No. 10 Miami holds off No. 6 Notre Dame: Hurricanes answer after late Irish rally to pick up huge Week 1 win

Miami's playoff hopes got a boost of rocket fuel with the win. The Hurricanes still must navigate tricky nonconference games against South Florida and Florida before the end of September, but the Notre Dame victory figures to hold up quite well when the College Football Playoff selection committee is evaluating resumes on Selection Sunday. 

Even a split against the Bulls and Gators would still position the Hurricanes favorably entering an ACC schedule that does not include Clemson. The Hurricanes narrowly ended up on the wrong side of the bubble last season, even with a 10-2 record. 

If Notre Dame turns out to be a CFP contender, as expected, then 10-2 could turn out to be good enough this season for the Hurricanes, who would be able to claim a marquee victory against one of the nation's premier programs.

Notre Dame has a bye in Week 2 before hosting No. 19 Texas A&M in Week 3, a clash that will require the Irish to show greater physicality on both sides of the ball. Miami's offensive line did not allow a sack until the fourth quarter, and the Hurricanes imposed their will on the ground during a 75-yard touchdown drive that drained nearly half the third-quarter clock. For a team that thrived defensively in 2024, it was an early-season reality check.

Notre Dame's struggles in the run game also stood out. The Irish entered with one of the nation's top backfield tandems in Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, but the two combined for just 78 yards on 16 carries. Nearly half of that came on a 30-yard run by Price in the first half. With the traditional ground game stalling, much of the offensive burden fell on redshirt freshman quarterback CJ Carr in his first career start.

One of the biggest question marks surrounding Miami was the quality of its receiver room. The program's top six pass-catchers from last season all departed, leaving new quarterback Carson Beck with an entirely overhauled crop of targets. 

Given that Beck was unavailable in spring practice while recovering from elbow surgery, it was fair to wonder how the chemistry of Miami's passing game would look against a tough Week 1 opponent. But those questions were answered emphatically in the first half, when Malachi Toney and CJ Daniels made their mark for Miami. 

Toney was just a three-star prospect, but the true freshman looked electric in his college debut. His top highlight was a 28-yard touchdown reception to open the scoring. Then, Daniels turned in one of the early candidates for catch of the year with his one-handed snag for a 20-yard touchdown with 12 seconds left in the second quarter.

FINAL: No. 10 Miami 27, No. 6 Notre Dame 24

No. 10 Miami survived a Week 1 thriller on Sunday night, outlasting No. 6 Notre Dame 27-24 in a statement victory for a program seeking a breakthrough in coach Mario Cristobal's fourth season. Carter Davis hit a 47-yard field goal with 1:04 remaining to give the Hurricanes the lead, and their defense held on from there.

Miami seized control to open the second half, surging ahead 21-7 with a 12-play touchdown drive that ate over half of the third quarter. The Fighting Irish subsequently went three-and-out and opened the door for the Hurricanes to build significant separation. But with their back against the wall, the Fighting Irish buckled down defensively and helped make it a game.

Redshirt freshman CJ Carr showed why he was named Notre Dame's starting quarterback when he found Eli Raridon wide open for a 65-yard gain and then scrambled 7 yards for a game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter. But the quarterback duel ultimately went to Miami's Carson Beck, who did most of his damage in the first half. 

The Georgia transfer found Malachi Toney and CJ Daniels for a pair of touchdown connections in the second quarter and finished 20 of 31 passing for 205 yards and two touchdowns. Miami also demonstrated improved elevated physicality on defense as it stifled Notre Dame's rushing attack by holding star back Jeremiyah Love to 33 yards rushing on 10 attempts.

Late 4Q: Miami 27, Notre Dame 24

Miami got conservative and settled for a 47-yard field goat attempt from Carter Davis. The FAU transfer bailed the 'Canes out in a big way by drilling the kick to put Miami ahead 27-24 with 1:04 remaining. He was 4 for 11 on field goals in his three seasons at FAU. But in the most pressure-packed moment of his career, Davis delivered.

3:21 4Q: Miami 24, Notre Dame 24

CJ Carr just showed why he was named Notre Dame's starting quarterback. He found Eli Raridon wide open for a 65-yard gain and then scrambled seven yards for a game-tying touchdown. The redshirt freshman has done his part tonight for the Fighting Irish, and his team has suddenly scored 10 unanswered in the fourth quarter to tie it up.

Miami picked up two yards with Mark Fletcher Jr. on first down and then aired it out unsuccessfully on second and third downs. Notre Dame's defense has been really good since the opening drive of the third quarter, and the Fighting Irish are now getting the football back with a chance to tie the game.

