Miami rallied from 21 down. Notre Dame’s late stop kept its playoff bid alive
Notre Dame held off previously unbeaten Miami 31–24 after a disputed late end-zone incompletion, strengthening its College Football Playoff case.
No. 4 Notre Dame takes big lead and holds off No. 1 Miami, 31-24
Freeman, Fighting Irish revel in 'special' win over Miami
Irish Outlast Hurricanes 31-24 To Take Down #1
Hurricanes Come up Short at Notre Dame
Miami at Notre Dame football score, live updates, stats, highlights
A 21-point lead nearly disappears
Notre Dame handed previously unbeaten Miami its first loss on Saturday night, holding off a second-half comeback for a 31–24 win in South Bend. The victory gave the Fighting Irish, ranked No. 11 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings, a major boost in their bid to reach the postseason; both teams are now 8–1.apnews +1
Quarterback CJ Carr threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns, completing 29 of 40 passes. Micah Gilbert caught two of the scoring throws, and Jordan Faison caught the other. Notre Dame led 17–3 at halftime, then stretched the margin to 24–3 after Faison returned a punt 56 yards early in the third quarter.und +1
The rally and the stop
Miami quarterback Darian Mensah responded with touchdown passes to Elija Lofton and Cooper Barkate, bringing the Hurricanes within seven. Late in the third quarter, Notre Dame safety Luke Talich intercepted Mensah near midfield. The Irish converted a fourth down on the ensuing drive and Nolan James Jr. ran in from a yard out for a 31–17 lead.miamihurricanes +1
Mensah found Barkate for another touchdown, and Miami later reached the Notre Dame 22. On fourth down, Lofton appeared to catch a pass in the end zone, but Talich knocked the ball away. Officials ruled the pass incomplete and upheld the call on review; Miami coach Mario Cristobal disputed it. A touchdown would have cut the lead to one point, with an extra-point attempt still to come.apnews +1
Notre Dame ran down the clock before punting, and its defense stopped Miami's final possession. Talich, a former preferred walk-on who earned a scholarship in 2024, had made two decisive plays in the win.und +1
What the result means
Notre Dame entered the game No. 4 in the Associated Press poll but No. 11 in the playoff committee's rankings; Miami was No. 1 in both. Last season Miami beat Notre Dame 27–24 and took the final playoff place ahead of the Irish. Saturday's result improves Notre Dame's case, but does not secure a berth.apnews +1
Miami played without injured receiver Malachi Toney, who had 1,027 receiving yards and 13 touchdown catches through its first eight games. The Hurricanes next host Duke; Notre Dame hosts Boston College next Saturday.apnews +1