Carson Beck looked like the perfect successor to Cam Ward in leading No. 10 Miami to a nail-biting 27-24 upset win over No. 5 Notre Dame on Aug. 31.
The renewed rivalry looked like it was going to be a runaway as the Hurricanes built a 21-7 lead and got a key late interception. But conservative play-calling and an awakening Fighting Irish offense got the game tied at 24 with just over 3 minutes left. Beck led one last drive, assisted by a pass interference call, that led to Carter Davis drilling a 47-yard field goal to go ahead with 1:04 left. Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor got to Notre Dame’s first-year starting QB CJ Carr twice in a row to close out the victory.
Beck started out hot but cooled off after a 13-play touchdown drive to open the second half. The Georgia transfer finished 20 of 30 for 205 yards and two touchdowns, with the highlight being an incredible one-handed TD catch by CJ Daniels to close the first half.
Malachi Toney was Beck’s favorite target, bringing in six catches for 82 yards and Beck’s first TD at Miami. Mark Fletcher and North Dakota State transfer CharMar Brown split the workload at running back with 15 carries apiece. Fletcher had 66 yards, while Brown got the rock on the final drive and finished with 54 yards and a touchdown.
Miami’s revamped defense under new defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman made things difficult on Carr and star running back Jeremiyah Love throughout the first half. But Love got into a groove during the Irish’s comeback, finishing with 59 total yards. Carr was 19 of 30 for 221 yards and two TDs with an interception hauled in by Bain in the fourth quarter.
Tight end Eli Raridon had a 65-yard reception that set up Notre Dame’s tying touchdown, a 7-yard run by Carr. It looked like Mario Cristobal’s late-game conservative play-calling might come back to bite the Hurricanes again, but Davis’ leg and the defense’s clampdown on the final drive got Miami off to a 1-0 start.
The Palm Beach Post brought you live updates, scores and highlights all game long. Let’s look back.
Miami vs Notre Dame score
Rueben Bain, Akheem Mesidor help Miami seal win over Notre Dame
Eli Raridon had a pass bounce off his hands for a near-interception, but he took a screen for 12 yards on the next play. Akheem Mesidor and Rueben Bain clamped on CJ Carr on back-to-back plays to seal the win for the Hurricanes. Notre Dame tried to get one last play but couldn’t get the snap off. Final score: Miami 27, Notre Dame 24
Miami field goal gives Hurricanes the lead
North Dakota State transfer CharMar Brown has gotten the call in crunch time, getting a critical third-down conversion on third-and-2 to get into field-goal range. He got the next three touches, as well, burning up all of the Irish’s timeouts and setting up Carter Davis for a 47-yard field goal, which he sneaked into the right upright. Score: Miami 27, Notre Dame 24, 1:04 in 4Q
Miami driving with chance to win
Pass interference against Christian Gray on a deep ball to Keelan Marion put the ball past midfield. The Notre Dame cornerback responded the next play by breaking up a pass that Miami fans wanted another penalty called on. CharMar Brown ran it 8 yards up the gut to take it to the 2-minute timeout. Score: Miami 24, Notre Dame 24, 2:00 in 4Q
Eli Raridon big play leads to CJ Carr touchdown to tie game
Mohamed Toure lost tight end Eli Raridon in coverage, leading to a 65-yard catch-and-run to put Notre Dame at the Miami 10-yard line. Two plays later, CJ Carr ran a quarterback draw to punch it in from 7 yards out. The extra point tied the game. Score: Miami 24, Notre Dame 24, 3:21 in 4Q
Notre Dame field goal shrinks Miami lead back to a touchdown
Notre Dame has looked much sharper on offense since its three-and-out to open the third quarter. The Irish are feeding Jeremiyah Love more in crunch time. Ahmad Moten forced CJ Carr into an intentional grounding, and Love could only get back to the original line of scrimmage on a third-and-long screen. Noah Burnette booted home a 49-yard field goal. Score: Miami 24, Notre Dame 17, 5:32 in 4Q
Miami field goal extends lead
Mario Cristobal’s decision-making might be called into question again. He opted to play conservatively after the turnover, calling three straight Mark Fletcher runs to set up Carter Davis with a 38-yard field goal. This one went in after his first try failed because of a bad snap. Score: Miami 24, Notre Dame 14, 9:42 in 4Q
Rueben Bain interception
Carson Beck was sacked for the first time on third-and-7 to give the ball right back to Notre Dame. But a screen pass from CJ Carr was snuffed out by Damari Brown, who interrupted the pass and knocked it airborne, where it ended up in the hands of edge rusher Rueben Bain. Notre Dame has called for a lot of bubble screens, and two have turned into takeaways for UM. Score: Miami 21, Notre Dame 14, 11:55 in 4Q
Notre Dame score: CJ Carr touchdown to Jordan Faison
Notre Dame finally got a drive going, and Jeremiyah Love huddled a defender to get close to the end zone, but tight end Eli Raridon was called for holding Rueben Bain. The Irish got help though on a pass interference call on the following play. On the first play of the fourth quarter, CJ Carr bumped into Aneyas Williams in the backfield but still managed to hit Jordan Faison on a flat for a 2-yard touchdown. It capped an 11-play, 64-yard much-needed scoring drive for the Irish. Score: Miami 21, Notre Dame 14, 14:55 in 4Q
Corey Hetherman: Where is Miami defensive coordinator from?
