A matchup of the top five teams in the AP Top 25 suddenly turned into a must-win game for Notre Dame with the reveal of this week’s College Football Playoff rankings.
The Irish are No. 4 in the AP poll but have found themselves outside the top 10 in the eyes of the CFP committee thanks to a schedule filled with disappointing opponents. No. 11 Notre Dame could really miss the College Football Playoff with a 10-2 record two years in a row.
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To beat No. 1 Miami, Notre Dame will need to support QB CJ Carr with the running game. And opponents had a lot of trouble running against the Hurricanes. Nolan James Jr. has emerged as Notre Dame’s leading rusher, while freshman Jonaz Walton is averaging nearly 7 yards per carry.
Star CB Leonard Moore missed Notre Dame’s win over Navy but should be ready to roll Saturday night. His job becomes easier with the news that Miami’s star receiver Malachi Toney is out with an ankle injury suffered in practice.
With Toney sidelined, Miami quarterback Darian Mensah is going to have to find his other receivers and rely on a running game that has been boosted by true freshman Javian Mallory.
Follow below for game highlights and analysis:
CJ Carr throws his third TD pass of the game and his second to Micah Gilbert, who extends ND’s lead with a 20-yard grab.
Notre Dame 24, Miami 3
Miami quarterback Darian Mensah is sacked by Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa on 3rd down to end Miami’s drive. Then, ND’s Jordan Faison returned the ensuing punt 55 yards to the Miami 30. Excellent start to the second half for the Irish.
We’re back in action in South Bend as Miami starts with the ball.
A Hurricanes team averaging nearly 48 points per game was held to 3 in the first half. They are struggling to move the ball without star receiver Malachi Toney out with an ankle injury.
CJ Carr engineers an impressive 2 minute drive and finishes it with an 18 yard strike to Micah Gilbert for the TD.
Notre Dame 17, Miami 3 | 0:29 in 1st half
Nothing to do for either offense on their last possessions. Notre Dame gets the ball back with 2:08 left in the first half.
Quarterback Darian Mensah finds himself in front of the goal line on 3rd down, and the Canes settle for 3.
Notre Dame 10, Miami 3
Yum had several cracks in the end zone thanks to a Notre Dame penalty that gave him another set of downs. It will be 3rd and goal on 1 after a timeout.
Jordan Faison makes a great catch off the back shoulder and stomps his foot inbounds for CJ Carr’s 27-yard pass.
Notre Dame 10, Miami 0
After the teams traded punts, Notre Dame made a big play to drive into Miami territory just before the end of the 1st quarter. ND still leads Miami 3-0.
Nick Bromberg
I have a feeling this could be a 20-point win type opener, especially given the absence of Malachi Toney.
Mark Fletcher is dropped for a 5-yard loss on 3rd down, ending Miami’s drive near midfield.
The Irish get points on their first drive via a 44-yard field goal.
Notre Dame 3, Miami 0
ND received the kickoff and the offense was already well into Miami territory.
Yahoo Sports Team
Yahoo Sports Team
Still to come after this wave of games: No. 1 Miami faces No. 11 Notre Dame and No. 2 Georgia faces No. 10 Ole Miss.
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