Miami Upsets Notre Dame 27-24 With Last-Minute Field Goal/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ No. 10 Miami upset No. 6 Notre Dame 27-24 thanks to Carter Davis’ 47-yard field goal in the final minute. Quarterback Carson Beck threw for 205 yards and two scores in his Hurricanes debut. The victory snapped Miami’s eight-game losing streak against top-10 opponents.
Miami vs Notre Dame Quick Looks
- Miami beats Notre Dame 27-24 in season opener
- Carter Davis drills 47-yard game-winning field goal with 1:04 left
- QB Carson Beck throws for 205 yards, 2 TDs in Miami debut
- CJ Daniels makes one-handed TD grab; Rueben Bain interception key in 4th quarter
- Notre Dame’s freshman QB CJ Carr accounts for 3 touchdowns in first start
- Irish erase 14-point deficit but fall short on final drive
- Miami wins first game vs. top-10 opponent since 2017 — also vs. Notre Dame
- Hurricanes defense seals win with sacks from Bain and Akheem Mesidor
- Notre Dame joins list of top-ranked teams upset in opening week
- Miami expected to climb in AP Top 25 rankings
Miami Upsets Notre Dame 27-24 With Last-Minute Field Goal
Deep Look
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — For the first time in nearly eight years, the Miami Hurricanes knocked off a top-10 opponent — and, fittingly, it came at the expense of Notre Dame.
Carter Davis’ 47-yard field goal with just over a minute left lifted No. 10 Miami past No. 6 Notre Dame, 27-24, in a thrilling season opener Sunday night. The kick capped a gutsy performance from new starting quarterback Carson Beck, who threw for 205 yards and two touchdowns in his Hurricanes debut.
Miami’s win snapped an eight-game losing streak against top-10 teams, its last victory also coming against the Fighting Irish in 2017.
Hurricanes Seize the Moment
The game’s defining moments came in crunch time. With the score tied at 24 following a late Notre Dame rally, Miami orchestrated a 10-play, 46-yard drive that set up Davis, a transfer from Florida Atlantic, for the decisive kick.
“I was nervous,” Beck admitted after the game. “But we got it done.”
Head coach Mario Cristobal praised his team’s resilience. “It’s an unbelievable night,” he said. “So many people poured so much into this.”
Big Plays on Both Sides
Miami leaned on explosive plays and timely defense. CJ Daniels hauled in a highlight-reel, one-handed touchdown grab before halftime, giving the Hurricanes a 14-7 lead. Running back Marty Brown added a third-quarter rushing score, while Malachi Toney caught a touchdown early.
Defensively, Rueben Bain made perhaps the biggest play of the night, snagging an interception off a deflected pass in the fourth quarter. Then, with Notre Dame pressing on its final possession, Bain and Akheem Mesidor combined for back-to-back sacks to shut the door.
Miami narrowly outgained the Irish 324-314 in total yards.
Carr Shines in Notre Dame Debut
Notre Dame freshman quarterback CJ Carr showed poise in his first start, completing 19 of 30 passes for 221 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He also ran for a score with 3:21 remaining to tie the game, erasing what had been a 14-point Miami lead.
Carr connected with Micah Gilbert and Jordan Faison for touchdowns, keeping the Irish within striking distance throughout.
“The effort was there,” said Irish head coach Marcus Freeman, who called the matchup a “top-10 fight.”
Momentum Swings Define First Half
Notre Dame struck early when Carr found Gilbert to tie the game 7-7. But Miami controlled the tempo heading into halftime, stringing together a 75-yard drive that ended with Daniels’ circus catch.
The Hurricanes doubled down by opening the third quarter with another 75-yard march, capped by Brown’s 5-yard touchdown run. That sequence gave Miami a 14-point cushion — but the Irish clawed back to even before falling in the final moments.
The Takeaway
- Notre Dame: The Irish became the fourth top-eight preseason team to lose in Week 1, joining Texas, Clemson, and Alabama. They have now dropped seven straight road games against Miami dating back to 1977.
- Miami: Beck became the seventh straight Hurricanes quarterback to win his starting debut. Miami should rise in the AP Top 25 after beating a top-10 opponent.
Up Next
- Notre Dame: Hosts Texas A&M on Sept. 13.
- Miami: Hosts Bethune-Cookman on Saturday.
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