No. 4 Notre Dame defeated No. 1 Miami 31-24 in South Bend on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. Quarterback CJ Carr led the Fighting Irish to victory, overcoming an early Miami surge to secure a win in a primetime matchup.
Carr and Gilbert Lead Notre Dame Comeback
CJ Carr threw two touchdown passes to Micah Gilbert to help No. 4 Notre Dame upset No. 1 Miami 31-24 on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. The Irish offense found its rhythm in the second half to overcome an early deficit in South Bend.
After Notre Dame took a 24-3 lead in the third quarter following a 20-yard touchdown pass from CJ Carr to Micah Gilbert, the Irish maintained their advantage. Carr entered the game with 1,849 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and 1 interception. He used the RPO to find Gilbert for an 18-yard touchdown during an efficient two-minute drill, according to On3. This score marked Gilbert’s second touchdown of the night from Carr.
The Irish defense forced a turnover in the third quarter to regain control after a period of lost momentum. James eventually capped off a drive with a goal-line score following a facemask penalty, helping the Irish reach a 31-17 advantage.
Notre Dame’s defense closed out the win as time expired at 11:05 p.m., preventing Miami from driving down the field.
Miami’s offense, led by quarterback and Heisman contender Darian Mensah, kept the game competitive. Mensah connected with Barkate for a 6-yard touchdown to bring the score to 24-17. Mensah also completed a 75-yard drive that ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Elija Lofton to keep the Hurricanes alive, Sporting News noted.
The Rivalry Shapes Playoff Stakes
The rivalry between the two schools has historically been defined by intense matchups, including the controversial “Catholics vs. Convicts” era of the late 1980s. In 1955, the first meeting between the programs saw Notre Dame win 14-0. In 1985, Miami routed Notre Dame 58-7, a game that ESPN noted ended the Gerry Faust era in South Bend. They did.
Johnson further explained the tension surrounding that era to ESPN: We played every substitute we had throughout the whole second half of the ball game, and they criticized us for blocking a punt. They only had 10 players on the field when we blocked the punt. It wasn’t our doing that ran up the score, it was their poor play that ran up the score. But that kind of built it up.
History Defines the Matchup
The series has featured several iconic moments, including the 1988 clash in South Bend where the No. 1-ranked and No. 4-ranked squads met. That 1988 game, which Notre Dame won 31-30, was marked by high fanfare and a T-shirt that made the rounds ahead of the game featuring the tagline Catholics vs. Convicts.
Entering the 2026 matchup, Miami held an 8-0 record and a 6-0 standing in the ACC. Leading up to the kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET, the event featured College GameDay at Notre Dame Stadium, with appearances by Nick Saban and Pat McAfee.
Regarding the pregame status of the rosters, Notre Dame defensive tackles Francis Brewu and Jason Onye were ruled out for the contest, while Miami’s pregame injury report included Tyler James, according to On3.
The 1985 blowout remains one of the most lopsided results in the history of the series.
Earlier coverage: Miami Visits Notre Dame in Historic Week 10 College Football Slate