MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami and Notre Dame are set to meet Sunday night for the first time in eight years, a primetime stage that brings new quarterbacks, new defensive coordinators and a rivalry that still resonates decades after its heyday.
The 10th-ranked Hurricanes are looking for a breakthrough in year 4 under coach Mario Cristobal after falling short of the College Football Playoff last season.
Cristobal’s group will turn to Georgia transfer Carson Beck, who takes over at quarterback after the departure of No. 1 overall NFL draft pick Cam Ward.
Beck missed spring practice while recovering from elbow surgery, leaving him limited time to build timing with Miami’s new-look receiver group.
Beck told Local 10 News last week that he’s eager for the chance to open the season against one of the top teams in college football.
“It’s an opportunity that you don’t get many of them, right?” he said. “I mean, guaranteed we have 12 of these opportunities and you work the rest of the year for those 12 opportunities.”
Beck said playing in front of a packed stadium makes the opener even more special.
“So you never take them for granted no matter who the opponent is, and we’re starting it out at home, which is gonna be dope, to, you know, be able to go out there and play in front of all those fans and hard rock and, you know, get to experience that,” Beck added. “So I’m really looking forward to it.”
Miami hasn’t lost a home game in the series since 1977, winning six straight against Notre Dame at home.
That streak, however, will be tested by the sixth-ranked Fighting Irish, who arrive in South Florida fresh off a run to last season’s CFP National Championship.
Notre Dame will likely lean on its defense and ground game, with running back Jeremiyah Love returning after a 1,125-yard, 17 touchdown campaign.
Redshirt freshman quarterback C.J. Carr, a former top recruit from Michigan, won the preseason competition to start and now faces the challenge of his first career game in front of a national audience on the road.
Both teams also bring new leadership on defense.
Corey Hetherman takes over Miami’s unit after serving as Minnesota’s defensive coordinator, while former Texas coach Chris Ash steps in at Notre Dame after Al Golden departed for the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals.
Their approaches — especially with two quarterbacks breaking in — could dictate the rhythm of the game.
The Hurricanes will also look to lean on running back Mark Fletcher Jr., who averaged 5.4 yards per carry with nine touchdowns last season.
Cristobal has emphasized a physical approach and sees Sunday as a chance to measure Miami against one of the sport’s most consistent programs.
The Fighting Irish last earned a road victory over the Hurricanes in 1977, a drought that stretches nearly half a century.
Sunday’s game will mark just the fifth meeting between the teams since 1990, reviving echoes of the old “Catholics vs. Convicts” battles that defined college football in the late 1980s.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium.
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