No. 1 Miami and No. 11 Notre Dame played a tense game in South Bend on Saturday night, with the Fighting Irish looking for a major win to strengthen their case with the College Football Playoff committee. They also had a chance to avenge last season’s opening-game loss to Miami, which helped keep Notre Dame out of the playoff.
Notre Dame jumped out to a 24-7 lead, but Miami fought back. Late in the fourth quarter, Heisman candidate Darian Mensah appeared to put the Hurricanes in position to tie the score. A disputed call on fourth down, though, ended the threat and helped seal the Irish victory.
Notre Dame won 31-24. With less than four minutes left, Mensah threw to tight end Elija Lofton in the corner of the end zone. Lofton got both feet down, but officials ruled he had not completed the catch before Notre Dame defensive back Luke Talich knocked the ball loose. The Irish took possession on a turnover on downs.
The ruling turned on whether Lofton had made an “act common to the game” after gaining control. In college football, a catch requires control, a body part down in bounds, and possession long enough to complete such an act. Lofton seemed to have control, which is why the call was so contentious. Was the catch complete before Talich dislodged the ball?
Officials reviewed the play and upheld the original no-catch ruling. Notre Dame held on for the win, handing Miami its first loss of the season. The call was bound to spark debate: Lofton appeared to step out of bounds before the ball came loose, and some viewers felt that should have counted as completing the catch.
