No. 1 Miami (8-0) will play at No. 4 Notre Dame (7-1) on Saturday night in South Bend, Indiana, in a top-five matchup that echoes a famous 1988 game between the same schools. Miami was ranked No. 1 and Notre Dame was No. 4 that year, and the Irish won 31-30 in a contest that Hurricanes fans still argue about.
The teams also meet again after Miami won the season opener last year 27-24. That result helped Miami edge Notre Dame for the final at-large spot in the College Football Playoff. Notre Dame ended its season soon after the bracket was announced on Dec. 7, 2025, and the Irish now face a loss that could put their playoff hopes at serious risk.
Miami coach Mario Cristobal said the Hurricanes were looking forward to the game after a 38-35 win at North Carolina. Notre Dame players said they were treating it like any other week, although defensive end Boubacar Traore acknowledged what the rematch means after last season.
Notre Dame leads the all-time series 18-9-1, but Miami has won seven of the last 12 meetings, including the past two. The game is the first AP top-five matchup for Miami in 22 years, and it is the first top-five game at Notre Dame Stadium since 2020.
For South Florida fans, the game is a chance to watch the Hurricanes in a high-stakes road test on a national stage.
