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# Notre Dame, No. 1 Miami and a Call to Argue About
- URL: https://theprecedentmedia.com/notre-dame-no-1-miami-and-a-call-to-argue-about/
- Published: 2026-11-10T09:59:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-10T10:38:21.000Z
- Description: Notre Dame stopped No. 1 Miami in South Bend on a play Miami will dispute for a long time. It happened there once before, in 1988.
- Author: Bob Sloop
- Tags: Precedent Notes

Notre Dame beat No. 1 Miami 31-24 on Saturday in South Bend. The Irish led 17-3 at halftime, and Miami fought back within a touchdown. With about three and a half minutes left, Darian Mensah threw to tight end Elija Lofton in the end zone on fourth down. Lofton had the ball, but Luke Talich knocked it loose, and the pass was ruled incomplete. Miami coach Mario Cristobal said he was "beyond upset" and got no explanation of the call.

Notre Dame has been here before. On October 15, 1988, the Irish beat No. 1 Miami 31-30 in South Bend, the game remembered as Catholics vs. Convicts. Miami's Cleveland Gary was ruled to have fumbled near the goal line in the fourth quarter, a call Miami still argues was wrong; there was no instant replay. Miami scored late anyway, went for two with 45 seconds left, and Pat Terrell knocked the pass away. Notre Dame finished unbeaten and won the national championship.

The 2026 Irish are 8-1\. Entering Saturday, the AP had them fourth and the College Football Playoff committee 11th. The Precedent Ratings had them 34th; after the win they are 16th. Miami, also 8-1, is still No. 1 in The Precedent Ratings.

In 1988 one call and one deflected pass were the start of a championship run. This time the win puts Notre Dame back in the middle of the playoff conversation. What it carries the Irish toward is still to be played.

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