SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame delivered a statement performance against the nation’s top-ranked team, building a commanding first-half lead before surviving a furious second-half comeback to defeat No. 1 Miami 31-24 in one of the most anticipated matchups of the 2026 college football season.
The fourth-ranked Fighting Irish used an efficient passing attack, timely defensive stops and a crucial fourth-quarter touchdown to protect their home field and strengthen their College Football Playoff aspirations.
Miami entered the contest without one of its most explosive offensive weapons, wide receiver Malachi Toney, who was sidelined with a high ankle sprain suffered earlier in the week. The Hurricanes also arrived in South Bend looking to avenge last season’s season-opening defeat against Notre Dame.
Instead, the Irish once again came away victorious, handing Miami a significant setback in its pursuit of a national championship.
Notre Dame Establishes Control Early
Miami won the coin toss and elected to defer, allowing Notre Dame to begin the game with possession.
The Irish put together a methodical opening drive, covering 50 yards in 12 plays before settling for a 44-yard field goal by Spenser Porath to take an early 3-0 lead.
Both offenses struggled to find consistency during the opening possessions, but Notre Dame eventually discovered its rhythm through the passing game.
Quarterback CJ Carr completed four consecutive passes on the Irish’s third possession, finishing the drive with a 27-yard touchdown connection to Jordan Faison. The reception extended Notre Dame’s advantage to 10-0.
The Irish controlled nearly every aspect of the opening quarter, outgaining Miami 117-17 while holding the football for almost 11 minutes.
Miami showed signs of improvement in the second quarter, finding more success with its rushing attack and doing a better job controlling possession. However, the Hurricanes struggled to turn their offensive progress into touchdowns.
Jake Weinberg provided Miami’s only points of the quarter, connecting on a 19-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 10-3.
Notre Dame answered before halftime.
Carr continued to exploit the Miami secondary, finding Micah Gilbert on an 18-yard slant route for another touchdown. The scoring connection pushed the Irish advantage to 17-3 heading into the locker room.
Carr completed 18 of 26 passes for 205 yards during the first half, while Miami managed 145 total yards, including 74 rushing yards and 71 through the air.
Miami Finds Its Offense After Halftime
Notre Dame wasted little time extending its advantage after the break.
Carr connected with Gilbert for a 20-yard touchdown at the 12:05 mark of the third quarter, giving the Fighting Irish a seemingly comfortable 24-3 lead.
But Miami refused to surrender.
Quarterback Darian Mensah directed an 11-play, 65-yard scoring drive, finishing the possession with a 12-yard touchdown pass to tight end Elijah Lofton. The touchdown gave the Hurricanes their first trip into the end zone and reduced Notre Dame’s lead to 24-10.
The Irish offense struggled to respond on its next possession, going three-and-out and returning the football to Miami.
The Hurricanes quickly took advantage.
Mensah guided the offense downfield on a six-play, 52-yard drive that required just 1:58. The possession ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Cooper Barkate, bringing Miami within seven points at 24-17.
Suddenly, the momentum had shifted, and Notre Dame faced a much different challenge than it had during the opening half.
Nolan James Delivers Important Fourth-Quarter Touchdown
With Miami threatening to complete the comeback, Notre Dame answered with a critical scoring drive.
The Fighting Irish covered 51 yards in eight plays before running back Nolan James powered into the end zone on a one-yard touchdown run.
The score restored Notre Dame’s two-possession advantage at 31-17 with 12:55 remaining.
Miami continued to battle.
Mensah connected with Barkate for another touchdown, giving the wide receiver his second scoring reception of the afternoon and bringing the Hurricanes within 31-24.
The Irish defense suddenly faced one final challenge as Miami moved into position for a potential game-tying score.
The biggest moment came when the Hurricanes reached fourth-and-six at the Notre Dame 16-yard line.
Mensah delivered a pass toward Barkate in the left side of the end zone. Barkate appeared to get his feet down in bounds, but he could not maintain possession through the catch.
Notre Dame defensive back Luke Talich disrupted the play by getting his hand on the football, preventing the completion and preserving the Irish’s seven-point advantage.
The incompletion ended Miami’s opportunity to tie the contest, allowing Notre Dame to hold on for the 31-24 victory.
Top Performers
Notre Dame
- QB CJ Carr: Completed 29 of 40 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns.
- WR Jordan Faison: Recorded six receptions for 77 yards and one touchdown.
- WR Micah Gilbert: Finished with nine catches for 98 yards and one touchdown.
Miami
- QB Darian Mensah: Completed 24 of 43 passes for 276 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
- WR Cooper Barkate: Recorded 10 receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns.
- TE Elijah Lofton: Finished with seven catches for 113 yards and one touchdown.
The Takeaway
Notre Dame: The Fighting Irish demonstrated their ability to compete with the nation’s best, particularly during a dominant first half in which the offense controlled the tempo and the defense limited Miami’s opportunities. Carr’s three touchdown passes and the defense’s fourth-down stand proved decisive. The victory also provides Notre Dame with an important boost as the College Football Playoff picture begins to take shape.
Miami: The Hurricanes showed considerable resilience after falling behind 24-3, with Mensah leading an impressive second-half offensive response. Barkate and Lofton provided consistent production through the air, but Miami’s slow start ultimately proved too costly. The inability to convert the final fourth-down opportunity prevented the Hurricanes from completing the comeback.
For Notre Dame, the victory was another opportunity to strengthen its national championship credentials. For Miami, the defeat serves as a reminder that slow starts against elite opponents can be difficult to overcome.
Up Next:
Notre Dame: Returns home to face Boston College in South Bend. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on NBC.
Miami: Returns to Coral Gables to host Duke on Saturday, November 14, in a noon matchup televised on ABC.
