No. 4 Notre Dame Defeats No. 1 Miami 31-24 Behind CJ Carr's Three Touchdown Passes
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — No. 4 Notre Dame delivered one of the biggest victories of the 2026 college football season Saturday night, November 7, defeating No. 1 Miami 31-24 at Notre Dame Stadium in a dramatic showdown with major College Football Playoff implications.
Quarterback CJ Carr threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns, while Micah Gilbert caught two scoring passes as the Fighting Irish built a 21-point lead before surviving a furious Miami comeback.
Notre Dame improved to 8-1, handing the Hurricanes their first defeat of the season and dropping Miami to 8-1.
The victory also avenged Notre Dame's 27-24 loss to Miami in 2025, a result that contributed to the Irish missing last season's College Football Playoff.
CJ Carr Leads Notre Dame With 319 Passing Yards and Three Touchdowns
Carr delivered a commanding performance against the nation's top-ranked team, completing 29 of 40 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns.
His connection with Gilbert proved especially important. The receiver finished with nine catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns, repeatedly creating opportunities against Miami's defense.
Jordan Faison added a 27-yard touchdown reception, helping Notre Dame establish control during the opening half.
The Irish opened the scoring with Spencer Porath's 44-yard field goal before Carr connected with Faison for the game's first touchdown.
Carr later found Gilbert for an 18-yard touchdown with less than 30 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
The scoring pass gave Notre Dame a 17-3 halftime advantage, putting Miami in an unfamiliar position after its dominant offensive performances throughout the season.
Notre Dame Defense Frustrates Miami in First Half
Miami entered the matchup averaging more than 47 points per game, but Notre Dame's defense disrupted the Hurricanes from the opening quarter.
The Irish consistently pressured Miami's offense and limited its ability to finish promising drives.
One of the most important defensive stands occurred during the second quarter.
Miami advanced to Notre Dame's one-yard line following two defensive holding penalties, creating a first-and-goal opportunity.
However, the Irish defense stopped three consecutive rushing attempts.
Jaiden Ausberry and Boubacar Traore combined to tackle Miami quarterback Darian Mensah for a three-yard loss on third down.
The Hurricanes settled for a short field goal rather than a touchdown.
That defensive stand helped Notre Dame maintain control and prevented Miami from generating significant first-half momentum.
The Hurricanes entered halftime with just three points after averaging 27 first-half points during their previous eight games.
Fighting Irish Build 24-3 Lead Before Miami Responds
Notre Dame continued applying pressure after halftime, extending its advantage to 24-3 early in the third quarter.
The 21-point lead appeared to place the Fighting Irish firmly in control.
However, Miami began producing the explosive offensive plays that had defined its undefeated start.
Mensah found his rhythm, connecting with receivers Cooper Barkate and Elija Lofton for important touchdowns.
Barkate finished with two touchdown receptions, while Lofton added another scoring catch.
Miami gradually reduced the deficit, forcing Notre Dame to respond under increasing pressure.
The Hurricanes' second-half resurgence transformed what initially appeared to be a comfortable Notre Dame victory into a tense fourth-quarter contest.
Nolan James Jr. Provides Critical Fourth-Quarter Touchdown
With Miami threatening to complete its comeback, Notre Dame needed another offensive response.
Running back Nolan James Jr. helped deliver it.
James played an important role in a fourth-quarter scoring possession that restored Notre Dame's advantage.
His rushing touchdown gave the Irish the points they ultimately needed to withstand Miami's final offensive surge.
Notre Dame's ability to establish its running game during critical moments helped protect its lead.
The Hurricanes continued fighting, eventually reducing the deficit to 31-24.
With one possession separating the teams, the final minutes became a test of Notre Dame's defensive composure.
Luke Talich Makes Game-Defining Defensive Plays
Notre Dame defensive back Luke Talich emerged as one of the game's most important contributors.
Talich recorded a second-half interception, helping interrupt Miami's comeback attempt.
However, his most significant play came with 3:36 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Facing fourth down, Mensah targeted Lofton in the end zone for what could have been a game-tying touchdown.
Lofton appeared to secure the football while getting his feet down in bounds.
Talich made contact and knocked the ball loose before officials determined that Lofton had completed the catch.
The pass was ruled incomplete, giving Notre Dame possession on downs.
Miami head coach Mario Cristobal strongly disagreed with the decision, believing Lofton had secured the touchdown.
The controversial ruling became one of the defining moments of the nationally anticipated matchup.
Former NFL Referee Gene Steratore Supports Controversial Ruling
The disputed fourth-quarter play generated significant discussion after the game.
Former NFL referee and rules analyst Gene Steratore reviewed the sequence and supported the officials' decision.
Steratore explained that a receiver must complete the entire catch process before being awarded a touchdown.
Simply possessing the football and getting both feet down does not automatically establish a completed catch.
The receiver must also maintain control long enough to satisfy the remaining requirements.
According to Steratore, Lofton did not complete that process before Talich knocked the football loose.
His assessment supported the incompletion ruling, although the play remained controversial among Miami supporters.
The decision prevented the Hurricanes from potentially tying the game with an extra point.
Notre Dame subsequently ran valuable time off the clock and preserved its seven-point victory.
Miami's Darian Mensah Leads Second-Half Comeback
Despite the defeat, Mensah demonstrated why he entered the matchup among college football's most productive quarterbacks.
The Miami quarterback threw three touchdown passes, helping the Hurricanes recover from a 21-point deficit.
Barkate caught two of those scoring passes, while Lofton contributed the third.
Miami's comeback was especially notable because the Hurricanes were playing without injured wide receiver Malachi Toney.
The absence of one of their most important offensive weapons contributed to the challenges Miami faced early in the game.
Nevertheless, the Hurricanes continued attacking Notre Dame's defense throughout the second half.
Their resilience kept the contest competitive until the final minutes, even though the comeback ultimately fell short.
Notre Dame Strengthens College Football Playoff Hopes
Saturday's victory carried significance beyond the historic rivalry.
Notre Dame entered the matchup knowing another loss to Miami could seriously damage its College Football Playoff aspirations.
Instead, the Fighting Irish secured their 10th victory over an Associated Press No. 1-ranked opponent in program history.
It was Notre Dame's first victory over a top-ranked team since defeating Clemson on November 7, 2020.
The result also added another memorable chapter to the Notre Dame-Miami rivalry.
In 1988, fourth-ranked Notre Dame defeated top-ranked Miami 31-30 in the famous "Catholics vs. Convicts" matchup.
Nearly four decades later, the Irish again defeated a No. 1 Miami team in South Bend.
For head coach Marcus Freeman, the victory represented a major accomplishment for a program seeking to return to the national championship conversation.
Notre Dame's ability to build an early lead, withstand Miami's comeback and execute defensively during the closing minutes demonstrated its potential against elite competition.
What's Next for Notre Dame and Miami?
Notre Dame returns to action on Saturday, November 14, hosting Boston College at Notre Dame Stadium.
The Fighting Irish will look to build on their biggest victory of the season and maintain momentum in the College Football Playoff race.
Miami returns home to face Duke on November 14.
The Hurricanes will attempt to recover from their first defeat and remain competitive in the national postseason picture.
For Notre Dame, Carr's three touchdown passes, Gilbert's two scoring receptions and Talich's decisive defensive plays combined to produce a memorable victory.
The Fighting Irish survived Miami's second-half comeback and secured a 31-24 win over the nation's No. 1 team, keeping their championship aspirations alive.









