Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame won their biggest game since reaching the 2024 National Championship Game on Saturday. In the process, they made a statement to the rest of the college football world, and especially the College Football Playoff Committee, about their perceived “easy” schedule.
By beating Miami 31-24, the Fighting Irish upset the No. 1 team in the country and likely boosted themselves up from the No. 11 spot they held in the Week 1 CFP rankings. Just how much they rise is still very much up in the air. That’s something to watch for on Tuesday. This morning, it’s all about looking at who the top performers were and who could have done a bit better in Saturday night’s big win.
4 winners and 2 losers in Notre Dame’s program-defining upset over the Miami Hurricanes
Winner: Luke Talich
The starting safety has already had a career-best year, but his performance against Miami is one of those games Notre Dame fans will talk about for years. Talich not only recorded 5 tackles, but he also intercepted Miami quarterback Darian Mensah just as the Hurricanes looked like they were gaining momentum.
Then Talich made the biggest defensive play of the game with just under 6 minutes to go in regulation. The Canes had fourth-and-6 on the Notre Dame 18-yard line, down 31-24. Mensah uncorked a great throw to the left side of the end zone intended for Elija Lofton. Lofton started to come down with the ball over Talich’s head, but the safety reached up and pried it loose just as the receiver started the “football move” that would have made it a catch. The incomplete pass ended the drive and ended the Hurricanes’ best chance to rally for a win.
Loser: Notre Dame tight ends
Notre Dame's tight end production has been uneven at best this season. On Saturday, despite three TEs playing against the Hurricanes, none of Jack Larson, Ian Premer, or James Flanigan had any real impact. The three players combined for 4 catches for 17 yards with a long of 6.
Luckily, the Irish didn’t need the tight ends’ contributions, but it’s a safe bet they’ll be needed at some point. They’ll have to step up more than they did on Saturday night.
Winner: CJ Carr
Miami head coach Mario Cristobal talked earlier this week about how impressed he was with CJ Carr. Turns out, he knew what he was talking about. Carr completed 29 of 40 passes for a career-high 319 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Carr entered Saturday night with analysts, including Nick Saban, saying he needed a big game against a top opponent to prove he deserved to be considered one of the sport’s best quarterbacks. He did that several times over.
Loser: Mark Zackery
It’s not entirely his fault; Zackery hasn’t played many downs in crunch time this season. Still, the young defensive back got picked on often when he had to step in because of injuries to Leonard Moore and Jayden Sanders.
Officially, the receivers Zackery covered were targeted 4 times and made 3 catches for 34 yards and a touchdown. According to Pro Football Focus, he earned a 49.9 overall rating, which was near the bottom of the list of Notre Dame defenders with more than a few snaps.
It is worth noting that Miami was just the fifth game he’s played this season, and his 21 snaps were a career high. Notre Dame has a habit of making corners into the best players at the position. Sooner or later, the sophomore will grow into that.
Winner: Boubacar Traore
Traore left Notre Dame’s last big game very early after he was flagged for targeting against BYU. He wasn’t going to let that happen in two straight games against Top 5 teams. He was a menace to Miami and Mensah all game long, racking up 7 tackles and a sack while tying Bryce Young for a team-high 6 quarterback hurries.
Winner: Micah Gilbert
What a rise Gilbert has had this year for Notre Dame. He’s become the No. 2 receiver alongside Jordan Faison for the Irish, and on Saturday night he cemented that role with a career-high 9 catches for 98 yards and (yet again) a career-high 2 touchdowns. Gilbert now has 33 catches, 528 yards, and 5 touchdowns.
How big was his performance for Notre Dame on Saturday, and how has he come out of nowhere this season? Gilbert’s 9 catches last night matched his total receptions from all of last year. His 98 yards surpassed his total from last season, and his 2 TDs also surpassed the 1 career touchdown he had entering the 2026 season.
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