When will the people associated with Notre Dame football accept the fact that the Miami Hurricanes were better?
It's been almost a year since Miami beat Notre Dame in the 2025 season opener and when the smoke cleared, both teams were 10-2 and in contention for the final at-large spot in the CFP 12-team bracket. When situations like these emerge, the best applicable tiebreaker is head-to-head, because, you know, the games are supposed to count. And with that, the Hurricanes went on to the playoffs and eventually advanced to the CFP championship game while Notre Dame released a bunch of statements and Irish AD Pete Bevacqua went on a media tour to complain.
Now it's Notre Dame defensive back Leonard Moore that has more excuses about what happened last year.
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"We really just focused on taking accountability for what happened last year and making sure it [doesn't] happen again."
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) July 17, 2026
—Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore on missing the playoffs last year ✍️ pic.twitter.com/2bspyzKlqL
"A loss like that. A loss to Miami or Texas A&M is always going to be in the back of your mind, especially when you feel like you didn't have your best game. A lot of our team feels like we didn't have our best game," Moore said.
Miami can put all of Notre Dame's excuses to bed on November 7
I hope they've all got it out of their systems by this point because after November 7 they are going to need to restart the process again. But what can you say when the Hurricanes go into South Bend, in the middle of fall, with a little crisp in the air, and do the same thing all over again?
It's one thing to hear excuses from some never was "quarterback" who doesn't even have the minimum number of passing attempts to speak about Notre Dame, Miami or that rivalry. That opinion is about as worthless as what you'll read on a fan message board. But Leonard Moore is a dude. There's no hate here about what he brings every time he steps on the field. That's why it's so disappointing to hear a real player make excuses. Yes, Notre Dame didn't play its best game against Miami last season because Miami was on the field. Here's a news flash: The Hurricanes didn't play their best game either because Notre Dame put up some resistance.
READ MORE: Former ND QB tries to explain away last year's loss to Miami but the facts make it worse
Both teams played their behinds off, but Miami made more plays and scored more points. It had nothing to do with Notre Dame not playing its best game and everything to do with Miami being better. It seems like CJ Carr is the only Notre Dame player that can accept that and move on.
Moore said he's watched the game over and over again, but the results never change. Miami 27, Notre Dame 24 on August 31, 2025, will live on in history forever. The Fighting Irish football players, past and present, can continue to make excuses and continue to lie to themselves and say they were the better team. But the numbers never lie and that's what will always count.
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