Sports · Football · 3 hrs ago
Notre Dame beats top-ranked Miami 31-24 in South Bend
No.
4 Notre Dame beat No.
1 Miami 31-24 on Saturday night in South Bend, Indiana.
Miami trailed 24-3 early in the third quarter, but quarterback Darian Mensah threw three second-half touchdown passes to bring the Hurricanes within seven.
With 3 minutes and 43 seconds left, tight end Elija Lofton appeared to catch a pass in the end zone, but safety Luke Talich knocked the ball loose and officials ruled it incomplete after a replay review.
Miami coach Mario Cristobal disputed the ruling, while saying his team should not have left the outcome to one play.
The defeat was Miami's first of the season, while Notre Dame's win kept its national championship and College Football Playoff hopes alive.
Miami's injured receiver Malachi Toney had surgery, which Cristobal said went well, and he estimated Toney would be out for about four weeks.
Fourth-ranked Notre Dame beat top-ranked Miami 31-24 in South Bend on Saturday night, handing the Hurricanes their first loss of the season.
Miami trailed 24-3 early in the third quarter before quarterback Darian Mensah threw three second-half touchdown passes to bring the score within reach.
With 3 minutes, 43 seconds left, Miami tight end Elija Lofton appeared to catch a potential tying touchdown, but officials ruled the pass incomplete and upheld the call after review.
Miami coach Mario Cristobal criticized the officiating, while Notre Dame safety Luke Talich said he played through Lofton’s hands and knocked the ball away.
- Who
- Fourth-ranked Notre Dame beat top-ranked Miami.
- What
- Notre Dame won 31-24, giving Miami its first loss of the season.
- When
- Saturday night. The articles were published on November 8, 2026.
- Where
- South Bend, Indiana.
- Why
- Notre Dame scored more points. Miami’s potential tying touchdown catch was ruled incomplete after review.
Miami
Game officials
Ruling on Lofton’s late play
Miami
Cristobal said Lofton had two hands on the ball and two feet in bounds and called it a touchdown that was negated.
Game officials
Officials ruled the pass incomplete, and the call stood after a brief replay review.
Notre Dame led 24-3.
Darian Mensah threw three touchdown passes as Miami mounted a comeback.
Officials ruled Elija Lofton’s potential tying touchdown catch incomplete and upheld the call after review.
Notre Dame defeated Miami 31-24.
- Final score
- Notre Dame 31, Miami 24
- Rankings
- Notre Dame No. 4; Miami No. 1
- Miami record
- First loss of the season
- Potential tying play
- Elija Lofton; 3 minutes, 43 seconds remaining
- Miami comeback
- Trailed 24-3 early in the third quarter
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What people are saying
I'm pissed off. It's bulls--- and I'll leave it at that.
do not leave it in the hands of the officials because that's what you're going to get out here
I didn't even see him knock the ball out at the end, so I thought it was a touchdown.
Then when I turned around, there was a backshot of the fade, and he went up to make the catch, and we're just taught to play through the hands ... and so that's what I did and was able to get the ball.