The Notre Dame Fighting Irish (8-1
) defended their home turf against the no.1 Miami Hurricanes (8-1) with a 31-24 win on Saturday night.The Canyonero Keys to Victory main theme was to win a shootout, not the bully ball game this was a year ago. The individual keys were:
1- Win the turnover battle. Miami lost the turnover battle with a Darian Mensah interception. Close games are where you are going to see the mettle of a team and that pick and a few clock decisions from Mario Cristobal and Mensah showed
weakness in their game.
2- Defend the middle of the field. The middle of the field was open for a touchdown and a few other big plays as well as check downs.
3- Keep cooking on offense. Without Malachi Toney the offense started the game in a slump. Mensah couldn’t find anyone open and the ‘Canes were trailing 24-3 at one point. And then the offense came alive by finding Elija Lofton and with Cooper Barkate finally stepping up.
The Doppler
Miami and ND both finished 7-of-16 on money downs. The Miami offense and defense closed the gap on ND in the second half after being dominated for the first half.
Miami actually won the penalty yardage challenge, on the road in South Bend. I realize it’s ACC refs but since when has that mattered for Miami? ND was flagged for 56 yards while Miami was called for only 30 yards in penalties.
But the deciding factor is the obvious: turnover margin. The Mensah interception sealed the game for the Irish and ND won the TOM battle 2:0. The 2nd turnover was on the Barkate lateral play, that kind of thing ‘is what it is.’
Jake Weinberg made his only FG attempt while Spencer Porath went 1-for-2.
The Miami Offense
Mensah finished the game averaging 6.4 yards per attempt with three TD’s and one INT. He spent most of the game running for his life as you can see in the post above, Miami allowed 21 pressures as an O-Line.
Mensah found seven different targets with only two going for double-digit yards per catch marks. One of those was TE Elija Lofton who caught seven balls for 113 yards and one* TD.
WR Cooper Barkate caught two touchdowns once he remembered how to play footall. The Irish DB’s also came away with seven PBU’s… unheard of numbers for the Miami defensive backs.
Mark Fletcher and Javian Mallory both thumped their way to 4.4 and 4.7 yards per carry, respectively. For some strange reason Shannon Dawson didn’t go with Fletcher at the goal line and instead ran Mensah on a Tecmo Super Bowl style QB Sweep.
The ‘Canes OL allowed two sacks and five TFL’s along with the 21 pressures.
Above- Miami runs the shallow screen. Instead of the dig being a read it’s a block. This is legal because Barkate catches it behind the LOS. Gotta love those college rules!
Above- Against man crossing routes are key. Make them run through trash and across the field. The only help has their back turned which allows this to come open.
Above- I didn’t love the call with a non-running QB. He’s not a typical ball carrier and doesn’t understand how to read blocks or 2nd level defenders as a runner. Why you wouldn’t line someone up with more experience in the backfield, say Fletcher, as the Q and Mallory blocking for him… Bad call all around. Mensah should’ve stayed with Fletcher but cuts inside to trouble.
Above- Duo to Fletcher. He really knows how to be patient, find that spot, and then break outside. Cross the LOS, then cut out, don’t try to cut outside on Duo before the LOS.
Above- I’ve been tough on Lofton and he’s earned it but this is a great catch to get Miami back in the game. Smash routes should be used- I said they were open and Lofton would be a great corner guy.
Above- Fade or slot fade is open here. The 1-high safety is in the MOF so he can’t help. You have to know your matchup and Mensah like Barkate 1on1 here.
Above- I want to add in on the TD that he works eyes, chest, belt buckle back to the ball. Also uses his hands not body. This is the best way to catch the fade route in the end zone.
Above- This ball HAS to be thrown outside. HAS TO. It stays inside and it’s a pick. Outside it’s a catch or out of bounds. Ball placement is critical in a seven point game.
Above- Honestly surprised with 21 pressures he didn’t call more screens. Barkate grabs this one and the OL blocked their tails off on it. Nice play all around.
Above- We typically think of slants on these RPO reads but you have to adjust to what you’re getting. Barkate can come flat down the line here and give the CB no chance at the ball, it’s a box out with shoulders kind of play. It has to be thrown low and inside.