5:32 4Q: Miami 24, Notre Dame 17

Noah Burnette just hit a 39-yard field goal to bring Notre Dame within 24-17. An intentional grounding call sucked some of the momentum from the Fighting Irish's drive, but they needed points and got some. With three timeouts remaining, the Irish are very much alive.

4Q: Miami 24, Notre Dame 14

Disaster just struck Notre Dame as the Hurricanes blew up a bubble screen. The football got batted in the air by Keionte Scott, and defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. came down with it to zap Notre Dame's momentum after an 8-yard pickup for Jeremiyah Love on first down. The 'Canes were subsequently forced to settle for a field goal, but the Irish are now trailing the turnover battle 2-0, and that one could come back to haunt them. M

Early 4Q: Miami 21, Notre Dame 14

Notre Dame opened the fourth quarter with a 1-yard touchdown pass from CJ Carr to Jordan Faison, capping an 11-playing scoring drive that the Fighting Irish absolutely had to have. The Hurricanes bailed Notre Dame out on a first-and-20 play with a pass interference call. But the highlight was a great catch by Malachi Fields for a 26-yard gain that sparked the series.

Notre Dame just forced Miami to go three-and-out for just the second time, and now it's the offense's turn to make something happen. The Fighting Irish can't abandon the running game yet, but they basically did on their first possession of the half as CJ Carr threw three incompletions leading to a quick punt. There is still enough time left to let Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price make their mark on this game.

Early 3Q: Miami 21, Notre Dame 7

Miami just made a statement to Notre Dame, and maybe to all of college football, with a 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to open the second half. The Hurricanes offensive line is imposing its will on what's supposed to be one of the best defenses in the country. It's not just about Carson Beck and a better-than-expected group of receivers. Apparently, the 'Canes can physically impose their will, too.

Second half keys

Neither team has picked up a sack so far in this game, and that's especially problematic for Notre Dame. Marcus Freeman identified lack of pressure as an issue in his halftime interview, and it would behoove the Fighting Irish to make Carson Beck more uncomfortable in the pocket. Miami is going to need to be tough against the run in the second half as the Fighting Irish will likely lean hard on their star tandem of backs in the third quarter.

HALF: Miami 14, Notre Dame 7

Miami's passing attack was the story of the first half, as Carson Beck completed 13 of 20 passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns. This Miami receiving corps was a mystery entering the season, but it has been the story of the game so far. Malachi Toney and CJ Daniels has made Beck look really good in a way that Georgia's receivers never did last season.

CJ Daniels just submitted his application for catch of the year. The LSU transfer made an incredible one-handed grab with 12 seconds left in the first half to give Miami a 14-7 edge. That was a risky throw from Carson Beck, but Daniels went up and got it. This overhauled Hurricanes' receiving corp is impressing so far. Incredible play from the 6-foot-2 sixth-year senior to send Miami into halftime with momentum.

WATCH: Miami's CJ Daniels makes insane one-handed catch to turn potential Carson Beck interception into score

Bryan DeArdo

5:21 2Q: Notre Dame 7, Miami 7

CJ Carr just made the first highlight-reel play of his college career. He evaded pressure, ran backwards and then found his way back toward the line of scrimmage before unleashing a strike to Micah Gilbert, who was wide open in the end zone for a game-tying touchdown. Jadarian Price broke off a 30-yard run around the left side to set up the Notre Dame score. Big response from the Irish.

Early 2Q: Miami 7, Notre Dame 0

Malachi Toney has officially established himself as one of the nation's top breakout freshmen, and we're just one minute into the second quarter. Toney just reeled in a 28-yard touchdown pass from Carson Beck to open the scoring. The ball was slightly under thrown, but Toney had his man beat and came back to get it. He's made three catches already.

Notre Dame cornerback Christian Gray needed help getting off the field after making a huge pass breakup on a second-and-10 shot to the end zone by Carson Beck. The junior is an anchor of the Fighting Irish's secondary and someone they can ill-afford to lose.

End 1Q: Miami 0, Notre Dame 0

Miami freshman receiver Malachi Toney was just a three-star prospect, but he's looking like a potential impact play early. He just made consecutive grabs to help position the Hurricanes in Notre Dame territory at the end of the first quarter. He's an undersized speedster and is clearly going to have a spot in Miami's revamped pass-catching hierarchy.

Miami's Justin Scott forced a Malachi Fields fumble on the opening play of Notre Dame's second possession, setting Miami up with the football at the Fighting Irish's 22-yard line. But Notre Dame stood tall from there, as Jared Dawson batted down a Carson beck pass on third-and-8 to force the Hurricanes into a 28-yard field goal attempt. The snap was bad and the Hurricanes couldn't even get a kick off. Huge sequence there for Notre Dame to keep it scoreless.

