Rueben Bain Jr. did his talking twice on Sunday night — first with a fourth-quarter interception and a hand in the game-sealing sack, then with a viral, not-safe-for-the-Irish message online that made it crystal clear how Miami’s star edge feels about Notre Dame. The junior finished with six tackles, 0.5 sacks and a tip-drill interception returned 12 yards in a performance that helped No. 10 Miami beat No. 6 Notre Dame 27–24. Bain also ended up earning ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors.
With Miami up 21–14 midway through the fourth, a screen ricocheted off multiple hands before Bain snatched it and rumbled to the Irish 33, setting up a field goal that stretched the lead to 24–14. Notre Dame rallied to tie it, but after Carson Beck and the offense nudged Miami back ahead on Carter Davis’ 47-yarder with 1:04 left, Bain and Akheem Mesidor met at the quarterback on the final series to drain the clock. Beck’s efficient debut (20-for-31, 205 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT), Bain’s INT on a thrice-deflected ball, and the defense closed the door.
Then came the posts. A notebook photo circulated on social media showed Bain’s pregame motivation — multiple lines of "F— Notre Dame". It wasn’t subtle, and it matched the edge Miami brought in the trenches for 60 minutes.
Bain's Sunday night performance looked more like the wrecking-ball freshman who took the ACC by storm in 2023, rather than the banged-up version who missed time early in 2024. As a true freshman, Bain won ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year and stacked 44 tackles, 12.5 TFL, 7.5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. He was one of only seven ACC players with over seven sacks that season, and the only freshman to do it.
Last fall, despite an early injury, he started nine games and posted 23 tackles, 5.5 TFL and 3.5 sacks. If Sunday is any indication, Bain will be a nightmare for opposing offenses in 2025.