Miami vs Notre Dame Prediction: The Irish Have To Win This

If this isn’t the biggest and most anticipated game of the season, it’s close, and now it’s finally here.

Miami’s thrilling 27-24 win over Notre Dame set the tone to start the 2025 season, was a gigantic deal in deciding the College Football Playoff chase at the end of it, and now the rematch is here. There’s not much at stake, just the national title picture, the Heisman, and the direction of an Irish program that has to come up with a big win.

Yes, last year’s loss to Miami was close. The follow-up loss to Texas A&M was a nail-biter that came down to the final moment. This year, the loss at BYU went to the final second – which never actually ticked off in a controversial Irish loss. This is a national title-level Notre Dame team, but it’s had three tests over the last two seasons, and it didn’t pass any of them.

A 10-2 Notre Dame probably is still a lock for the CFP – last year’s team finished 11th in the final playoff rankings in a far tougher season, and now the Irish are automatically in if they finish in the top 12 – but it’ll be dicey. It’s time to win one of these big games again.

If Notre Dame wins and ends up 11-1, it’ll be a mortal lock to finish in the top four in the final CFP rankings, and maybe No. 1. Meanwhile, Miami might be in the top spot of the first playoff rankings, but the big win is over … Wake Forest? Yeah, but now it has to prove that it’s really that good.

Miami vs Notre Dame: Quick Hits

• Notre Dame started out No. 11 in the first CFP Top 25. After this, it closes with Boston College, SMU, and at Syracuse.
• Miami doesn’t leave home the rest of the way, facing Duke, Virginia Tech, and Boston College.
• Since the epic 1988 game, Miami won the following season, Notre Dame won four in a row, and the Hurricanes took the last two.

How To Watch Miami vs Notre Dame

Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
Game Time: 7:30 PM ET
TV: NBC
Location: Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN
– Week 10 Schedule, Predictions
– CFN Top 25 | Bowl Projections
– Expert Picks: Week 10

Why Miami Will Win

Notre Dame has to get the running game rolling. It’s not the same without Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, but it’s an effective attack, averaging over five yards per carry. However, when it stalls, there’s a problem.

The Irish struggled to run in the first half against Wisconsin, and the game was close. The offensive line blasted away in the second half, and Notre Dame won 41-13. It took a few games to get up to speed, but the rushing attack started to take over, and then it hit a wall against BYU.

The line had a hard time dealing with the Cougar pass rush and defensive line late, the ground game finished with just 115 yards, and that was the only loss. Now, Notre Dame has to deal with the No. 1 run defense in America.

Florida State ran for 138 yards against the Hurricanes. No one else has hit 80 against a defense allowing just 2.4 yards per carry.

Why Notre Dame Will Win

Yeah, Miami has an amazing run defense. That’s partly because teams spend so much time ripping up the struggling Hurricane pass defense, giving up 252 yards per game.

Pitt’s Holden Geriner and Florida State’s Ashton Daniels both bombed away for well over 250 yards and several big plays against the Hurricanes. Clemson’s Tait Reynolds threw for close to 300 yards, and last week, North Carolina’s Billy Edwards Jr. hit 82% of his passes for 341 yards and four touchdowns.

This is CJ Carr’s moment. The Notre Dame quarterback can put himself among the leaders of the Heisman pack with a big performance and a win. As long as he gets a little bit of time, he’ll pick apart the Miami defense.

Miami vs Notre Dame Prediction, Betting Lines

CJ Carr is deep in the Heisman hunt now. Miami quarterback Darian Mensah and wide receiver Malachi Toney each have a fantastic case going into this game. But this is about the direction of the college football season.

Miami will come up with several explosive moments and will have the lead going into the second half, and then it’ll flip.

Over the final 30 minutes, the Notre Dame defense will stuff the Hurricane ground game, keep Mensah’s midrange throws from turning into big plays, and Carr will overcome a few rough moments – he’ll get beaten up – with clutch third down throws to keep things moving.

Notre Dame will get its big win. But these two might meet again in December.

Notre Dame 27, Miami 23
Latest Consensus Line: Notre Dame -5.5, o/u: 57.5
ATS Confidence (out of 5): 2
Must See Rating (out of 5): 5

Consensus line based on BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.