We made it, friends!
Finally, once again, it is a Miami Hurricanes game week. As everyone knows, your Canes renew their semi-regular rivalry with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Sunday night before a national audience inside Hard Rock Stadium.
So, without further ado, let’s get to it…..
1) It might seem kind of tired by now, but yes, I still think back to what the atmosphere inside HRS was like when I was there back in 2017.
When my mind thinks Notre Dame-Miami in South Florida, the first thing is the Trajan
Bandy pick-six and the absolute bonkers-ass insanity that the whole stadium erupted into on the play. We were sitting near the field, and I thought my ears were going to bleed in the first half.
That’s what Miami football is when the environment is chaotic and when the opponent is someone like Notre Dame. As Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Fowler noted at the time, it’s as loud as any place they’ve been when it’s rocking.
And Ian Book, he who launched said interception to Bandy, confirmed the atmosphere, putting it on par with Georgia in Athens as the loudest he’d witnessed, possibly even louder.
It was a legendary atmosphere 8 years ago. It needs to be again on Sunday night, and I think it will be.
2) The Fighting Irish should again be solid on the defensive side of the ball despite some key roster losses, and Miami’s offensive line will be challenged quickly.
Shannon Dawson doesn’t have nearly the roster luxuries to attack teams the same way last year. I’m sorry, but last year’s passing attack was generational, so that’s not unfair to say. And the Irish are still good on the outside like last year. They lost Benjamin Morrison early in the season – who probably would have been a first rounder if not for the injury – and didn’t appear to miss a beat. And that’s because 2025 preseason All-American Leonard Moore came in and was a total bad ass. He’s one of the best defensive backs in the nation, perhaps the best, so throwing away from him should be advised regardless. Safety Adon Shuler was kind of lost in the shuffle with the media attention on Xavier Watts, but he had three picks last year. A solid group, for sure.
So, Miami will hopefully lean into a strong running game, but they will face a stiff test against a group with upperclassmen, but one that will at least be without dominant interior duo Howard Cross III and Rylie Mills from 2024. Miami has a big and talented OL. It’ll need to carry the day on Sunday.
3) Defensively, a lot of quips have been made online back and forth this week between Canes and Irish fans about making things tough for new Notre Dame starting QB CJ Carr, but it’s Jeremiyah Love who should be of grave concern to Miami on offense.
Love, like Moore, is also a preseason All-American and Heisman contender coming into the season. He was an absolute monster last year, with 1125 rushing yards and 17 rushing scores. If he gets untracked, it could be a long day for the Canes. Fortunately, Miami’s defensive front should be a strength for this team this year, and a lot will be on the shoulders of Rueben Bain, Jr., Ahmad Moten Sr., Justin Scott, Armondo Blount, Akheem Mesidor, and the rest of the front to clog lanes and keep the Irish from getting a steady run game going.
I should have reservations about Miami’s revamped secondary, but if they can’t stop the Irish from running it doesn’t matter. However…..
4) Prediction: my brain says Notre Dame, but my heart says Miami.
….fortunately, I can see the Canes’ defense rising to the occasion. I see a path to victory for Miami, and it involves forcing early second and third and longs, making life hell for Carr, and forcing some mistakes to give Miami an early edge and set the tone for the game. I think Bain and the group up front is capable of wreaking havoc and tilting the game in Miami’s favor. If the Canes can get ahead and take Love a bit out of the game plan, I think they have a solid chance on Sunday night.
Miami 27, Notre Dame 24.