Like Notre Dame, Miami picked up a couple of early first downs through the air before stalling in the middle of the field. Carson Beck dialed up a deep shot on second-and-2, but it fell incomplete. The Fighting Irish subsequently stuffed Jordan Lyle on third-and-2 to force a Miami punt. Beck looked comfortable on the opening series for the most part, completing his first three passes to three different receivers

Jordan Faison made a couple of runs after the catch on quick-hit pass patterns to help get Notre Dame into Miami territory on the opening possession. But the Fighting Irish stalled out and opted to play it safe with a punt on fourth-and-9 from the 'Canes 42. Jeremiyah Love got just one carry on that series and was stuffed for a gain of one. All told, it was a decent opening for the Notre Dame offense, as Mike Denbrock was able to dial-up a couple of confidence-building completions for CJ Carr.

Miami won the toss and deferred. So Notre Dame will get the football first, putting early pressure on first-time starter CJ Carr inside a hostile environment. It's an ACC officiating crew. There is some rain falling inside Hard Rock Stadium on what's expected to be a very humid evening in South Florida.

The last time we saw Carson Beck in action, he was playing for Georgia in the SEC Championship Game. Beck suffered a torn UCL in his throwing elbow, missed the College Football Playoff and then transferred to Miami. The 2024 season was a step backward for Beck in nearly every statistical category. He led the SEC in pass attempts, completions and yardage in his first year as a starter but slipped last fall and paced the conference in interceptions. He enters his final year of eligibility as somewhat of a wild card with an extremely high ceiling -- Heisman Trophy contention, perhaps -- yet a questionable floor.

Carson Beck injury update: Miami QB feels 100% after elbow surgery, nears Hurricanes debut at full strength

Carter Bahns

CJ Carr appeared in just one game last season and did not attempt a pass. It's been a while since Notre Dame's opening week starter had this little experience going in when it comes to meaningful snaps. This was a team that played with national championship stakes throughout their run to the title game, so any time a quarterback other than Riley Leonard or Steve Angeli entered the game, the game was no longer competitive. There was no bowl game to warm up next year's starter, or quarterback instability that allowed the entire room to get some work. 

Notre Dame names CJ Carr starting QB: Redshirt sophomore to lead Fighting Irish into Week 1 matchup with Miami

Chip Patterson

Notre Dame's defense is loaded across the board, and the Fighting Irish are well-equipped on the offensive line and in the running back room to pound the rock. Meanwhile, Miami is rebooting its passing attack with a quarterback in Carson Beck who is coming off injury and a relatively unproven group of receivers. The Fighting Irish will be licking their chops on defense and able to control the clock on the ground with a heavy dose of Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price. Look for Notre Dame to try and dominate time of possession and grind its way to a low-scoring win. 

Notre Dame doesn't need redshirt freshman quarterback CJ Carr to be a hero. It needs him to be a facilitator for a team that features an elite pair of running backs and a nasty defense. The former top-50 prospect should be ready to handle the assignment after beating out Kenny Minchey during a tight preseason competition. But the spotlight of this stage differs greatly from the pressure of practice, and Carr will have to keep his wits about him as he makes his starting debut against a talented Miami defense.

New Notre Dame defensive coordinator Chris Ash has big shoes to fill as he steps in for Al Golden, who is now defensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals after winning the Broyles Award for his work with the Fighting Irish last season. It's Ash's first college job since he was Texas' defensive coordinator in 2020. On the flip side, new 'Canes DC Corey Hetherman is tasked with elevating Miami's defense after serving as Minnesota's defensive coordinator last season. Don't be surprised if we see a heavy dose of blitzes from both as they seek to pressure QBs who are settling in to new roles.

Miami quarterback Carson Beck tore the UCL in his throwing elbow while playing for Georgia in the SEC Championship Game last season. He missed spring practice with the Hurricanes, leaving him a condensed timeframe to develop chemistry with the Hurricanes' retooled receiver group. The makeup of that passing game will be tested mightily against a Notre Dame secondary that should be among the nation's best.

With both teams breaking in new quarterbacks and defensive coordinators, the showdown features plenty of uncertainty. After getting left on the doorstep of the CFP last season, the Hurricanes are looking for a Year 4 breakthrough under coach Mario Cristobal with the help of Georgia transfer Carson Beck at quarterback. He'll have big shoes to fill as he replaces No. 1 overall draft pick Cam Ward. Notre Dame should again be anchored by an elite defense and premier running game, as backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price return. But the Fighting Irish will need redshirt freshman CJ Carr to be poised and ready to go as he makes his first career start on the road in a high-stakes situation.