Notre Dame defeats top-ranked Miami in College Football thriller

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 8 Nov, 11:32 · Archive

Fourth-ranked Notre Dame beat number one Miami 31-24, ending the Hurricanes' undefeated season.

Notre Dame defeated number one ranked Miami 31-24 on Saturday night in South Bend, inflicting the Hurricanes' first loss of the season in a game with major College Football Playoff implications.

Miami played without wide receiver Malachi Toney, their leading receiver with 13 touchdown catches, who requires ankle surgery. The Hurricanes looked sluggish early on offence, a significant factor given Toney's absence. Notre Dame never trailed, building a commanding lead that grew to 24-3 early in the third quarter.

Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns. Micah Gilbert caught two of those scoring passes, with Jordan Faison and Nolan James Jr. adding the other scores. Notre Dame came into the game aware that another loss to Miami could have ended their national championship hopes after last season's 27-24 defeat to the Hurricanes cost them a playoff place.

Miami mounted a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback. Quarterback Darian Mensah threw three second-half touchdown passes, twice bringing the Hurricanes within a touchdown. Cooper Barkate caught two of those scores, and Elija Lofton had the other. Late in the game, Lofton appeared to catch a potential game-tying touchdown on a fourth-down play with 3:36 remaining, but Notre Dame's Luke Talich knocked the ball away. Officials ruled that Lofton had not completed the catch.

With the victory, Notre Dame moved to 8-1 and improved to number 11 in the College Football Playoff rankings. Miami dropped to 8-1 but fell from number one. The defeat follows recent losses for other previously top-ranked teams BYU and Texas. Only Utah and UCLA remain unbeaten in the Football Bowl Subdivision at 9-0 each.

How it is being reported

• More college football chaos as Miami are dealt first loss of the season by Notre Dame... as disaster strikes ANOTHER No.1 ranked teamThe fourth-ranked Fighting Irish avenged their most damaging defeat from last season by securing a dramatic 31-24 victory in South Bend on Saturday night.Daily Mail Sport · 8 Nov, 06:06
• Notre Dame fends off Miami as another No. 1 team falls againCJ Carr threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns, and No. 4 Notre Dame avenged its most damaging loss from last season by beating No. 1 Miami 31-24.New York Post · 8 Nov, 05:14
• Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame silence doubters by knocking off top-ranked Miami, solidifying their CFP rankingThe Miami Hurricanes mounted a dramatic comeback without Malachi Toney, but Notre Dame held on in a thriller with college football playoff stakes.Fox News · 8 Nov, 05:05
• Miami Hurricanes face biggest test of undefeated season at Notre Dame without Malachi ToneyCollege Football Playoff implications loom as 8-0 Miami faces 7-1 Notre Dame without Malachi Toney, who needs ankle surgery after 13 receiving TDs.Fox News · 7 Nov, 12:33

In this story: Miami Hurricanes · Notre Dame · Malachi Toney · CJ Carr · Darian Mensah · Elija Lofton · South Bend

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log