Joel Klatt sees Miami's trip to Notre Dame as more than another major non-conference game. The Fox Sports analyst included the Nov. 7 matchup in South Bend among his 10 games that will shape the 2026 college football season.
Thoughts on @joelklatt's 10 games that will shape the 2026 season? pic.twitter.com/DAQKtxajly
— The Joel Klatt Show: A College Football on FOX Pod (@JoelKlattShow) June 29, 2026
Joel Klatt sees Miami at Notre Dame as a game that could swing the 2026 CFP race
Miami opened the 2025 season with a 27-24 win over Notre Dame at Hard Rock Stadium, then edged the Irish in the final College Football Playoff rankings before advancing to the national championship game. Klatt said that sequence should give the rematch real juice when the Hurricanes return to Notre Dame Stadium.
"I can't wait for this one. Notre Dame fans watched Miami get that last playoff spot, jumped them in the last rankings, they went all the way to the championship game, there is some saltiness in South Bend. There's no doubt about that."Joel Klatt
Miami has not played at Notre Dame Stadium since a 30-27 loss in 2016. The Nov. 7 game will be the Hurricanes' first trip to South Bend in 10 years and their first November visit there since 1976.
Miami enters the season at No. 6 in Klatt's post-spring top 25 while Notre Dame is No. 2. Both teams are expected to be in the College Football Playoff picture again, and this matchup projects to be a major measuring stick before the final month of the regular season.
The Notre Dame game will come at the end of Miami's most difficult stretch of the schedule. The Hurricanes play at Clemson on Oct. 3, host Florida State on Oct. 17, host Pittsburgh on Oct. 24 and travel to North Carolina on Oct. 31 before heading to South Bend. Miami then closes the regular season with home games against Duke, Virginia Tech and Boston College.
The trench turnover is Miami's biggest concern going into the season. The departures of Francis Mauigoa, Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor will be something to watch as the Canes get closer to Week 1.
The Irish have the pieces to contend for a national championship again, but they also have production to replace after running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price went in the first round. Quarterback CJ Carr returns, as do veteran receivers Jordan Faison and Jaden Greathouse, but Notre Dame's ground game will look very different by the time Miami arrives in November.
The Irish also have a demanding run before the Hurricanes come to town. Notre Dame opens against Wisconsin at Lambeau Field, then plays Michigan State, North Carolina, Stanford, BYU and Navy before Miami visits South Bend.
Joel Klatt's list of 10 games that he believes will shape the 2026 season
• Oklahoma at Michigan, Week 2
• Ohio State at Texas, Week 2
• LSU at Ole Miss, Week 3
• USC at Penn State, Week 6
• Texas vs. Oklahoma, Week 6
• Georgia at Alabama, Week 6
• Ohio State at Indiana, Week 7
• Miami at Notre Dame, Week 10
• Texas at Texas A&M, Week 13
• Michigan at Ohio State, Week 13
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