Above- And finally the TD that wasn’t. That first step out of bounds he slightly bobbles it and that’s why it can’t be overturned. If it was a TD on the field I think it’s overturned to INC because of the slight bobble here.
The Miami Defense
On the other sideline, CJ Carr averaged eight yards per pass attempt with three TD’s and zero INT’s. Carr connected with 10 different receivers with five hitting the double-digit yards per catch mark.
Micah Gilbert had himself a day with two TD catches and key first downs, while Jordan Faison caught Carr’s other TD pass.
The Irish backs James, Walton and Williams were held to 3.3, 3.7 and 2.0 yards per carry, respectively.
The Miami defense came away with zero sacks, two TFL’s and only two PBU’s. Maybe Elija Lofton can play LB because he recorded more defensive stats (one tackle) than Damon Wilson did against the Irish.
Above- I remember when Miami had guys clawing for every yard on the OL. Poyser got dragged by the RB as well. ND wanted it more coming out of the gate.
Above- Gilbert gives himself a PBU, re-catches it, and it’s still a complete pass. The S never gets involved, Lucas is always a step late.
Above- Miami runs this same shallow screen. ND really goes all out on blocking it up just laying dudes out in the 3rd level. Look at 25 chasing he’s beat by 5y or more.
Above- I said back shoulder throws would be there because Miami’s CB’s have no ball awareness. Fitzgerald, not a true CB, makes no play on the ball. Miami rarely logs a PBU in ‘26.
Above- Scramble drill clips 1 of 2. Carr is pushed to the sideline but Wilson rushes far hip vs. near hip. That allows Carr to roll back with no help vs. Moten being there to help if Wilson stays inside and pushes him outside.
Above- over the past three years I’ve never seen a ‘good’ team give up so much on scramble drill plays. Miami is constantly lost in both rules and coverage for when a QB scrambles.
Above- 24 has a pretty good play later but c’mon man, this guy runs backwards with the ball over his head for 5y. You can’t grab the ball out, club his gut… nothing?!
Above- I would keep attacking the MOF as well. Over Toure and under Dunnigan and Poyser. Y Cross, Digs, Posts… they’re all open.
Above- the LBs are overly aggressive to stop the run, and it becomes a liability against RPO’s and play-actions. He comes screaming into the run fit and leaves a massive window for the glance RPO.
Above- There’s the glance part of the clip. Nice open window for a TD. Miami runs this a lot with Toney and defenders who come up to stop Fletcher/Mallory open windows, too.
Above- Another time the MOF is wide open for ND. It’s just easy money for teams. Expect Duke to ride Sheppard, the back, and hit that TE on Glances and pop passes.
Above- No one is looking at the wheel route from the RB. It’s just mesh wheel, a play Miami also runs. Not a single eyeball on the RB on a concept I say OC’s should call vs. Miami every week.
Above- Moten jumps into the A-Gap leaving Bonner to have to climb over some trash to the B-Gap. Two DL are attacking C-Gap and the EMOL is in the D-gap. Bonner is a step late and vertical power (RB) is tougher than lateral power (LB).
Miami Special Teams
Outside of the PK there’s nothing special about it. BUT. I do want to point out… why are three guys built like walk-on long snappers on the punt team?
Above- 46, 92, there’s another one later too. Which one is the long snapper, which is the punter, and how many are walk-ons?
The Wrap
The Hurricanes showed guts by storming back into the game down 24-3, on the road, with a hostile crowd in South Bend. Hats off to the players for not quitting on the game and giving the Irish all they could handle in the second half.
That said, there are some major holes in the boat that have to be plugged up moving forward. Duke isn’t great, but they’re good enough to rattle the ‘Canes cage. Dawson started to figure out how to call an offense without Toney and he’ll have to until the CFB Playoff.
The OL will be tested by both Duke and VT moving forward. Mirabal and Cristobal need to go back to the drawing board and figure out how to best support their struggling line. Is that by leaving TE’s and back in or is it by having TE and RB in the flats as quick check downs?
Losing hurts but I’m glad that I’ve only had to write after a loss once this season instead of four or five times like some other slappies have. On to the next one!
