No. 4 Notre Dame defeated No. 1 Miami 31-24 on November 7, 2026, at Notre Dame Stadium, building a 21-point lead before holding off a late surge to preserve its College Football Playoff hopes in front of 43 NFL scouts.
CJ Carr threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns, directing an offense that saw Micah Gilbert catch two scoring passes and Jordan Faison add another. Marcus Freeman did not hide the significance of the game. Nolan James Jr. contributed a rushing score as the Irish secured their eighth win against one loss.
A Three-Touchdown Lead Fades in South Bend
Notre Dame raced to a 24-3 advantage early in the third quarter according to Yahoo Sports, backed by an energetic crowd and stadium speakers playing the 1980s hit Rocked You Like A Hurricane.
Miami entered the matchup without star wide receiver and Heisman Trophy hopeful Malachi Toney as the Miami Herald noted following his ankle surgery. Darian Mensah steered the Hurricanes back into the contest with three touchdown passes, connecting twice with Cooper Barkate and once with Elija Lofton to narrow the gap.
The visiting offense struggled to finish drives in the opening half, most notably when three consecutive plays from the 1-yard line yielded no points and forced a field goal. Trailing 17-3 at halftime, Miami mounted a second-half response that tested the Irish defense. Temperatures dropped from 40 degrees Fahrenheit at kickoff into the mid-30s as the contest progressed under chilly northern Indiana skies.
Luke Talich Stops Late Fourth-Down Pass
With 3:36 remaining in regulation, Miami tight end Elija Lofton appeared to catch a fourth-down pass in the end zone that would have brought the score to 31-30, matching the exact score of the historic 1988 matchup between the two programs as reported by ESPN. Irish defensive back Luke Talich knocked the ball away from behind, and officials ruled the pass incomplete.
Our backs were against the wall,
Talich said as WRAL noted concerning the defensive stand, adding that he got his hands on the ball during the back-shoulder fade.
Defensive end Boubacar Traore noted that the team delivered a major statement with the performance. Miami head coach Mario Cristobal expressed frustration after the loss.
Obviously, a tough loss to take. Proud of our players for the resilience. … Don’t leave it in the hands of the officials. Play better. Coach better. Find a way to win.
Mario Cristobal, Miami coach
Notre Dame Secures Historic Win Over Top-Ranked Opponent
The victory moved Notre Dame to 10-17-1 all-time against top-ranked opponents, echoing its win over No. 1 Clemson on November 7, 2020 as documented by ESPN.
Ceremonies during the game honored former coach Lou Holtz, NFL Hall of Famers Jerome Bettis, Tim Brown, Joe Montana, and Bryant Young, alongside World Series-winning manager and former Irish coach Pat Murphy, and musician Jon Bon Jovi promoting a 2027 show at the venue.
Miami drops to 8-1 ahead of a home game against Duke on Saturday, November 14.
Notre Dame advances to 8-1 and will host Boston College on Saturday.
Earlier coverage: No. 1 Miami Visits No. 11 Notre Dame With Playoff Implications
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