Mario Cristobal knew what would happen if the referees had a chance to decide a pivotal play at Notre Dame Stadium. He knew it wouldn't go the Miami Hurricanes' way. He remembered it as a fan, and he experienced it as a player. So, as disappointing as the incomplete call on Elija Lofton's apparent game-tying touchdown was, Cristobal wasn't surprised at the result.
It might not have been the complete robbery that the Hurricanes suffered in their 1988 loss at Notre Dame, but it was pretty darn close - and Cristobal was livid. He made that much clear by quickly going after the refs following the final whistle.
Mario Cristobal is not a fan of the incomplete pass call on Elija Lofton's would-be game-tying touchdown catch pic.twitter.com/DsXfRwzt1y
— Austin Hough (@AustinRHough) November 8, 2026
"I'm really, really disappointed that they negated Elija Lofton's touchdown with two hands on the ball and two feet in-bounds," he said in his postgame press conference. "But, like we told our kids before we left Miami, do not leave it in the hands of the officials, because that's what you're going to get out here."
The final result, a 31-24 loss to the Irish, will certainly knock Miami from atop the CFP rankings. The Hurricanes still have to navigate three more conference games without the services of Malachi Toney to assure that they will be in the ACC Championship Game on Dec. 5.
Mario Cristobal fires off at officials after controversial fourth-quarter call
Miami had been chasing the game from the kickoff, falling behind 17-3 at the half and 24-3 early in the third quarter. However, Darian Mensah started to warm up and led a charge with the help of Cooper Barkate, Lofton, and a much-maligned defense that finally began to get some stops.
The Hurricanes were trailing 31-24, but they were driving and got down into the red zone behind a catch-and-run from Lofton that gained 41 yards. That gave the Hurricanes a first down at the Notre Dame 22. After a run and a couple of incompletions, Miami faced a 4th and 6 from the 18. Mensah scrambled and found Lofton in the corner of the end zone. He caught the pass, got two feet in cleanly, and turned his body before the ball was knocked out of his hands.
It was called an incompletion on the field, and after a lengthy review, the call was upheld. You can judge this play for yourself.
Was this a catch? 👀 pic.twitter.com/oD82h3eLw6
— Bussin' With The Boys (@BussinWTB) November 8, 2026
NBC replay official Terry McAulay immediately said it was no catch, but what can we expect from someone that is being employed by the network associated with Notre Dame? For what it's worth, the officials also missed a targeting call in the final seconds of the game. These were ACC officials, and that should explain some of the incompetence, but we didn't get a chance to listen to the review because this wasn't a conference game.
"Congratulations to Notre Dame for winning the game. I'm very disappointed with the way that was called with the game on the line and clear possession of the football in bounds," Cristobal added.
That's the way it goes in Notre Dame. For all the talk of the echoes and 'Touchdown Jesus,' it usually comes down to having the officials in their back pocket.
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