ESPN/SEC Network analyst Paul Finebaum turned up the heat on Sunday, saying on SportsCenter that he “guarantees” No. 6 Notre Dame will beat No. 10 Miami in the season opener at Hard Rock Stadium.
"I want to talk about one team here, because I am nervous. There’s a game a week from tonight in Miami, you probably heard about this. (It will be) the luck of the Irish, as Notre Dame beats Miami. Guaranteed, right here."Paul Finebaum
Paul Finebaum said he guarantees Notre Dame will beat the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium in a week. pic.twitter.com/9P6xzAjCft
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) August 24, 2025
Earlier this month, Finebaum labeled the Hurricanes the most vulnerable team in the preseason AP top 10, predicting nine-plus wins but picking Clemson to take the ACC. Sunday’s “guarantee” felt less like a hot take and more like the latest entry in a summer of skepticism from Finebaum.
""I think Miami will go nine plus. I don’t think they’ll win the ACC. I do believe Clemson will. I don’t see a lot of losses on Miami’s schedule, but maybe one or two.""Paul Finebaum
The Matchup
Notre Dame will go on the road to face Miami on Sunday, Aug. 31 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC. Miami flipped quarterbacks (Carson Beck in for No. 1 NFL pick Cam Ward) and rebuilt its WR room. It remains to be seen how quickly the Hurricanes can return to last years' form (if they can). Notre Dame returns top-end talent and enters top-10 again, with five-star CJ Carr set for his first start. It seems like many pundits lean the way of the Irish by just a hair. If Miami can pull off a victory in Week 1, the Canes will be in good position to make the CFP for the rest of the season.
Preseason AP Poll Top 10
- Texas Longhorns
- Penn State Nittany Lions
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Clemson Tigers
- Georgia Bulldogs
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Oregon Ducks
- Alabama Crimson Tide
- LSU Tigers
- Miami Hurricanes