Miami escapes Notre Dame 27-24 as Carter Davis nails game-winner in debut
No. 10 Miami opened the season with a dramatic home win over No. 6 Notre Dame, staving off a late rally to prevail 27-24 on Sunday night. The Hurricanes held a 24-14 lead heading into the fourth quarter, but the Irish answered with a late surge before Miami’s defense and special teams sealed the victory.
Carter Davis, playing his first game for Miami after transferring from Florida Atlantic, delivered the decisive kick from 47 yards with 1:04 left. Davis earned the starting job over former Texas kicker Bert Auburn and, despite a modest FAU track record, showed he could be trusted when it counted. The timing of his make came after a field goal that had been set up by a pressure-filled sequence in which Miami’s defense forced a deflected interception by defensive end Reuben Bain on a bubble screen, giving the Hurricanes an opportunity to stretch the lead late.
Miami’s offense had been quiet for much of the fourth quarter, managing just six yards on three drives before the late surge. Davis’ first field goal of the night came with 9:42 remaining, extending the Hurricanes’ lead to 24-14. Notre Dame, however, tied the game with 3:21 to go on a 7-yard touchdown run by CJ Carr, who finished the night 19-of-30 for 221 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Carr, the grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, earned his first college start after beating out Kenny Minchey for the job.
Miami’s offense found a spark when it mattered, going 46 yards in nine plays to set up Davis’ game-winner. The Hurricanes finished strong with a ball-control drive that featured the final five rushing plays, a decision that helped burn Notre Dame’s timeouts and give their untested kicker a high-pressure opportunity. Freshman wide receiver Malachi Toney had a standout night, catching six passes for 82 yards and a touchdown, including the handoff that helped set up key plays. Quarterback Carson Beck, making his first Miami start after transferring from Georgia, completed 20 of 30 passes for 205 yards with two touchdowns and helped guide the late drive.
On defense, Miami was the story in the second half, pressuring CJ Carr with three sacks and limiting Notre Dame to 93 yards rushing. Notre Dame’s early run game was kept in check by a Hurricanes defense that answered a rough stretch in the late third quarter and throughout the fourth.
The win stands as the biggest in the Mario Cristobal era thus far. Miami finished the previous season 10-3, but questions about consistency lingered after allowing 42 points in each of the last two games and a 42-38 loss to Syracuse that kept the Hurricanes out of the ACC title game and the College Football Playoff. This victory provides a compelling argument that the program is progressing under Cristobal, especially on the defensive side and in special teams.
Notre Dame, meanwhile, leaves town with a reality check that one loss in a strong early schedule doesn’t doom a playoff path. The Irish entered the season as one of the favorites to go undefeated, and while this result isn’t ideal, the schedule sets up a steadier path to maintain playoff hopes—potentially favorable results against Texas A&M in Week 3 and a favorable slate the rest of the way could keep Notre Dame on a playoff trajectory.
Key numbers and moments from the night:
– Miami forced three sacks on Carr and limited the Irish rushing attack, with Love and Price combining for 16 carries.
– The Irish finished with limited dynamic rushing, as Carr relied more on the air and occasional scrambles.
– Malachi Toney, the true freshman, emerged as a reliable target with six receptions for 82 yards and a TD.
– Davis’s game-winning kick capped a debut that will fuel questions about future kicking jobs and the Miami offense’s late-game management, but it produced the most important result: a signature win for the Hurricanes.
What this means going forward:
– Miami can take momentum from an emotionally charged comeback into a challenging early-season schedule, with confidence in Beck’s ability to lead an offense that features a playmaking young receiver in Toney.
– Notre Dame’s defense showed resilience, but questions about sustaining a top-tier run game and closing out late leads will be monitored as the season progresses.
– The win reinforces Miami’s developing identity under Cristobal: a tougher, more disruptive defense and the potential for big plays from a dynamic young offense.
Summary of the takeaway: a memorable, hard-fought victory that signals progress for Miami in key areas—defense, special teams, and a more efficient passing game led by a poised transfer quarterback. The Hurricanes show they can close out tight games, while Notre Dame faces a reminder that a few tough moments don’t necessarily derail a playoff bid if the rest of the schedule remains favorable. A hopeful sign for Miami: the team appears to be turning a corner under Cristobal, with a road ahead that could yield more marquee wins if the momentum continues.