GAME RECAP: No. 11 Notre Dame Takes Down No. 1 Miami 31–24, Ends Hurricanes’ Unbeaten Run

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Notre Dame built a three-touchdown lead against the nation’s top-ranked team. Keeping it was the hard part.

No. 11 Notre Dame held off No. 1 Miami 31-24 at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, leaning on CJ Carr’s three touchdown passes and an offense that finished without a turnover. The Fighting Irish improved to 8-1. Miami fell to 8-1.

For a while, this looked like Notre Dame’s night to run away with. The Hurricanes made sure it became something else.

Twelve plays, 50 yards. Spencer Porath opened the scoring with a 44-yard field goal at 9:38 of the first quarter. Notre Dame led 3-0, and Miami remained scoreless through the opening period.

Carr delivered the first touchdown early in the second. He found Jordan Faison for a 27-yard score at 14:02, finishing a four-play, 65-yard possession. Porath’s extra point made it 10-0.

Miami answered with a long drive but had to settle for three. Fourteen plays, 83 yards. Jake Weinberg converted a 19-yard field goal at 6:25, cutting Notre Dame’s lead to 10-3.

The Irish had another answer before halftime. Carr drove them 81 yards in eight plays and connected with Micah Gilbert for an 18-yard touchdown with 29 seconds remaining. Notre Dame went into the break ahead 17-3.

Then Carr and Gilbert did it again.

A three-play, 30-yard possession ended with a 20-yard touchdown pass at 12:05 of the third quarter. Porath’s kick made it 24-3. The Irish had put Miami in a deep hole.

The Hurricanes started climbing out.

Darian Mensah found Elija Lofton for a 12-yard touchdown at 8:26, completing an 11-play, 65-yard drive. Weinberg’s kick made it 24-10. Less than three minutes later, Mensah hit Cooper Barkate for another 12-yard score, finishing a six-play, 52-yard possession at 5:29. Weinberg added the extra point.

Suddenly, it was 24-17. What had looked comfortable was a one-score game.

Notre Dame steadied itself with an eight-play, 51-yard touchdown drive. Nolan James Jr. scored from a yard out at 12:55 of the fourth quarter, and Porath’s kick restored the two-touchdown cushion at 31-17.

Miami came right back. Seven plays, 75 yards. Mensah found Barkate for a 1-yard touchdown at 9:53, and Weinberg’s extra point brought the Hurricanes within 31-24.

That was the final scoring play. Notre Dame had done enough offensively, and the Irish kept Miami from completing the comeback.

The box score is the part that will travel on Sunday.

Notre Dame finished with 412 total yards, including 319 passing and 93 rushing. Miami produced 403 yards, with 302 through the air and 101 on the ground. The Irish committed no turnovers. The Hurricanes had one.

Carr went 29-of-40 for 319 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Gilbert caught nine passes for 98 yards and two scores, while Faison added six receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown. James carried 16 times for 52 yards and Notre Dame’s lone rushing score.

Mensah completed 23 of 42 passes for 302 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. Barkate finished with nine catches for 118 yards and two scores. Lofton added seven receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown.

The yardage was close. So was the finish. But Notre Dame’s early separation and turnover-free offense gave the Irish just enough room to withstand Miami’s response.

The top-ranked Hurricanes arrived unbeaten. Notre Dame made sure they did not leave that way.

Player of the Game: CJ Carr. 29 completions for 319 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, providing the passing performance Notre Dame needed to knock off No. 1.