Notre Dame climbed back into the College Football Playoff conversation Saturday night, hanging on for a 31-24 victory over top-ranked Miami.
Quarterback CJ Carr completed 29 of 40 passes for 319 yards for the Fighting Irish, who hung on after jumping out to a 24-3 lead. Micah Gilbert caught nine passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns, and Jordan Faison added six catches for 77 yards.
“I’m happy for this university,” Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman told NBC Sports’ Kathryn Tappen. “I’m happy for our players. There’s a lot of support from Notre Dame Nation, and this is a special moment for them.
“I’m so happy for our players, because they put a lot of work in to achieve this. They’re a dang good football team, and they beat a dang good football team.”
The Fighting Irish (8-1) are sure to improve their controversial No. 11 ranking in the College Football Playoff (despite being ranked fourth in the AP Top 25 Poll). They avoided a second defeat that would have likely kept Notre Dame out of the CFP for the second consecutive year.
Nolan James Jr. rushed for 52 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries for the Irish, who won six years to the day of their most recent win over the nation’s No. 1 team (a 47-40 home victory over Clemson in double overtime).
SCENES IN SOUTH BEND! NOTRE DAME UPSETS NO. 1 MIAMI!
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) November 8, 2026
📺 Notre Dame Football on NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/j8VoZ3sqe7
The win at Notre Dame Stadium came down to the final minute because of a late surge by the Hurricanes’ explosive offense, which entered No. 1 in scoring but looked anemic in the first half without injured star wideout Malachi Toney.
But after trailing 17-3 at halftime, Miami got in gear and scored twice in three minutes midway through the third quarter.
The Hurricanes (8-1) stayed close the rest of the way behind Heisman Trophy favorite Darian Mensah, who completed 24 of 43 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns (but also threw only his second interception of the season).
“They beat a dang good football team.” 🗣️
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) November 8, 2026
Notre Dame HC Marcus Freeman joins Kathryn Tappen after a THRILLING upset of No. 1 Miami.
📺 Notre Dame Football on NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/vcvqdPo9rz
“When it mattered the most, we executed,” Freeman said. “It got a little ugly in that second half, and we talked about this moment before the game. I said at some point, in the game, there’s going to be a struggle. I don’t know when it’s going to be. But they battled through it and executed when it mattered most.”
MIAMI STRIKES BACK! ONE-SCORE GAME!
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) November 8, 2026
📺 Notre Dame Football on NBC & Peacock pic.twitter.com/nl9bh6Mj32
In the absence of Toney (who is out after ankle surgery), wide receiver Cooper Barkate had 10 catches for 92 yards, and tight end Elija Lofton had seven catches for 113 yards.
Lofton appeared to have tied the game with 3:43 to play on a fourth and 6 from the Irish 18 when he caught the ball with two feet down in the end zone.
But officials ruled Lofton didn’t control the ball, and the call was upheld on video review.
Rules analyst Terry McAulay breaks down what makes this PIVOTAL play an incomplete pass.
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) November 8, 2026
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Miami head coach Mario Cristobal told reporters afterward that he was “beyond upset” the play was ruled incomplete
“Obviously, a tough loss to take,” Cristobal said. “Proud of our players for the resilience. ... Don’t leave it in the hands of the officials. Play better. Coach better. Find a way to win.”
Notre Dame improved to 19-9-1 its series with Miami, including 10-1 at home.