CJ Carr and the Notre Dame offense have been put through a blender throughout the opener with three three-and-outs and a turnover. Corey Hetherman came to Miami after leading Minnesota to the No. 9 scoring defense in the country in 2024 at 16.9 yards per game. The Gophers allowed just 285.7 yards per game, good for fifth in FBS. His swarming defensive scheme is working wonders early.
Miami score: CharMar Brown touchdown
Carson Beck keeps moving the Hurricanes down the field. He led a 12-play, 75-yard drive to open the second half capped by CharMar Brown dragging defenders into the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown. Beck was 4 of 4 for 39 yards, giving him 186 for the game so far. Brown and Mark Fletcher split carries on the drive. Score: Miami 21, Notre Dame 7, 7:23 in 3Q
Carson Beck stats
Carson Beck’s first game at Miami has gone well. The Georgia transfer went 13 of 20 for 147 yards and 2 touchdowns in the first half vs. Notre Dame. His arm strength seems unincumbered by his offseason elbow surgery. He’s rarely made a bad decision, though CJ Daniels did bail him out with his incredible diving touchdown grab; if he didn’t, the ball could’ve just as easily been intercepted.
CJ Daniels touchdown an early catch of the year candidate
CJ Daniels’ one-handed grab at the end of the first half brought out Odell Beckham comparisons. He is an LSU transfer, after all.
Jordan Lyle injury update
Miami starting running back Jordan Lyle had three carries for 10 yards on the opening drive but hasn’t been seen much after that. WQAM reported he was in the injury tent, and ABC play-by-play announcer Sean McDonough said he had been getting his ankles taped. It might be Mark Fletcher and North Dakota State transfer CharMar Brown at RB if Lyle can’t return in the second half.
Miami score: Carson Beck TD to CJ Daniels
The Hurricanes responded with a 10-play scoring drive before halftime. Carson Beck was 6 of 6 for 60 yards, the last being a gorgeous one-handed catch by CJ Daniels. The play was reviewed but stood as a touchdown. Score: Miami 14, Notre Dame 7, 0:12 in 2Q
Notre Dame score: CJ Carr TD to Micah Gilbert
Jadarian Prince led the Irish down the field with five carries for 49 yards, including a 30-yard dash down the left sideline that nearly saw him take it to the house. CJ Carr finished it off by shaking loose from Ahmad Moten and floating a touchdown to Micah Gilbert for a 7-yard TD. Score: Miami 7, Notre Dame 7, 5:21 in 2Q
Carson Beck scramble called back for holding
The Miami defense has forced Notre Dame into two straight three-and-outs. Carson Beck seemed to have a first down on a third-and-8 scramble up the middle, but the play was called back for holding on Samson Okunlola. Score: Miami 7, Notre Dame 0, 11:10 in 2Q
Miami football score vs Notre Dame: Carson Beck TD to Malachi Toney
After a three-and-out aided by David Blay swallowing up CJ Carr on a QB run, Miami took over on its own 30. Mark Fletcher started with a 15-yard run, then Carson Beck hit Malachi Toney for back-to-back first downs. On the first play after Christian Gray’s injury, Beck found Toney again on an out route right at the goal line. Toney ran into the end zone for a 28-yard touchdown, Beck’s first as a Hurricane. Score: Miami 7, Notre Dame 0, 14:04 in Q2
Christian Gray injury in Miami vs Notre Dame football
With Miami driving, Notre Dame cornerback Christian Gray injured his shoulder breaking up a pass near the goal line intended to JoJo Trader with 14:11 left in the second quarter.
