No. 11 Notre Dame hosts No. 1 Miami at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, November 7 at 7:30 p.m. ET in the highest-ranked matchup between the programs since the 1988 "Catholics vs. Convicts" classic. The game carries massive College Football Playoff implications, with the Irish sitting as the last team in the CFP field and a loss potentially eliminating them from contention.
CFP Rankings and Signature Win
The CFP selection committee placed Miami at No. 1 in its first rankings but slotted Notre Dame at No. 11, seven spots lower than the AP poll. Committee chair Hunter Yurachek emphasized that the Irish lack a signature win and have a prime opportunity to earn one against the top-ranked Hurricanes.
Recent History and Key Injuries
Miami defeated Notre Dame 27-24 in last year's season opener, and the committee flipped the two teams in the final CFP rankings. This year, both sides face significant absences: Notre Dame will be without leading tackler and defensive signal-caller Drayk Bowen (ankle), while Miami loses superstar receiver Malachi Toney to ankle surgery. Toney ranks in the top three nationally in receptions (73), receiving yards per game (128.4), and receiving touchdowns (13).
Quarterback Contrasts
Miami's Darian Mensah leads the FBS in completion percentage (80.7%) and pass efficiency (202.7) with 25 touchdowns against one interception. Notre Dame's CJ Carr has thrown 18 touchdowns and one interception but shows a stark split: 15-0 against unranked opponents versus 2-3 against AP-ranked teams, completing just 60.9% of passes with six touchdowns and five interceptions in those games.
Historical Trends and Statistical Edges
Notre Dame is 10-1 at home against Miami and has won the last eight on-campus meetings. The Hurricanes are 18-3 on the road as the AP No. 1 but have not beaten an AP top-5 team away from home since 2005. Discipline favors the Irish, who average only 28.9 penalty yards per game (best in FBS) compared to Miami's 58.8 (82nd). However, Notre Dame's red-zone defense ranks 108th, allowing points on 88.9% of possessions, while Miami scores on 92.9% of its red-zone trips.
Betting Outlook and Expert Picks
Notre Dame opened as a 4.5-point favorite and is now laying 5.5 points with a total of 57.5. With Toney sidelined, several analysts lean toward the Irish, though covering the spread remains a challenge. SportsLine's model, which is 80-77 on top-rated CFB picks this season, projects Miami +5.5. Straight-up picks among experts slightly favor Notre Dame.
The game will be televised on NBC and streamed on Fubo.
