Notre Dame beats No. 1 Miami 31-24, strengthening its playoff case
The Fighting Irish answered the CFP chair’s call for a signature win, but the result does not secure a place in the 12-team field.
Notre Dame beat No. 1 Miami 31-24 in South Bend on Nov. 7, giving the Fighting Irish the signature win the College Football Playoff committee said was missing from their résumé. The result strengthens the No. 11 Irish’s playoff case, but does not secure a place in the 12-team field.
- Notre Dame entered the game No. 11 in the CFP’s initial rankings; Miami was No. 1.
- The Irish led 24-3 in the second half before holding off Miami’s rally.
- Notre Dame has three regular-season games left before Selection Sunday on Dec. 6.
Before the game, committee chair Hunter Yurachek said Notre Dame lacked a signature win and had a strong opportunity to earn one at home against Miami, USA TODAY reported. The Irish had lost to BYU on Oct. 17, narrowing their margin for error in the playoff race. The win answers the specific concern Yurachek identified, though the committee has not issued a postgame ranking.
How Notre Dame held off Miami’s comeback
Notre Dame led 24-3 in the second half, but Miami rallied. ESPN reported that safety Luke Talich broke up a potential tying touchdown pass to tight end Elija Lofton. Talich also intercepted quarterback Darian Mensah, setting up a Notre Dame touchdown drive, then jarred the ball loose from Lofton on a play upheld after review. Miami coach Mario Cristobal heavily criticized that play, ESPN reported.
Coach Marcus Freeman said Miami had attacked Notre Dame’s man coverage, prompting the defense to adjust and mix in zone. Freeman called the win different from the team’s other victories this season: “This is big, this is special,” he said, according to ESPN. Talich said the team felt it had left its playoff fate to the judges the previous season.
What the win means for Notre Dame’s playoff case
Last season, Miami beat Notre Dame 27-24 in the opener, CBS Sports reported. ESPN reported that Miami later finished above the Irish in the CFP ranking, even though Notre Dame ended the regular season on a 10-game winning streak. This season Notre Dame has an agreement with the CFP guaranteeing a place in the 12-team field if it finishes No. 12 or better in the final rankings, USA TODAY reported.
USA TODAY assessed that the win may keep Notre Dame in the top 11 until Selection Sunday, but the Irish still have Boston College, SMU and Syracuse to play. The outlet said a loss in any remaining regular-season game could make the team’s position uncertain again as a two-loss team. Notre Dame’s final ranking and playoff berth have not been determined.
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What this story rests on
3 sources from 3 organisations: 1 broadcaster, 2 news outlets.
- 1Notre Dame rises to CFP committee's challenge vs Miami. Did Fighting Irish lock in playoff?USA TODAY Sports (republished by Yahoo Sports) · sports.yahoo.comNews outlet
- 2In campaign for CFP, Freeman, Notre Dame 'leave no doubt' in win over MiamiESPN · espn.comBroadcaster
- 3Miami vs. Notre Dame prediction, pick, odds, spread: Hurricanes, Irish meet with CFP stakes on lineCBS Sports · cbssports.comNews outlet
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.
Researched and drafted with AI tools from these sources, then checked against them paragraph by paragraph before publication. How we work · Everyone we cite · Report an error
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