Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr delivered a career-defining performance, leading the No. 11 Irish to a 31-24 upset over top-ranked Miami and vaulting himself into the Heisman Trophy lead.
Carr completed 29 of 40 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions and no sacks, becoming only the fifth quarterback in the last 30 years to surpass 300 passing yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions in a win against the No. 1 team. The victory snapped Notre Dame's drought against top-16 opponents dating back to its 2024 national championship run.
Heisman race flips
Miami quarterback Darian Mensah entered the game as the Heisman favorite, but Las Vegas oddsmakers moved Carr to the top spot after his masterful first-half drive culminating in an 18-yard touchdown pass to Micah Gilbert. Carr added a 20-yard touchdown to open the second half for a 24-3 lead.
Key moments
Facing a Miami rally that cut the lead to 24-17, Carr converted a crucial fourth-and-2 with a 36-yard wheel-route completion to Nolan James Jr., setting up a 1-yard touchdown run by James that extended the lead to 31-17. Notre Dame's defense sealed the win when safety Luke Talich broke up Mensah's fourth-down pass in the end zone with under four minutes remaining.
Coaching perspectives
"That's who CJ Carr is, man," Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said. "He prepares. I said this three years ago: the dude prepared like he was a starter." Miami coach Mario Cristobal praised Carr's protection and decision-making but criticized the officiating on the final defensive stand.
Playoff implications
The win gives Notre Dame a 92.7% chance of reaching the College Football Playoff, according to CBS Sports projections. The Irish face Boston College, SMU, and Syracuse to close the regular season.
