Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame silence doubters by knocking off top-ranked Miami, solidifying their CFP ranking

Is there an elite team in college football this season?This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners.If you sign up or place a wager, FOX News may be compensated.

This content was created by a team that works independently from the FOX newsroom.We thought this would turn into an instant classic, based off the history between these two teams that goes back to the "Catholics vs.Convicts" showdown in the '80s.ALABAMA FINALLY PUTS IT ALL TOGETHER, DOMINATES LSU AND LEAVES LANE KIFFIN STARING AT $40 MILLION CFP DISASTERBut, we also thought entering the week that Miami would have star wide receiver Malachi Toney on the field to help add to the drama between these two teams.In reality, the Hurricanes did not score their first touchdown until there were nine minutes remaining in the third quarter, by which point Notre Dame had raced out to a 24-10 lead.

But the floodgates finally opened in the fourth quarter, leading to a thrilling finish in South Bend.The Notre Dame Fighting Irish mascot celebrates after a touchdown during the game between the Miami (Fla.) Hurricanes and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Nov.7, 2026, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Ind.

(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Were we about to see some of that college football madness that was missing from the actual game being played on the field?A touchdown pass from Miami quarterback Darian Mensah cut Notre Dame’s lead to 24-17, prompting the Hurricanes’ sideline to erupt as coaches tried to keep their players’ emotions in check.It was at this point that Notre Dame fought their way out of the corner after taking a barrage of punches you'd expect from the No.1 team in the country.

A Nolan James Jr.touchdown run put the Fighting Irish back up by two scores, and almost put away a Miami team who had gassed itself out over that eight-minute stretch.But given that this game had so much history, it was only fitting that it came down to one final pass.

Darian Mensah’s throw to...