On his Always College Football Podcast on Sunday, ESPN analyst Greg McElroy said, "Miami thoroughly beat them (Notre Dame) along both lines of scrimmage." Miami had five tackles for loss and three sacks to two and one for Notre Dame in their 27-24 win in the season opener on August 31.
The Hurricanes had a 324 to 314 advantage in total yards, held Notre Dame to 93 yards rushing and Fighting Irish running back Jeremiah Love, a Heisman Trophy finalist, to 10 carries for 33 yards. CharMar Brown and Mark Fletcher Jr. combined for 30 carries for 120 yards rushing and a touchdown for Miami.
The Miami defensive line helped the Hurricanes earn a 2-0 advantage in turnovers. Miami's five sacks resulted in 24 lost yards for Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish generated five yards of lost yardage on two sacks of Carson Beck.
Rueben Bain had six tackles, 0.5 tackle for loss, 0.5 sack and an interception against Notre Dame. Akheem Mesidor finished with five tackles, 1.5 TFLs and 1.5 sacks versus Notre Dame. Notre Dame had 177 yards through the first three quarters.
"When I went back and I watched that game, Miami thoroughly beat them along both lines of scrimmage...If you go back and watch how often Miami was setting the edge, how often Miami was penetrating, how often Miami...was moving Notre Dame players off the ball...It was pretty obvious to me that Miami handled Notre Dame. And I think the coaches on the committee, I think the players on the committee probably went back and did the exact same thing I did. I don't know how you couldn't...You had to go back and watch that game. "ESPN CFP analyst Greg McElroy
Miami held Notre Dame to its lowest outputs of the season in rushing yards, yards per carry, yards per play and total yards. The Hurricanes eventually made Notre Dame one-dimensional and forced them to pass with a 21-7 deficit entering the fourth quarter
Notre Dame finished the 2025 season 28th nationally, allowing 4.42 TFLs and 11th with opponents averaging 1.0 sack per game. Miami exceeded the TFL average and doubled the sacks Notre Dame allowed per game. Miami had a 34:04 to 24:52 time of possession and had a 68-58 advantage in plays.
Miami did not just beat Notre Dame, the Hurricanes controlled the game on the line of scrimmage offensively and defensively and dictated play for the first three quarters. The Hurricanes outgained the Fighting Irish 277-177 through the first three quarters.
.@chrisfallica says the CFP committee nailed it 😏
— Bear Bets (@BearBetsPod) December 8, 2025
"When Alabama popped up at 9... I was like 'YES, MIAMI IS IN.' You knew then Miami and Notre Dame were going back to back, and that is when the head to head was going to come into play." pic.twitter.com/R26bahTHT4
Playing from behind in the fourth quarter, Notre Dame scored 17 points and 130 of its 137 yards in the final 15 minutes were passing. Miami still generated three sacks in the fourth quarter. The Hurricanes reasserted their dominance up front on the final two drives of the game.
After Notre Dame tied the game at 24, Carson Beck led Miami on a 10-play, 46-yard drive that culminated with the game-winning field goal by Carter Davis. Notre Dame started its final drive on their own 25-yard line and had 1:04 remaining with a chance to win the game.
Mesidor sacked C.J. Carr, then shared another sack with Bain on the penultimate play of the game. Notre Dame had a false start on the final play of the game and Miami earned the 27-24 win that ultimately led to a College Football Playoff berth.