ESPN recently wrote about the "Swing games for every Top 25 college football team for 2025." With Miami 21st in the ESPN Way Too Early Top 25, they are included in the article. Notre Dame was named as the swing for Miami in 2025.
Miami hosts Notre Dame in the season opener on August 31. Notre Dame is seventh in the ESPN preseason rankings. ESPN also has Miami as the swing game for Notre Dame. Miami and Notre Dame will begin the season against each other with new starting quarterbacks.
Redshirt freshman C.J. Carr is the presumed Notre Dame starting QB, according to ESPN. Carr is the grandson of former Michigan National Championship head coach Lloyd Carr. The one-year Carson Beck era will begin for Miami against Notre Dame.
Miami began its one-season Cam Ward era in 2024 with a 41-17 win at Florida. Miami last played Notre Dame when they beat the third-ranked Fighting Irish 41-8 in 2017. Georgia was 5-2 against top 10 opponents in the two seasons that Beck was the starting QB for the Bulldogs.
"We all thought the season would go differently for Miami a year ago after its trouncing of Florida in the season opener. For the most part, it went well, with 10 wins. But the Canes fell short of playing for a title, and that has to change sooner rather than later. "Andrea Adelson
Andrea Adelson of ESPN began her summary of Notre Dame being a swing game for Miami with the caveat of how last season turned out for the Hurricanes. Adelson stated where Miami stands in 2025 starts at QB with Beck. The question posed by Adelson is will Beck "bring the same dynamic play to the table that Cam Ward did last year?"
Adelson continued by asking, "How will the new-look receivers and revamped defense look? So much about Miami is unknown headed into this game because of the complete roster revamp, which was much needed on the defensive side."
Miami signed three transfer wide receivers and added five new defensive backs to its 2025 roster. The receivers are critical after Miami lost its top six pass catches from its 2024 offense that was first in points and total yards per game.
Miami will continue to be questioned. Anything short of making the College Football Playoff this season will be a disappointment. Miami has not closed well under Mario Cristobal. The Hurricanes are 4-10 in November and December with two bowl losses under Cristobal. How Miami closes the 2025 season is critical.