No. 10 Miami Stuns No. 6 Notre Dame in Late-Game Thriller, 27-24

AP Photo/Lynne Sladky

In a game packed with drama, momentum swings, and big-time plays, No. 10 Miami knocked off No. 6 Notre Dame 27-24 in front of a roaring crowd at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday night, delivering the Hurricanes’ first win over a top-10 opponent in nearly eight years — fittingly, the last one also came against Notre Dame. Carter Davis, a transfer kicker from FAU, nailed a 47-yard field goal with just over a minute left to lift Miami to victory after the Fighting Irish erased a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter. The win marks a huge statement for head coach Mario Cristobal, whose team is looking to reestablish itself as a national contender.

“It’s just an unbelievable night,” Cristobal said. “Unbelievable night for so many people that poured so much into this.”

Beck Solid in Debut, Miami Shows Grit

Making his first start for the Hurricanes, junior quarterback Carson Beck delivered a steady performance, throwing for 205 yards and two touchdowns while managing the game efficiently. His poise down the stretch helped Miami engineer the decisive 10-play, 46-yard drive that set up Davis’ game-winner.

“Gosh, I was nervous,” Beck admitted. “But we got it done.”

Wide receiver CJ Daniels made one of the night’s most memorable plays, hauling in a stunning one-handed touchdown grab late in the second quarter to give Miami a 14-7 halftime lead. That score capped a dominant end to the first half, during which the Hurricanes held possession for nearly 12 straight minutes.

Malachi Toney added a touchdown reception, and running back Marty Brown punched in a 5-yard score in the third quarter as Miami opened up a 21-7 lead.

Carr, Irish Battle Back — But Fall Short

Notre Dame true freshman quarterback CJ Carr showed flashes of brilliance in his debut, finishing 19-of-30 for 221 yards, two touchdown passes, and a late rushing score that tied the game at 24 with just 3:21 remaining.

Carr connected with Micah Gilbert and Jordan Faison for scores, and his mobility extended plays all night. But a costly interception on a deflected pass in the fourth quarter — picked off by Miami’s Rueben Bain — slowed the Irish comeback.

“The effort was there,” said Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman. “It came down to a three-point game against a hell of a football team.”

Despite Carr’s late-game heroics, Notre Dame’s final drive stalled under Miami’s pressure. Defensive linemen Bain and Akheem Mesidor recorded back-to-back sacks to seal the victory as time expired.

Stats & Storylines

• Total Yards: Miami 324, Notre Dame 314

• Turnovers: Notre Dame 1 (INT), Miami 0

• Time of Possession: Slight edge to Miami, especially late in halves

• Third Down Efficiency: Miami was 7-of-13, while Notre Dame went 5-of-12

Sunday’s thriller was just one in a chaotic opening weekend for college football, as four preseason top-eight teams suffered losses — including No. 1 Texas, No. 4 Clemson, and No. 8 Alabama.

Notre Dame’s road woes in South Florida continue, with the Irish now 0-7 in Miami since 1977.

Looking Ahead

Miami (1-0) will look to build momentum as they host Bethune-Cookman on Saturday, while Notre Dame (0-1) returns home to face a dangerous Texas A&M squad on September 13.

The win is likely to vault the Hurricanes up the AP Top 25, while Notre Dame could take a tumble after missing a chance to open the season with a marquee win.

Final Score: Miami 27, Notre Dame 24

Top Performers:

• Carson Beck (Miami): 205 yards, 2 TDs

• CJ Carr (Notre Dame): 221 yards, 2 TDs, 1 rush TD

• CJ Daniels (Miami): 1 TD catch (20 yards, one-handed)

• Rueben Bain (Miami): 1 INT, 1 sack

Quote of the Night:

“It was a top-10 fight.” — Marcus Freeman