Miami football vs Notre Dame: Field goal snap bobbled
Sean McDonough on the ABC call said Jordan Lyle had gotten his ankle taped on the sideline, but he was back on the field to start the Hurricanes’ possession. He was stuffed on the second play and Mark Fletcher subbed in. Defensive lineman Jared Lawson swatted Carson Beck’s third-down pass attempt, sending out Carter Davis for a 28-yard field goal, but holder Dylan Joyce couldn’t handle the low snap and Miami can’t capitalize off the takeaway. Score: Miami 0, Notre Dame 0, 3:53 in 1Q
Miami football vs Notre Dame: Justin Scott forces fumble
On Notre Dame’s first play after the punt, CJ Carr threw another bubble screen to Malachi Fields, but Justin Scott’s hard hit forced a fumble. Jakobe Thomas picked it up. Miami takes over at the Irish 24.
Miami football vs Notre Dame: Carson Beck misses deep pass
Carson Beck and the Hurricanes took over from the 5-yard line. Beck completed his first three passes before overshooting Joshisa Trader on a deep ball. The elbow looks OK. Jordan Lyle was the starting running back and had some solid runs before being stuffed on third-and-2. Score: Miami 0, Notre Dame 0, 8:00 in 1Q
Miami football vs Notre Dame: CJ Carr starts with short passes
Notre Dame received the opening kick, and freshman quarterback CJ Carr started with four straight completions, with Jordan Faison turning two into gains of 14 and 15 yards. But the drive stalled just out of field-goal range, helped by Jeremiyah Love dropping a pass that would have moved the chains. Score: Miami 0, Notre Dame 0, 11:46 in 1Q
Jimmy Johnson, Michael Irvin among Miami stars at Notre Dame game
Jimmy Johnson rang the warning siren before the Hurricanes took the field in their season opener. Legends Michael Irvin, Devin Hester, Ray Lewis, Andre Johnson and Jim Kelly are among those also on hand for the prime-time matchup.
Why did Carson Beck transfer to Miami?
Georgia transfer Carson Beck makes his much-anticipated debut for the Hurricanes against Notre Dame. He injured his throwing elbow just before halftime during the SEC championship and pulled out of the NFL draft to show he was still worthy of a high pick. That and a hefty NIL deal helped pave the way to Miami to take over for Cam Ward.
Lee Corso pick for Miami vs Notre Dame
“College GameDay” bid farewell to Lee Corso, a Miami native who became the headgear-wearing icon of ESPN’s college football pregame show. In his last episode, which ESPN announced saw a record 3.5 million viewers, Corso picked the Hurricanes to beat Notre Dame. (He also was the only one to correctly call Florida State’s upset win over Alabama.)
Miami vs Notre Dame weather updates
Heavy rains have been inundated the pregame festivities at Hard Rock Stadium throughout the afternoon. That’s expected to continue into the start of the game. AccuWeather forecasts call for the rain to subside about 8 p.m., though thunderstorms are expected again about 9 p.m.
AccuWeather predicts 84 degrees at kickoff with cloudy skies tonight in Miami Gardens. Winds are expected to blow 6 mph from the west-northwest. There is about a 50% chance of rain.
Miami vs Notre Dame history
Notre Dame is 18-8-1 all-time against Miami. Here’s a look at their history (home team in bold):
What time does Miami vs Notre Dame start?
What TV channel is Miami vs Notre Dame on today?
Watch Miami vs Notre Dame live on the new ESPN app
Miami weather live radar
Miami vs Notre Dame injury report
Miami has no injuries to report. Charles Jagusah, one of Notre Dame’s top offensive linemen, is out for the game with a broken arm suffered over the offseason. Tight ends Cooper Flanagan (Achilles) and Justin Fisher (knee) are out, while tight end Kevin Bauman (knee) will miss the season.
Miami vs Notre Dame predictions
Miami schedule 2025
Here is Miami’s schedule and results. All times Eastern.
*- ACC game
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami football vs Notre Dame highlights: Carson Beck, Hurricanes hold on for upset win
Reporting by Dan Rorabaugh, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
