Notre Dame Stuns No. 1 Miami 31-24 in South Bend Classic

CJ Carr threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns as No. 4 Notre Dame beat No. 1 Miami 31-24 at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday night, ending the Hurricanes’ unbeaten season and throwing the College Football Playoff race wide open.

The Fighting Irish, ranked only 11th in the first College Football Playoff rankings despite sitting fourth in the Associated Press poll, built a 24-3 lead early in the third quarter and then survived a furious Miami comeback to avenge last season’s 27-24 defeat — a loss that ultimately kept Notre Dame out of the playoff.

Carr sets the tone early

Notre Dame never trailed. Carr completed 29 of 40 passes, spreading the ball with the calm of a quarterback who had waited all season for a statement win. Micah Gilbert caught nine passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns, Jordan Faison added six catches for 77 yards and a score, and Nolan James Jr. ran for 52 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries.

The Irish led 17-3 at half-time, and the margin could have been wider. Miami wasted its best chance of the first half with a first-and-goal from the Notre Dame one-yard line in the second quarter, only to settle for a field goal after three runs went nowhere.

Early in the third quarter, Carr found Gilbert for a 20-yard touchdown that capped a three-play, 30-yard drive and stretched the lead to 24-3. At that point, the top-ranked team in the country looked beaten.

Mensah drags Miami back

Miami’s quarterback, Darian Mensah, had other ideas. The Heisman Trophy favourite completed 24 of 43 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns, dragging the Hurricanes back into a game that had seemed lost. He also threw only his second interception of the season, picked off by Notre Dame’s Luke Talich in the third quarter.

Cooper Barkate caught 10 passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns, and tight end Elija Lofton added seven catches for 113 yards and a score. Miami was playing without its star wide receiver Malachi Toney, who is out after ankle surgery, and the offence looked short of its usual spark in the first half before finding its rhythm.

Barkate’s one-yard touchdown catch with 9:53 to play cut Notre Dame’s lead to 31-24 and set up a frantic finish.

The fourth-down stand

The decisive moment came with 3:36 left. Miami faced fourth-and-six at the Notre Dame 18-yard line, and Mensah found Lofton in the corner of the end zone. Lofton appeared to make the catch and get his feet down, which would have made the score 31-30, but Talich knocked the ball away and the officials ruled the pass incomplete.

Miami coach Mario Cristobal said afterwards that he was “beyond upset” the play was not ruled a score. Notre Dame took over on downs, ran the clock down to about a minute and punted the ball back. Miami’s final drive, starting from its own 13-yard line with 57 seconds left, never reached scoring range.

What it means for the playoff race

Notre Dame, now 8-1, has its first win over a No. 1 team in exactly six years — since a 47-40 double-overtime victory over Clemson on 7 November 2020. Miami falls to 8-1 and, with the defeat, only two unbeaten teams remain in the Football Bowl Subdivision: Utah and UCLA, who both moved to 9-0 with wins on Saturday.

The Irish were ranked 11th in the first College Football Playoff rankings, a placing that drew widespread criticism given their position in the AP poll. This result gives the selection committee a powerful new data point, and Notre Dame should climb sharply when the next rankings are released.

Miami, meanwhile, must regroup quickly. The Hurricanes host Duke next Saturday, while Notre Dame host Boston College. Both teams still control their own playoff destiny — but after Saturday night in South Bend, only one of them can claim a win over the No. 1 team in the country.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the final score of Notre Dame vs. Miami?

No. 4 Notre Dame beat No. 1 Miami 31-24 on Saturday night, 7 November 2026, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana.

Who starred for Notre Dame?

Quarterback CJ Carr completed 29 of 40 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns. Micah Gilbert caught nine passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns, and Nolan James Jr. added a rushing touchdown.

What does the result mean for the College Football Playoff race?

Notre Dame, now 8-1, strengthens its playoff case after being ranked only 11th in the first CFP rankings. Miami falls to 8-1, leaving Utah and UCLA as the only unbeaten teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision.