SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Top-ranked Miami is unbeaten no more. Notre Dame jumped out to a 24-3 cushion early in the third quarter Saturday night and then survived a frantic Hurricanes comeback for a 31-24 victory at Notre Dame Stadium.
Both teams now sit at 8-1. The Irish came in at No. 11 in the first College Football Playoff rankings, and the win gives them a signature result for the committee to weigh.
Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr threw a 27-yard scoring strike to Jordan Faison and two more touchdown passes to Micah Gilbert, one of them coming two snaps after a 56-yard Faison punt return set the Irish up inside the Miami 30. Spencer Porath opened the scoring with a 44-yard field goal.
Miami, missing its top receiver Malachi Toney after a practice injury earlier in the week, stalled at the Irish 1-yard line in the first half and had to settle for a short Jake Weinberg field goal. Darian Mensah went 24 of 43 for 276 yards and three scores as the Hurricanes twice pulled within a touchdown in the second half.
The final chance came with under four minutes left. Facing fourth-and-6 from the Notre Dame 18, Mensah threw toward the back corner, where Lofton, a junior tight end, landed with both feet inbounds. As he pulled it in, Irish safety Luke Talich stripped the ball loose. Officials ruled the pass incomplete and a replay review upheld the call.
Miami coach Mario Cristobal said after the game that he was deeply disappointed the officials took away what he saw as a touchdown, with Lofton holding the ball in both hands and both feet down. He added that his staff had warned the players before leaving Miami not to let a game come down to the officials, and he congratulated Notre Dame on the win.
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