No. 1 Miami Heads to South Bend to Face No. 4 Notre Dame
The undefeated Hurricanes will play in the Fighting Irish stadium for the first time since 2016, with College Football Playoff spots at stake.
By Ayanda Boateng ·
No. 1 Miami (8-0, 5-0 ACC) will travel to South Bend, Indiana, to face No. 4 Notre Dame (7-1) on Saturday, November 7. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST, and the game will air on NBC and Peacock. This matchup marks the first time since 2016 that the Hurricanes have played at Notre Dame Stadium.
The rivalry carries recent history. Miami won the previous meeting 27-24 in Week 1 of the 2025 season at Hard Rock Stadium. That victory secured the final spot in the College Football Playoff for the Hurricanes, a result that created tension between the two programs. Notre Dame now enters this game seeking revenge, with late-season playoff implications still on the line for both teams.
Notre Dame enters the contest following a 35-13 victory over Navy. Sophomore running back Nolan James Jr. rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns, contributing to a team total of 204 rushing yards. Quarterback C.J. Carr passed for 210 yards and two touchdowns, with nine different receivers recording catches. Carr has thrown for 1,849 yards, 18 touchdowns, and one interception this season, completing 66.7 percent of his passes.
Miami head coach Mario Cristobal praised Carr’s development, noting that the junior extends plays with his legs and understands defensive pressure. "Extends plays, hurts you with his feet; he's become a complete quarterback and arguably one of the best players in college football," Cristobal said. Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman offered similar praise for Miami’s star wide receiver, Malachi Toney. "He's elite," Freeman said. "He's as good as anyone you'll see."
Miami’s defense faces a challenge after allowing 35 points in each of its last two games. The Hurricanes defeated North Carolina 38-35 on Halloween, but allowed quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. to throw for 341 yards and four touchdowns. Defensive lineman Damon Wilson II, a transfer from Missouri, has played 41 pass-rush snaps over the last two games with one tackle and no quarterback pressures. Defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman aims to return the unit to its early-season form.
Miami quarterback Darian Mensah, a Heisman Trophy front-runner, holds the best completion percentage in the nation at 80.7 percent. The Hurricanes possess the most prolific scoring offense in the country, averaging 47.6 points per game. Toney leads the receiving corps with 1,027 yards this season. Last week, he recorded seven catches for 75 yards and two touchdowns. If defenses focus on Toney, Mensah may look more to Cooper Barkate, who played with him at Duke last year.
Notre Dame’s defense is led by junior cornerback Leonard Moore, who was named to the 2026 Associated Press Midseason All-American First Team. Moore did not play against Navy, but Freeman expects him to be available on Saturday. Despite being the top-ranked team, Miami is the underdog for this contest. Cristobal described the matchup as a tremendous opportunity and challenge, emphasizing preparation for the college atmosphere at Notre Dame Stadium.
