Notre Dame just pulled off a massive 31-24 upset over then-No. 1 Miami, and quarterback CJ Carr, who tossed three touchdowns, couldn’t get enough of the celebration. The man was living in the moment, trying to soak it all in as fans stormed the field, saying, “They kept trying to offer me over to talk to people. I’m like ‘Dude, let me go celebrate this sucker.’ We earned this thing. Let’s go. Let’s go hang with the crowd and our teammates.” And honestly, who can blame him? This wasn’t just any win.
Carr’s Redemption Arc Against the ‘Canes
This victory was pure, unadulterated revenge for CJ Carr. Think about it: a year ago, in his very first start, Miami handed Notre Dame a loss in their season opener. That defeat ultimately punched the Irish right out of the College Football Playoff picture. So, Saturday night was more than just a game; it was Carr’s chance to show everyone, especially the Hurricanes, just how much he’d grown since that initial stumble. “A huge difference,” Carr stated, referencing his dad’s pregame call. His dad had said that during that first start at Miami, it “was like there was a boy playing.” Well, that boy is clearly a man now, leading his team to a win that means “so much to every person in that locker room individually and then as a collective as well.”
This wasn’t just a team win, either. It was a massive statement for Carr personally, who went head-to-head with Miami’s Darian Mensah. Both are legit Heisman Trophy candidates, likely only behind Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith. But in what was arguably the biggest regular season quarterback showdown, Carr played clean, avoided mistakes, and delivered. Mensah, on the other hand, threw only his second interception of the season, and it definitely didn’t help Miami’s cause, especially with star receiver Malachi Toney out with an ankle injury.
The Play That Blew the Game Open
Miami tried to mount a comeback in the second half, but the damage was already done thanks to Notre Dame building a commanding 24-3 lead. A huge chunk of that separation came right at the end of the first half, all thanks to Carr’s absolute magic. Up only 10-3, facing a brutal third down at his own 25, Carr spun out of a potential sack, reversed course a ridiculous 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage, then, somehow, found running back Aneyas Williams to move the chains. That was just the start. He then strung together three consecutive completions for 10, 18, and 19 yards. After one miss, he found receiver Micah Gilbert for an 18-yard touchdown, blowing the halftime lead open to 17-3.
Gilbert, who had a monster night with nine catches for 98 yards and two scores, talked about his connection with Carr. “Every game it just gets better, through the constant work in practice, through all the reps we put in together,” he said. “[Saturday] was just another example of us putting the work in and coming out and being able to showcase it.” That kind of chemistry is what you need when the stakes are this high.
History, Rivalry, and the Road Ahead
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman was all over the rivalry talk, bringing up the legendary 1988 “Catholics vs. Convicts” game, where Miami was also unbeaten and No. 1, and the Irish ranked fourth. With the late Lou Holtz honored Saturday, this game carried the incredible weight of past meetings. This win isn’t just a notch in the belt; it puts Notre Dame squarely in the College Football Playoff conversation, a spot they were denied a year ago. Carr’s growth and the team’s ability to take down a No. 1 team proves they are for real. What a moment for the Irish!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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