MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – From start to finish the roars reverberated from the hashmarks to the rafters.
Before a sold-out, orange-clad crowd of 66,793 at Hard Rock Stadium, the Miami Hurricanes defeated the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a 27-24 thriller Sunday night, waking up their own echoes with a statement victory that no doubt made the star-studded sideline of Hurricanes legends beam with pride.
No. 10 Miami improved to 1-0, while the sixth-ranked Irish fell to 0-1. It was the Canes’ highest ranked win since, well, Miami’s 2017 victory over then-No. 3 Notre Dame at Hard Rock in 2017. The Canes have now won seven consecutive home games against Notre Dame, the last defeat coming in 1977.
Carter Davis kicked two field goals, including a 47-yarder with 1:04 remaining that broke a 24-24 tie. Miami’s defense held from there, sacking Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr on the final two snaps of the game.
Quarterback Carson Beck completed 20 of 31 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns in his Miami debut. Running back Mark Fletcher rushed for 64 yards, while backfield mate Marty Brown rushed for 54 yards and a score. Wide receiver Malachi Toney paced UM with six receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown, while CJ Daniels had five catches for 46 yards, including a circus touchdown catch that will live on posters for years to come.
Miami’s defense forced two turnovers, posted three sacks and held Notre Dame’s vaunted rushing attack to just 93 yards on 28 carries. Defensive end Rueben Bain, Jr. registered six tackles and his first career interception, while Akheem Mesidor posted five stops and 1.5 sacks. Linebacker Raul Aguirre also had six tackles.
Carr totaled 221 yards passing, throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for another. Tight end Eli Raridon paced the Irish with five catches for 97 yards, while wide receiver Jordan Faison had five receptions for 33 yards and a score. Running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price combined for 78 yards on the ground.
Miami had 324 total yards, just 10 more than Notre Dame. But the Canes possessed the ball for more than 34 minutes, including two touchdown drives at the end of the first half and beginning of the second half that covered nearly 13 minutes.
“This game, this victory is for everybody,” head coach Mario Cristobal said. “It’s for our university, our players, our students, alumni, former players. Coach (Jimmy) Johnson, got to see him earlier. I don’t know where to start, but tremendously proud of this team. The resiliency, complimentary football overcoming a couple of hiccups and whatnot.
“But all in all, just an awesome, awesome night for the Miami Hurricanes.”