Notre Dame Holds Off Miami After Building 21-Point Lead

CJ Carr passed for 319 yards and three touchdowns as Notre Dame improved to 8-1. The Irish built a 24-3 advantage early in the third quarter and never trailed, responding to last season’s 27-24 defeat by Miami, which had helped keep Notre Dame out of the College Football Playoff field.

Micah Gilbert caught two touchdown passes from Carr, while Jordan Faison hauled in the other. Nolan James Jr. added a rushing score. Miami quarterback Darian Mensah threw three touchdown passes, including two to Cooper Barkate and one to Elija Lofton.

The Hurricanes closed the gap twice, and came close to taking the lead with 3:36 remaining. Lofton appeared to catch a fourth-down pass in the end zone, but Notre Dame’s Luke Talich knocked the ball loose. Officials ruled the pass incomplete, and Notre Dame took possession before running down most of the remaining time.

Miami fell to 8-1 and had a slow start without injured receiver Malachi Toney. In the second quarter, the Hurricanes reached Notre Dame’s 1-yard line but settled for a field goal. They trailed 17-3 at halftime.

With Miami’s loss, Utah and UCLA were the only unbeaten teams left in the top division of college football, both at 9-0. Notre Dame hosts Boston College next Saturday; Miami hosts Duke.