MIAMI GARDENS — If the Miami Hurricanes want to proclaim they’re back, it’s fitting they make the statement in another installment of the “Catholics vs. Convicts” rivalry.
It started looking like Miami was ready to pull away with a two-touchdown lead. Then, the Hurricanes were on the verge of a collapse with the offense going stagnant.
Finally, new quarterback Carson Beck, the Georgia transfer, conducted a late drive, with an assist from the ground game and a key penalty, for the decisive points.
New kicker Carter Davis made a 47-yard field goal with 1:04 remaining, and No. 10 Miami pulled out a 27-24 win against No. 6 Notre Dame in front of 66,793 raucous fans Sunday night at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Hurricanes (1-0) notched their seventh consecutive home win against the Fighting Irish (0-1), last year’s national runner-up. After the first pairing since the 2017 top-10 matchup, UM still hasn’t lost to Notre Dame in South Florida since 1977.
After the two-minute timeout in a 24-24 tie, Miami converted a key third-and-2 with running back Marty Brown on the ground. Coach Mario Cristobal, though, remained conservative offensively to set up Davis’ field goal but give the Irish another chance.
Quarterback CJ Carr was sacked by defensive end Akheem Mesidor who had time run out with no timeouts. Carr had an intentional grounding penalty cost the Irish earlier on their final gasp.
Notre Dame pulled even from down two touchdowns when quarterback CJ Carr scrambled up the middle for a 7-yard touchdown with 3:21 left.
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It was set up once the Miami defense, holding up strong for most of the night, had a coverage bust, leaving tight end Eli Raridon wide open down the left side for a 65-yard catch and run.
The Hurricanes appeared to take control Sunday between the end of the first half and the start of the second.
Miami took a 14-7 lead into halftime after redshirt senior wide receiver CJ Daniels had the highlight of the night, skying for a one-handed 20-yard touchdown with 12 seconds left in the first half.
Beck was hit as he threw and tossed the ball up between two Irish defenders, allowing the 6-foot-2 transfer from LSU to go up and snag the football with his right hand before he tumbled over to secure the catch.
Receiving the ball to start the second half, UM compounded that score with a methodical 12-play, 75-yard drive that took 7:37. It was capped by a 5-yard touchdown run up the middle to put Miami ahead, 21-7.
The Hurricanes had a chance to run away with it after a three-and-out defensively, but they failed to convert a third-and-1 with Brown on the ensuing offensive possession.
Notre Dame responded with an 11-play, 64-yard drive, as Carr found wide receiver Jordan Faison open in the flat for a 1-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter that pulled the Irish within a score, 21-14.
As Miami’s offense was going stagnant with three-and-outs, the defense stepped up by forcing a turnover that led to points. An initial breakup of a screen by cornerback Damari Brown led to the football bouncing around a couple more times for defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. to come away with an interception.
With the field position but failing to convert a first down, kicker Carter Davis booted a 38-yard field goal to make it a 10-point game, 24-14, with under 10 minutes to play.
Notre Dame got those three points back with a 39-yard field goal from Noah Burnette with 5:32 left that brought the Irish back within a touchdown.
The Hurricanes struck first early in the second quarter when Beck threw to freshman standout receiver Malachi Toney for a 28-yard touchdown on a deep crossing route at the goal line. Beck side-stepped to his left in the face of pressure to find the 17-year-old out of American Heritage in stride.
Notre Dame pulled even later in the second on a third-down pass of its own. Carr ran backward to buy himself time and then found wide receiver Micah Gilbert open in the end zone for the 7-yard score.
Irish running back Jadarian Price got them to the 3-yard line with a 30-yard run down the left side, and Hurricanes linebacker Wesley Bissainthe sent them backward on second-and-goal after a forced fumble against Price, with Carr recovering the football.
The teams exchanged mistakes in the first quarter, and Miami was unable to capitalize off excellent field position from a takeaway.
What should’ve been a short field goal was never attempted due to a botched snap.
Miami got the field position at the Notre Dame 24-yard line when wide receiver Malachi Fields was lit up by UM defensive tackle Justin Scott on a screen, forcing a fumble recovered by safety Jakobe Thomas.
The Hurricanes have a quick turnaround for next Saturday’s second game on the schedule, back at Hard Rock Stadium against Bethune-Cookman.
This story will be updated.
