Notre Dame Holds Off Miami in Dramatic 31-24 Win

Miami began the week ranked No. 1, but No. 11 Notre Dame handed the Hurricanes their first loss of the season in a matchup that had been anticipated for months.

The game had the makings of a classic, given the long history between the programs, including the famous “Catholics vs. Convicts” clash of the 1980s. Still, for much of the night, the drama was missing from the scoreboard. Miami didn’t get into the end zone until nine minutes remained in the third quarter, when Notre Dame was already ahead 24-10.

Then the finish got tight. A touchdown pass from Miami quarterback Darian Mensah cut the Irish lead to 24-17, and the Hurricanes’ sideline erupted. Notre Dame responded with a touchdown run by Nolan James Jr., restoring a two-score cushion after Miami had spent several minutes trying to claw its way back.

Miami had one last chance. Mensah’s end-zone pass to Elija Lofton was knocked away in the closing moments, sealing Notre Dame’s 31-24 victory and ending the Hurricanes’ hopes of tying the game.

“I’m happy for this university, I’m happy for our players,” Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said afterward. He praised both teams and said his players had expected to face adversity during the game. They stayed composed, he said, and made the plays they needed when it mattered most.

Freeman’s team also answered questions about whether it could close out a high-profile game. He urged the Irish off the field late in the contest so quarterback CJ Carr could secure the win with a pair of first downs.

Notre Dame’s victory could have a major impact on the next College Football Playoff rankings, due out Tuesday night. The Irish entered the matchup under pressure to win, with concerns about their schedule and a recent loss to BYU. BYU’s defeat to Utah on Saturday added to the importance of the Miami game.

If Notre Dame can get through its next three games against Boston College, SMU and Syracuse without a slip, it will be in a strong position to reach the playoff and compete for a national title.

Miami, meanwhile, still has Duke, Virginia Tech and Boston College on its regular-season schedule. Duke is up next, and the Hurricanes will have to address questions about their offense as they move forward.

Star receiver Malachi Toney is expected to miss time after undergoing surgery for a high ankle sprain suffered in practice. He may not return until the ACC championship game at the earliest.

Even in defeat, Miami showed it could generate points without Toney, particularly when the game was on the line. Whether the Hurricanes can sustain that level over the coming weeks remains to be seen.

For now, Notre Dame has given itself a chance to secure a playoff spot. The Irish still have work to do, but this was the kind of win they needed. The task ahead is straightforward: avoid mistakes and keep winning.