Carson Beck’s Debut Lifts No. 10 Miami Over No. 6 Notre Dame, 27-24
Carter Davis' 47-yard field goal with 1:04 remaining seals Hurricanes' first top-10 win in nearly eight years
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Carson Beck threw for 205 yards and two touchdowns in his Miami debut and Carter Davis drilled a 47-yard field goal with 1:04 remaining as 10th-ranked Miami edged sixth-ranked Notre Dame 27-24 in the season opener for both teams.
The Hurricanes snapped an eight-game skid against top-10 opponents and denied Notre Dame a season-opening victory in a game decided in the final minutes. Miami outgained the Fighting Irish 324 yards to 314 and relied on a late defensive play and several explosive offensive moments to secure the win.
Beck connected with Malachi Toney for a touchdown and also threw a scoring pass to CJ Daniels, who made a spectacular one-handed catch that energized the Hurricanes offense. Marty Brown added a touchdown run as Miami built a lead the Fighting Irish repeatedly challenged.
The game swung in the fourth quarter when Rueben Bain intercepted a thrice-deflected pass, halting a Notre Dame drive and setting up the Hurricanes' eventual game-winning sequence. Miami's defense forced several key stops in the second half, while the offense capitalized on those chances to keep the score tight.
Notre Dame started freshman or new starter CJ Carr at quarterback; Carr completed 19 of 30 passes for 221 yards in his first start for the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame answered repeatedly and kept pressure on Miami's lead, but was unable to convert late opportunities into the points needed to regain the lead.
Carter Davis, who had handled kicking duties throughout the game, was called on for a long attempt in the waning moments and delivered from 47 yards, splitting the uprights to put Miami ahead with 1:04 remaining. Notre Dame had a final possession following the kickoff but could not pick up the yardage needed to reach field-goal range.
"It’s just an unbelievable night," Miami coach Mario Cristobal said after the game. "Unbelievable night for so many people that poured so much into this." Cristobal noted the significance of beating a top-10 opponent after a prolonged stretch without a win against highly ranked teams.
The victory provided an immediate jolt for Miami's program, which had not beaten a top-10 team in nearly eight years. The last time the Hurricanes toppled a top-10 opponent, Notre Dame was again on the other sideline.
Both teams will take lessons from their openers as they move into conference play. Miami will look to build on the momentum generated by Beck’s debut and a late-game kicking display, while Notre Dame aims to correct late-game execution and expand its offensive consistency. The close finish and several highlight-reel plays underscored the competitive expectations surrounding both programs as the season begins.
