Under the Sunday-night lights at Hard Rock Stadium, No. 10 Miami outlasted No. 6 Notre Dame 27–24, winning on Carter Davis’ 47-yard field goal with 1:04 left. The defense then did what it had been able to do most of the night — answer the call — and sealed it with back-to-back sacks. It was an opener that played out how HC Mario Cristobal wants games to look.
With so many questions surrounding the Hurricanes going into the game, getting a top-10 win surely provides a sense of relief. Let's take a look at the biggest concerns that were seemingly put to bed during the first night of the season.
1. Malachi Toney — and the receivers — are going to be just fine.
"Malachi Toney is special… he approaches the game as if he’s a fifth or sixth-year NFL vet."Mario Cristobal
True freshman Malachi Toney looked ready-made with 6 receptions, 82 yards and a TD, leading Miami in receiving on debut. With Miami looking to replace its top-six pass catchers from 2024, it was huge to have Toney step up the way he did. And it looks like he'll be featured the rest of the way. Transfer CJ Daniels added 5 for 46 including a one-handed 20-yard TD just before half and Keelan Marion chipped in 3 for 29 while Miami distributed the ball to seven pass-catchers. Carson Beck went 20-of-31 for 205 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT (84.9 QBR). That’s efficient, grown-up football in Week 1 against an elite secondary.
"He [Malachi Toney] was our secret little weapon tonight… that kid is special… he made me better as a quarterback myself."Carson Beck
2. Miami’s trenches are elite — and they decided this game.
Starting with protection: Miami allowed just one sack and Notre Dame’s HC Marcus Freeman put the rest in plain English.
"They were protecting. We’ve got to be better with our four-man rushes… you’re not going to be really successful on defense if you can’t get pressure on the quarterback with four-man rushes. I felt like they did a good job protecting the quarterback. I think there were times where [Carson] Beck had enough time to really figure out what coverage we were playing and put the ball where it needed to be put."Marcus Freeman
The run game traveled, too as Miami logged 127 rushing yards on 37 attempts against a top-flight front. Plus the Canes had back-to-back 75-yard touchdown drives straddling halftime that chewed clock and tilted field position. And when it was closing time, the defensive line slammed the door with sacks on the final two snaps. Miami finished with 3 sacks and 5 TFL to Notre Dame’s 1 sack and 2 TFL, controlled possession 33:57 to 26:03, and protected its quarterback when it mattered. That’s trench football.
3. The remodeled defense came up big — exactly as advertised.
In Corey Hetherman’s first game as Miami’s defensive coordinator, the Hurricanes were opportunistic and organized. They won the turnover battle 2–0, including Rueben Bain Jr.’s fourth-quarter interception off a deflection on a screen that short-circuited an Irish drive. Notre Dame managed 94 rushing yards (3.5 per carry) and went through long stretches where Miami’s disguise and pursuit dictated the terms.
"It was a muddy and bloody night… sometimes domination takes place on the final play of the game and that is what happened."Mario Cristobal
If Year 1 under Hetherman was supposed to look faster, more multiple and turnover-minded, Game 1 checked every box. That is a huge win for every Canes fan who had to endure the defense from last season, and it is something that raises Miami's ceiling for the future.