Notre Dame and Miami are set up to give college football another one of those games that sticks in the sport’s memory long after the final whistle.
The last time these two met in a truly iconic setting, the matchup came with a name that still carries weight: “Catholics vs. Convicts.”
That 1988 showdown between Miami and Notre Dame helped reshape the national title race, with Notre Dame winning and going on to claim the championship. It was memorable enough to inspire an ESPN “30 for 30” documentary, and it remains one of the sport’s most famous “games with names.”
Now the sequel arrives in 2026, and the setup feels awfully familiar. Notre Dame and Miami are both ranked where they were in that 1988 meeting - Miami at No. 1 and Notre Dame at No. 4 in the AP Poll.
This time, though, the stakes are tied to the College Football Playoff instead of the national title picture. The teams will meet Saturday night at Notre Dame Stadium, with College Gameday on site and NBC carrying the game nationally.
Both programs have plenty riding on the result, and both have been under the microscope for similar reasons. Notre Dame has long dealt with criticism over its schedule, and Miami hasn’t exactly faced a gauntlet either.
Heading into Week 10, Notre Dame’s strength of schedule sits at 55th, while Miami is 49th. The Irish’s ACC slate included Miami, SMU and three below-average opponents, while USC canceling its rivalry game didn’t help.
Miami has already beaten Wake Forest, but it does not draw Louisville or SMU.
That makes this one even bigger. For both teams, opportunities like this are limited, and a loss would create real problems.
Notre Dame saw a 10-2 team left out of the CFP last season, so the margin for error is already thin. Miami would be in an especially tough spot with no reputable wins outside of Wake Forest; a loss would likely leave the Hurricanes needing to win out and capture the ACC Championship just to stay in the playoff conversation.
There’s more than team stakes here, too. The Heisman race is in the mix as well.
Miami’s Darian Mensah and Malachi Toney, along with Notre Dame’s CJ Carr, are all among the top four betting favorites for the trophy heading into Week 10, according to DraftKings sportsbook. A prime-time November game against elite competition gives all three a chance to make a statement when the lights are brightest.
The matchup also carries a fresh layer because of what happened last season. In Week 1, these same teams delivered the first starts for CJ Carr and Malachi Toney, and Miami came away with the win.
Toney was excellent, Carson Beck was steady at quarterback, and Notre Dame’s issues helped the Hurricanes finish the job. The Irish defense, under first-year coordinator Chris Ash, had communication breakdowns and mental errors throughout the night.
Carr’s first start was part of the story, and Notre Dame’s decision not to lean harder on Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price stood out; the two backs combined for 16 carries and 78 yards.
Miami’s pass rush made the difference in the end. Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor finished off the game by sacking Carr on the final play and shutting down Notre Dame’s comeback attempt. Bain, Mesidor, Price and Love are all gone now, but Ash, Carr and Toney are back for their second season on campus.
That should make this year’s version look different, and one individual matchup could define a lot of what happens. Notre Dame All-American cornerback Leonard Moore appears ready to track Malachi Toney wherever he lines up, setting up a top-tier battle within the larger game.
However it plays out, this one has all the ingredients of a classic. The only thing left is the name.
In Other News...
Ahmmon Richards Just Exposed Where Miami Can Hurt Notre Dame
Ahmmon Richards has been doing more than reminiscing about his Miami days ahead of the Hurricanes matchup with Notre Dame. The former wide receiver broke down the Irishs quarterback play, defensive looks and offensive tendencies, offering a former players eye for the kinds of details that can swing a game before anyone even takes a snap. For Miami, that kind of outside perspective matters because it turns a big-name opponent into a film-study problem, with specific matchups and play calls suddenly coming into focus.
Richards pointed to Tyler Carrs style and the way Notre Dame structures its defense as part of the puzzle Miami has to solve, while also flagging the Irish players and offensive habits that could shape the flow of the game. He even walked through examples of plays to watch, which is the sort of granular breakdown that can reveal where an opponent is vulnerable without ever saying it outright. For the Hurricanes, the value is obvious: if those tendencies hold up on Saturday, there may be a clear path to stress Notre Dame in the spots it least wants to be tested. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Suddenly Has A Massive Question Before Notre Dame
Malachi Toneys ankle injury has quickly turned into one of the biggest pregame storylines for Miami as the Hurricanes prepare for Notre Dame. The star receiver was hurt in practice and is still being evaluated, leaving the staff to sort through what his status could mean for an offense that leans heavily on his playmaking.
Toneys importance goes beyond one matchup, because his presence shapes how Miami wants to attack and how opponents have to defend it. The injury has also stirred movement in the Heisman conversation, with his odds slipping and other names rising, but for Miami the immediate concern is simpler: whether one of its most valuable offensive pieces will be ready when the game arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Suddenly Has A Huge Malachi Toney Problem Before Notre Dame
Malachi Toneys ankle injury has put Miami in an uneasy spot heading into the Notre Dame game, because the Hurricanes have come to rely on him as one of the more important pieces of the offense. The injury happened in practice, and while coaches have said they believe it is not serious, there is still real uncertainty around whether hell be available when Miami needs him most.
Toney has already shown this season that he can push through minor issues and stay on the field, which is part of why this situation matters so much for Miamis preparation. For now, the Hurricanes are left waiting on his status, and the closer the game gets without a clear answer, the more it becomes a problem they have to plan around. [Read more 🡒]