Notre Dame at Miami in the Aug. 31 season opener is included in the CBS Sports article "One game each team in way-too-early Top 25 rankings has circled ahead of 2025 college football season" for both teams. Miami and Notre Dame are playing for the first time since the Hurricanes beat the Fighting Irish 41-8 in 2017.
CBS Sports ranks Miami third and Notre Dame sixth in their way-too-early top 25 preseason rankings. Miami has its highest ranking in the 2025 way-too-early ranking from the major media sites. Notre Dame at Miami is expected to have a major impact on the 2025 College Football Playoff race.
Adding Georgia quarterback Carson Beck as the highest-rated transfer in the 2025 portal was critical for Miami entering 2025. Miami is fourth in the 247Sports transfer portal rankings. Other key incoming transfers are five highly rated defensive backs, defensive tackle David Blay and wide receiver C.J. Daniels.
Notre Dame has its own QB to replace with Riley Leonard completing his eligibility. The Fighting Irish have six incoming transfers including star Virginia WR Malachi Fields. Nine former Notre Dame players entered the transfer portal. Miami at Notre Dame is such a big week one game it was moved to the Sunday night of Labor Day weekend.
A rivalry renewed
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) January 23, 2025
Our Week 1 matchup against Notre Dame is scheduled for Sunday, August 31st at 7:30 p.m. on ABC 🙌
🎟️: https://t.co/wqGJeLYju1 pic.twitter.com/AG8BlRyrbW
"3. MiamiWill Backus, CBS Sports
Game: vs. Notre Dame (Sunday, Aug. 31)
(CBS Sports' Dennis) Dodd is high on the Hurricanes, even though they have to replace Heisman Trophy finalist quarterback Cam Ward. Miami gets a chance to legitimize itself on the national stage and emerge as a real contender in Week 1 against a preseason top-10 opponent in Notre Dame, which is fresh off an appearance in the College Football Playoff National Championship. "
Notre Dame leads the all-time series with Miami 17-8-1. Miami ended a four-game losing streak to Notre Dame with the 41-8 win in 2017. Notre Dame will host Miami in 2026, 2028, 2031 and 2037. Miami will also host Notre Dame in 2032 and 2034. Miami and Notre Dame was one of college football's biggest rivalries in the 1980s.
Miami defeated Notre Dame on its way to national championships in 1983, 1987 and 1989. Notre Dame ended the rivalry after the 1990 season. Miami and Notre Dame did not play again until the 2010 Sun Bowl. ESPN produced a 30-for-30 documentary on the Miami-Notre Dame rivalry in 2016.