Notre Dame hands No. 1 Miami its first loss, 31-24

No. 11 Notre Dame handed No. 1 Miami its first loss of the season, 31-24, on Saturday in the latest installment of the Catholics vs. Convicts rivalry, Fox News reported.

Miami did not score until the third quarter. Quarterback Darian Mensah’s final pass into the end zone was swatted away, preserving the win for the Irish.

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman told reporters afterward: “We’re a dang good football team.” The Miami Herald reported that Miami was without star receiver Malachi Toney, who missed the game with an injury.

Yahoo Sports noted that the loss drops Miami from the ranks of the unbeaten and complicates the Hurricanes’ path to the College Football Playoff.

What the coverage missed

Miami was without Toney, its best receiver. That matters. Mensah had fewer targets downfield and the offense stalled in the first half. The coverage mentioned the injury but did not weigh how much it changed the game.

Notre Dame’s defense held Miami scoreless for two quarters. That is the story. The Irish pressured Mensah all night and forced him into bad throws. The coverage focused on the rivalry and the ranking, not on the defensive scheme that won the game.

The Catholics vs. Convicts label is doing a lot of work in these stories. The rivalry peaked in the late 1980s. These two teams have not played regularly in decades. The coverage leans on the nickname because it sells, not because it reflects the current state of the series.

What I think

Notre Dame is better than its ranking. The Irish have lost twice, but both losses came against ranked teams. They beat the No. 1 team in the country at home. The playoff committee should have them in the top eight.

Miami is still good. The Hurricanes were missing their best receiver on the road against a ranked opponent. One loss does not erase nine wins. But the playoff selection committee has shown that it punishes late-season losses more than early ones, and this one came at the worst time.