Mario Cristobal didn’t hide how he felt after Miami’s 31-24 loss at Notre Dame, and the play that set him off came with the game hanging in the balance.
The Hurricanes were driving late, down seven, when Darian Mensah scrambled and lofted a pass to Elija Lofton in the back corner of the end zone on fourth-and-6 from the 18. Lofton appeared to secure the ball, get two feet down, and turn before it was jarred loose.
On the field, it was ruled incomplete. After a lengthy review, the call stood.
Cristobal made it clear afterward that he thought Miami had been denied a touchdown.
"I’m really, really disappointed that they negated Elija Lofton’s touchdown with two hands on the ball and two feet in-bounds," he said in his postgame press conference. "But, like we told our kids before we left Miami, do not leave it in the hands of the officials, because that’s what you’re going to get out here."
He added, "Congratulations to Notre Dame for winning the game. I’m very disappointed with the way that was called with the game on the line and clear possession of the football in bounds."
Miami had spent most of the night trying to climb out of a hole. The Hurricanes trailed 17-3 at halftime and were down 24-3 early in the third quarter before Mensah helped spark a comeback. Cooper Barkate, Lofton and a defense that had been heavily criticized all played a part as Miami started to find some rhythm.
Lofton’s 41-yard catch-and-run set up the late push, moving the Hurricanes to the Notre Dame 22. From there, after a run and a pair of incompletions, Miami faced the fourth-down snap that became the game’s defining moment.
Cristobal’s frustration spilled over immediately after the final whistle, and he wasn’t the only one left unhappy with the officiating. The game also featured a missed targeting call in the final seconds.
The loss figures to drop Miami from the top of the CFP rankings. The Hurricanes still have three conference games left to navigate without Malachi Toney if they want to secure a spot in the ACC Championship Game on Dec. 5.
In Other News...
Miami Loss At Notre Dame Exposed A Problem That Could Linger
Miamis 31-24 loss at Notre Dame did more than hand the Hurricanes a frustrating road defeat. It also put a spotlight on how much the offense can change when Malachi Toney is unavailable, as Miami labored through a quiet first half without one of its key wideouts and had to spend the rest of the night playing from behind.
Darian Mensah still gave Miami a chance, finishing 24 of 43 for 304 yards and three touchdowns, but his first interception of the season came at an untimely moment in a game that already felt tilted. The Hurricanes made a late push, yet Notre Dames second-half lead held up, and the bigger concern now is whether Miami can keep enough firepower in place if Toney ends up missing the rest of the year. [Read more 🡒]
Miamis First Loss Exposed A Problem They Couldnt Overcome
Miamis first loss of the season came with a familiar kind of frustration, the sort that lingers because it felt avoidable for long stretches. Notre Dame outlasted the Hurricanes 31-24 at Notre Dame Stadium, and the game turned on the kinds of moments Miami could not quite control, from C.J. Carrs efficient day at quarterback to a critical interception by Luke Talich that helped swing the flow back toward the Irish.
For Miami, the offensive issues were there early, especially with injured star Malachi Toney unavailable, and the Hurricanes never fully found the rhythm they needed to keep pace. Darian Mensah did throw a touchdown pass, but Miamis defense had trouble getting enough heat on Carr, who finished with 319 yards and three scores, leaving the Hurricanes with a loss that exposed a problem they could not overcome. [Read more 🡒]
Kentucky Faces One Big AP Poll Question After Weekend Shakeup
The weekend shakeup in college football had ripple effects well beyond the winners and losers on the field, and Miami was right in the middle of it. The No. 1 Hurricanes took their first loss to No. 4 Notre Dame, a result that immediately changed the conversation at the top of the AP poll and in the early College Football Playoff picture. With Alabama handling LSU and Tennessee knocking off Kentucky, the results across the slate gave voters plenty to sort through when they next fill out their ballots.
For Miami, the bigger issue now is not just where the Hurricanes land in the rankings, but how much margin they can afford to lose as the season moves on. Ohio States loss to unranked Oregon only added to the chaos, creating even more movement ahead of the next poll and making every top-tier result feel more consequential. The Hurricanes still control plenty of their own fate, but after a weekend like this, the path back to the top will be shaped as much by how everyone else keeps playing as by what Miami does next. [Read more 🡒]