanes had never beaten the fourth-ranked Irish in this specific alignment. The last time the two met in 1988, Miami won 31-30 in a game often cited in college football history.
CJ Carr threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns for the Irish. Micah Gilbert caught two of those scoring passes, while Jordan Faison caught the third. Nolan James Jr. added a rushing touchdown. Miami’s Darian Mensah responded with three touchdown passes, bringing the Hurricanes within striking distance late in the game. Cooper Barkate caught two of those passes, and Elija Lofton caught the third.
The game remained close in the final minutes. With 3:36 left, Lofton made a fourth-down catch in the end zone. The officials ruled the ball was not secured. Notre Dame linebacker Luke Talich knocked the ball away, a play that kept the Irish on the field. The team then managed the clock, running the ball down to the final minute to secure the 31-24 win.
The loss leaves only two undefeated teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision: Utah and UCLA. Both schools improved to 9-0 on Saturday. This marks the first time since 2003 that only two teams have reached the end of the first nine games without a loss. TCU and Oklahoma achieved that milestone in 2003. For Notre Dame, the victory improves its record against number one teams to 10-17-1. It is the Irish's first win over a top-ranked opponent since beating Clemson in 2020.
Miami will host Duke next Saturday. Notre Dame will host Boston College on the same day. The Irish used the game to honor former players and coaches, including Joe Montana and Jerome Bettis Sr. Pat Murphy, manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, was also recognized for his 73% winning percentage as a Notre Dame coach.
The presence of 43 NFL scouts in the stands highlighted the stakes for individual players. The Irish maintained their momentum from a season defined by a desire to return to the playoff field. The win ensures their season remains intact as the conference schedule concludes.
