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Miami vs. Notre Dame: Storylines, Stats, Prospects & Betting Odds

Charlie Zschau Updated: 21 hours ago

Matchup	Miami vs. Notre Dame
Date	Saturday, November 7,2026
Start Time	7:30 PM Eastern (6:30 PM CT)
Location	Notre Dame Stadium, Notre Dame, IN
TV Channel	NBC
Streaming	Peacock, YouTube TV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV

Two top quarterback prospects, Darian Mensah and C.J. Carr, go head-to-head this week as No. 1 Miami takes on No. 11 Notre Dame in South Bend.

Miami (8–0) are the best team in the country, according to the College Football Playoff rankings, and that is largely thanks to Mensah’s excellent play. Mensah is the 2026 Heisman Trophy favorite entering this week, while his top weapon, Malachi Toney, was also in contention for the award. Unfortunately, Toney has been ruled out with a high-ankle sprain and is likely to be sidelined for multiple weeks, ruling him out of the Heisman race.

Mensah will face a significant challenge without his top target, and scouts across the country are wondering how he will perform against the best defense in college football. Notre Dame (7-1) allows the fewest passing yards per game in the country, and its secondary is a top-10 unit, featuring 2027 NFL Draft prospects who have made life incredibly difficult for opposing quarterbacks.

Notre Dame will also face a formidable defense. Miami is exceptional against the run, allowing just 60.8 rushing yards per game which is the best mark in the country.

Notre Dame’s path to success will involve leaning on quarterback C.J. Carr, who is also in the Heisman Trophy race this year and is considered one of the top quarterbacks in the 2027 class. Carr should be able to find success against Miami’s secondary, which has consistently allowed big plays to opposing offenses this season.

While this game is centred on the quarterbacks, there are plenty of intriguing players and matchups to watch. With Toney on the sidelines, Miami’s No. 2 wide receiver, Cooper Barkate, will primarily be covered by cornerback Leonard Moore, who is arguably the best defensive player in the country.

Notre Dame’s offensive line will also need to be rock-solid this weekend as it faces one of the most dangerous defensive lines in the country. Miami’s defensive line includes four potential 2027 NFL Draft picks, including Marquise Lightfoot, Ahmad Moten Sr., Justin Scott and Damon Wilson II who will be looking to get after Carr when he drops back to pass.

Miami vs. Notre Dame Betting Odds

	Spread	Total	Money
Miami	+7.5 -118	O 55.5 -105	+230
Notre Dame	-7.5 -102	U 55.5 -115	-280

All odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.

Miami vs. Notre Dame Key Stats

Miami's defense allows the fewest rushing yards per game in college football (60.8 yards per game)
Notre Dame allow the fewest yards of total offense to opposing teams in nation (236.3 yards per game)
Miami is the only team in the country to average over 300 passing yards, and over 200 rushing yards per game in the country.
Darian Mensah has the best touchdown/interception ratio (25/1) and the best passer rating (202.7) in the country.

Miami		Notre Dame
8-0	Record	7-1
	Offensive Stats
381	Points Scored	323
28	Passing Touchdowns	19
22	Rushing Touchdowns	20
4,279	Total Yards Offense	3,542
2,659	Passing Yards	2,054
1,620	Rushing Yards	1,488
Defense
142	Points Allowed	107
24	Sacks	15
4	Interceptions	8

Top 2027 Prospects in Miami vs. Notre Dame

There are several phenomenal players in the Miami vs. Notre Dame matchup, but one of the game’s best offensive players, Malachi Toney, will not play. Toney is a sophomore and is therefore ineligible for the 2027 NFL Draft. He will likely be a first-round pick in 2028.

Both quarterbacks in this game are expected to be first-round picks in the 2027 NFL Draft, and both teams also possess impressive defensive talent. Miami’s top defensive players are concentrated along the defensive front, while Notre Dame’s best players are in the secondary.