Could No. 1 Miami Hurricanes Push No. 4 Notre Dame Out of the College Football Playoffs?

MIAMI, Fla. – Following last weekend’s college football chaos, the Miami Hurricanes were ranked No. 1 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time since 2002; meanwhile, Notre Dame suffered a heartbreaking 28-24 loss to BYU at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah.

The matchup included a controversial ending, as Fighting Irish star quarterback CJ Carr had a chance to win the game with four seconds left in regulation. He threw a quick pass to senior wide receiver Jaden Greathouse in the end zone, as redshirt senior cornerback Evan Johnson could have been called for pass interference. However, what’s captured the college football world’s attention is the football hitting the ground with one second visibly on the game clock.

On Sunday, the Big 12 released a statement confirming that the time management was conducted incorrectly for that moment.

“The Conference will conduct a complete review of its end-of-game officiating process in advance of next week’s games,” they said.

It’s a similar situation to Michigan’s season-opening win over West Michigan.

Regardless of the evidence, Notre Dame’s loss is unlikely to be overturned. Although the Fighting Irish aren’t entirely out of the College Football Playoff race, the Nov. 7 matchup with the Hurricanes could be the deciding factor. As an independent program, Notre Dame only needs to rank in the top 12 by the Selection Committee to guarantee a postseason slot.

However, a resume with two losses to top-10 opponents could be difficult to ignore or argue.

After the College Football Playoffs expanded to a 12-team bracket starting in 2024, only seven two-loss programs have managed to crack the bracket, including Clemson (2024) and Alabama (2025) having three. Ohio State had the most successful ending by winning the 2024 National Championship.

The historic rivalry matchup – Catholics Vs. Convicts – is in favor of the Fighting Irish, as the game will take place in South Bend, Indiana. The Hurricanes are historically 1-12 when playing at Notre Dame, with the only win dating back to Oct. 6, 1984. It will be the first time quarterback Darian Mensah will face a ranked opponent, let alone one from the top 10.

A loss for the Fighting Irish, especially at home, could be catastrophic in an effort to make the College Football Playoffs. They won’t face anyone as significant as the Hurricanes for the rest of the regular season.

Notre Dame’s remaining schedule:

- Oct. 31 at Navy

- Nov. 7 Vs. Miami

- Nov. 14 Vs. Boston College

- Nov. 21 Vs. SMU (Currently ranked No. 23)

- Nov. 28 at Syracuse

The Hurricanes will have an opportunity to break several hearts, but the main focus heading into Saturday is the Pitt Panthers. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. E.T. and will be televised on ESPN at Hard Rock Stadium.

More Miami Hurricanes News:

- "Javian Mallory Boosted UM's Run Game as Mark Fletcher Jr. Went Down"

- "Miami Hurricanes Ranked New No. 1 in AP Poll"

- "UM's Bryce Fitzgerald Displayed Sacrifice in Win Over FSU"