Carson Beck’s impressive first performance guides No. 10 Miami past No. 6 Notre Dame

Miami Surprises Notre Dame in Thrilling Season Opener

MIAMI Gardens, Fla. — It’s been almost eight years since Miami has beaten a top 10 team, with the last victory coming against Notre Dame. That changed on a Sunday night, marking another upset at the expense of the Fighting Irish.

Carter Davis made a pivotal 47-yard field goal with just over a minute left, while quarterback Carson Beck threw for 205 yards along with two touchdowns in his debut. The 10th-ranked Hurricanes triumphed over sixth-ranked Notre Dame with a score of 27-24 in both teams’ opening game.

“This is an amazing night,” said Miami coach Mario Cristobal. “So many people contributed to this moment, and it’s a joy to see it come to fruition.”

CJ Daniels showcased his skills with an impressive one-handed touchdown catch, and Reuben Bain made crucial interceptions for Miami in the fourth quarter.

On the other hand, CJ Carr, in his first start for Notre Dame, completed 19 of 30 passes for 221 yards. He fought hard to overcome a 14-point deficit, throwing two touchdown passes, though he also faced some challenges with interceptions. Mika Gilbert and Jordan Feson were among those who scored for the Irish.

“The effort was certainly there,” reflected Notre Dame’s coach Marcus Freeman.

Miami executed a swift 46-yard drive, and Davis capitalized on a 10-play series to reclaim the lead. Notre Dame, after a timeout, failed to move the ball effectively and let the clock wind down.

“Honestly, I was a bit nervous,” Beck admitted, “but we pulled through.”

Though Miami initially lost the coin toss, they seized important moments. The Hurricanes launched a dominant 75-yard touchdown drive, which they followed with another similar march to start the second half.

In a standout moment, Carr’s first touchdown pass came after he deftly dodged defenders, finding Gilbert to even the score at 7-7.

Miami took advantage of back-to-back possessions, turning a significant amount of real-time play into their favor before Kerr connected for another pass.

With just 12 seconds on the clock before halftime, Daniels’ 20-yard catch put Miami ahead 14-7, while an impressive 75-yard drive in the third quarter was capped off with a five-yard run by Brown.

Despite Miami’s 14-point lead being short-lived, Davis remained composed, and the Miami defense ultimately secured the win, with Bain and Akheem Mesidor making key sacks in the final moments.