The teams did not meet in 1986. The return match after the controversial 1985 game took place in Miami during the Hurricanes second National Championship season in 1987. Miami won that game 24-0.
The 1988 game was the infamous Catholics vs Convicts game. Miami lost 31-30. A lot of controversy swirled around that game as well. Number one Miami fell to number four Notre Dame. That was Miami’s only loss of the season and cost Miami three consecutive National Championships.
The 1989 game was the final game in the series that was played in Miami until this year. The game began with controversy. In the Pre-BCS, Pre-College Football Playoff era teams were often invited to bowl games before the end of the season.
As Miami met Notre Dame prior to the game on November 25, 1989, the number one ranked Fighting Irish were extended a bid to the Orange Bowl. They would meet Big VII champion and the nation’s second-ranked team Colorado.
Miami who was ranked seventh at the time the teams met earned a bid to the Sugar Bowl. The Hurricanes had suffered an earlier loss to Florida State.
The two loss Seminoles win over Miami was enough to place them ahead of the one loss Hurricanes. Miami would face SEC Champion Alabama. Michigan, Florida State and Nebraska were also ranked ahead of Miami.