Paul Finebaum thinks Saturday’s Notre Dame-Miami game is a ‘must-win’ for Notre Dame

One of the year’s games is upon us this Saturday, when No. 1 Miami travels to South Bend to take on No. 4 Notre Dame.

It’s a rematch of last year’s game in Miami, which Miami won by three, 27-24. As luck would have it, that early-season win got Miami into the College Football Playoff at season’s end while keeping Notre Dame out.

MORE:Predicting College Football Playoff rankings entering Week 10 of 2026 season

Notre Dame hopes to avoid that scenario this year, especially since it already has one loss (BYU). It’s a big way for both teams, but ESPN’s Paul Finebaum thinks it’s a must-win for Notre Dame.

“Yes, absolutely, and if they don’t win, they have no business being in the CFP,” Finebaum said on “First Take.” “We heard all the crying from South Bend a year ago. They wouldn’t even go to a bowl game. They needed Stephen A. to come up there a couple of months ago to calm everybody down, and he warned them. He warned them, ‘You better not blow this,’ and they might blow it if they don’t win this game Saturday night. There’s no wiggle room. They don’t have anything else on their resume, Stephen A., that will get them in.”

“If [Notre Dame doesn’t beat Miami], they have no business being in the CFP.”@finebaum says Notre Dame needs to beat Miami to reach the CFP 😱 pic.twitter.com/FSyM1horRK

— First Take (@FirstTake) November 3, 2026

Notre Dame’s schedule thus far

Notre Dame is 7-1 overall, but Finebaum is right about the program’s schedule. The Fighting Irish haven’t beaten anyone noteworthy this year, and their one loss came against the BYU Cougars on Oct. 17.

This is their last big chance at a signature win before the season ends. They’ll look to get it when Saturday’s game starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —