Miami residents saw the Hurricanes’ first loss of the season on Saturday night as No. 4 Notre Dame rallied from a 24‑3 deficit to win 31‑24 at Notre Dame Stadium. The defeat drops Miami to 8‑1 overall and ends their run as the sole unbeaten team in the Football Bowl Subdivision, leaving only Utah and UCLA still perfect, a situation not seen since 2003.
According to NBC Miami, Miami quarterback CJ Carr threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns, while senior quarterback Darian Mensah added three touchdown passes of his own. Notre Dame’s offense was led by Micah Gilbert, who caught two scoring passes, and Jordan Faison, who caught the other. Freshman Nolan James Jr. contributed a rushing touchdown for the Irish, who entered the game at 8‑1 and No. 11 in the College Football Playoff rankings.
The Hurricanes started slowly without injured wide receiver and Heisman hopeful Malachi Toney. Miami trailed 17‑3 at halftime, a sharp contrast to the 27‑24 lead they held over Notre Dame last season. In the second half, Miami narrowed the gap twice, pulling within a touchdown after falling behind 24‑3 early in the third quarter. A potential game‑tying catch by Elija Lofton with 3:36 left was ruled incomplete after Notre Dame safety Luke Talich knocked the ball away, ending Miami’s comeback attempt.
Notre Dame’s defense held firm, taking over on downs and running the clock down to about a minute before the final whistle. The victory improves Notre Dame’s record against No. 1 teams to 10‑17‑1, marking its first win over a top‑ranked opponent in six years. Miami’s loss brings its all‑time record when playing as the AP No. 1 team to 44‑7, including a second loss to Notre Dame after a 31‑30 defeat in 1988.
Beyond the scoreboard, the game featured a packed crowd of 43 NFL scouts and a chilly kickoff temperature of 40 °F, dropping into the mid‑30s as the night progressed. Notre Dame honored several former athletes and coaches on the field, underscoring the program’s storied history.
What’s next? Miami will host Duke next Saturday, looking to rebound and protect its remaining hopes for a major bowl appearance. Notre Dame, meanwhile, welcomes Boston College the same day.
Sources: nbcmiami.com
