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Notre Dame Hands No. 1 Miami Its First Loss in a South Bend Classic, 31-24

Published

1 hour ago

November 8, 2026

Notre Dame football players celebrating on the field under fireworks after beating No. 1 Miami 31-24 in South Bend

Notre Dame celebrates its 31-24 win over No. 1 Miami at Notre Dame Stadium. Photo via Notre Dame Football.

For three quarters it looked like a coronation, and then it nearly became a collapse. No. 11 Notre Dame built a 24-3 lead on No. 1 Miami at Notre Dame Stadium, watched the Hurricanes storm all the way back within one score, and still found a way to close out a 31-24 win that reshapes the top of the national picture. It was Notre Dame’s 10th win over a No. 1 ranked team in program history, and it left both teams at 8-1 with the stretch run of the season still to come.

CJ Carr played like the best quarterback on the field. The Notre Dame quarterback completed 29 of 40 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, spreading the ball around and keeping the Irish in control from the opening drives. His favorite target was Micah Gilbert, who caught nine passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns. Jordan Faison added six catches for 77 yards and a touchdown of his own as Notre Dame built a 17-3 halftime lead, then stretched it to 24-3 early in the third quarter.

Miami played the first half without star receiver Malachi Toney, who sat out with an ankle injury, and the Hurricanes looked lost without him. Then Darian Mensah brought them back. Mensah finished 24 of 43 for 276 yards and three touchdowns, all of them after halftime. Cooper Barkate caught 10 passes for 92 yards and two scores, and Elija Lofton added seven catches for 113 yards and a touchdown as Miami scored 21 second half points and turned a blowout into a one score game.

Nolan James Jr. gave Notre Dame its breathing room early in the fourth quarter, capping his 52 yard rushing day with a 1 yard touchdown run that pushed the lead to 31-17. Miami answered once more to make it 31-24, and then the game swung on two plays. With 3:36 left, Lofton appeared to haul in the tying touchdown, only for the catch to be ruled incomplete with Luke Talich in coverage. Talich, who also recorded Notre Dame’s interception of Mensah, helped slam the door. Miami’s final desperation hook and lateral ended with a fumble, and the Irish could finally exhale.

The win is the kind that defines a season. Notre Dame protected its home field against the top ranked team in the country, got a clean and efficient game from Carr, and survived the exact kind of late surge that has undone ranked teams all fall. Miami leaves with its first loss, a furious comeback that fell one play short, and plenty of questions about a slow start it could not quite erase.

South Carolina State Stays Perfect in the MEAC, North Carolina Central Wins at the Wire and Delaware State Beats Morgan State in Week 10

Published

18 minutes ago

November 8, 2026

We Speak Media

North Carolina Central running back carries the ball against Norfolk State

North Carolina Central in action against Norfolk State. Photo via NCCU Athletics.

Three MEAC races tightened on Saturday, with South Carolina State and North Carolina Central both moving to 3-0 in conference play, the Bulldogs on a touchdown with 17 seconds left Thursday, the Eagles on a touchdown with 27 seconds left Saturday, and Delaware State closing out Morgan State with a late pick six.

The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) football season continued Saturday with North Carolina Central earning a dramatic comeback victory over Norfolk State and Delaware State defeating Morgan State.

South Carolina State opened the weekend Thursday night with a late-game victory over Howard.

Scores Around the League
Thursday, Nov. 5
South Carolina State def. Howard, 35-28
Saturday, Nov. 7
North Carolina Central def. Norfolk State, 29-28
Delaware State def. Morgan State, 24-14

Weekend Roundup

South Carolina State (8-2, 3-0 MEAC) def. Howard (4-6, 1-2 MEAC)
South Carolina State rallied for a 35-28 victory over Howard on Thursday night at Greene Stadium, scoring the game-winning touchdown with just 17 seconds remaining to secure its eighth win of the season. After the two teams traded scores throughout the contest, the Bulldogs put together a late scoring drive that was capped by Ricorian Brown’s 9-yard touchdown run.

Brown had a standout night on the ground, finishing with 143 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries to lead the South Carolina State offense. Quarterback Keely Watson completed 21-of-29 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown as the Bulldogs totaled 384 yards of offense. The victory moved South Carolina State to 8-2 overall and 3-0 in MEAC play, keeping the Bulldogs unbeaten in conference action. Howard fell to 4-6 overall and 1-2 in the MEAC.

North Carolina Central (5-5, 3-0 MEAC) def. Norfolk State (4-6, 0-3 MEAC)
North Carolina Central pulled off a dramatic 29-28 comeback victory over Norfolk State on Saturday at William “Dick” Price Stadium, scoring the go-ahead touchdown with 27 seconds remaining to complete the comeback. The Eagles trailed 21-7 at halftime but began to chip away in the third quarter, with Joshua Jones connecting with Luke Bracey on an 8-yard touchdown pass before Riley Daniels added a 25-yard field goal to make it a four-point game. Norfolk State extended its lead to 28-17 early in the fourth quarter on a 13-yard touchdown run by Jalyn Daniels, but North Carolina Central answered with a 7-yard touchdown run by Jones to pull within five.

After Norfolk State missed a 25-yard field goal with 2:24 remaining, the Eagles took advantage of the opportunity. North Carolina Central recovered a fumble on the ensuing Norfolk State possession and moved 37 yards in five plays, with Jones finding Mehki Wall for a 26-yard touchdown pass with 27 seconds left. The Eagles attempted a two-point conversion to extend the lead, but the pass fell incomplete. Norfolk State had one final opportunity, moving into field goal range before missing a 37-yard attempt with four seconds remaining.

Gino Addison led the North Carolina Central ground game with 174 yards on 18 carries, while Jones accounted for four touchdowns, throwing for 156 yards and three scores and adding a rushing touchdown. Tyree Saunders caught six passes for 60 yards and a touchdown, while Wall finished with four receptions for 38 yards and the late go-ahead score. Defensively, Khareem Thompson recorded six tackles, including three tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble. The victory improved North Carolina Central to 5-5 overall and 3-0 in MEAC play, while Norfolk State dropped to 4-6 and 0-3 in conference action.

Delaware State (6-4, 2-1 MEAC) def. Morgan State (5-5, 0-3 MEAC)
Delaware State earned a 24-14 victory over Morgan State on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Stadium, using a strong second-half performance. The Hornets took a 7-0 lead in the second quarter on a 2-yard touchdown run by Marqui Adams before Morgan State answered with a 1-yard scoring run by Cameron Edge to tie the game at halftime. Delaware State regained the lead in the third quarter when Adams connected with Kyree Benton for a 30-yard touchdown before Maatteo Bracalenti added a 25-yard field goal to make it 17-7.

Morgan State cut the deficit to three early in the fourth quarter on Marquez Spells’ 60-yard punt return for a touchdown, but Phillip Dunnam sealed the victory for the Hornets with a 38-yard interception return for a touchdown with 2:09 remaining. Adams finished with 169 passing yards, a touchdown and 18 rushing yards, while Deontae Williams led the Hornets with 89 rushing yards. The victory moved Delaware State to 6-4 overall and 2-1 in MEAC play, while Morgan State fell to 5-5 overall and 0-3 in conference action.

About the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) enters its 56th year of intercollegiate competition with the 2026–27 academic year. Headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, the MEAC is comprised of eight distinguished Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) along the Atlantic seaboard: Coppin State University, Delaware State University, Howard University, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University, Norfolk State University, North Carolina Central University, and South Carolina State University. Since its founding in 1970, the MEAC has been dedicated to promoting academic excellence, sportsmanship, and the personal growth of student athletes. For more information, visit www.MEACSports.com.