Notre Dame Stuns Miami, Kicks Hurricanes From No. 1 to No. 5

The University of Miami dropped from the No. 1 ranking to No. 5 in the AP Top 25 after losing 31-24 to Notre Dame on Saturday night. The defeat ended the Hurricanes' unbeaten start to the 2026 season. The team returned to South Florida early Sunday morning, landing in Miami around 4 a.m. after a flight that departed South Bend shortly after midnight.

The shift in the Hurricanes' trajectory began on Wednesday during a practice session. The team was wearing shell pads rather than full gear, reducing the physical intensity of the contact. Quarterback Darian Mensah threw a pass toward receiver Malachi Toney, mirroring a routine drill they had completed after Tuesday's practice. Toney and a scout team player collided in the air. Toney landed in pain and was transported to an on-campus medical center via golf cart. Doctors diagnosed him with a high ankle sprain.

The initial report indicated Toney would be out for multiple weeks. Coach Mario Cristobal described the impact of the injury on the team's offense. “You know how much Mali means to us,” Cristobal said. “He means the world.” The team proceeded with its travel plans to South Bend, Indiana, arriving on Thursday night. Staff members had secured a hotel and arranged for Miami flags to be displayed in the lobby upon arrival.

Toney underwent surgery on the injured ankle on Thursday. The procedure was deemed successful. He addressed his teammates via video before they departed for the game, stating that he would recover and return. The medical team referred to the surgery as a tightrope procedure, a method intended to shorten his rehabilitation time. The goal is for him to return to the field in December, though a specific date has not been set.

During the game, Notre Dame built a 24-3 lead in the third quarter. Miami responded in the final minutes, narrowing the gap. With under four minutes remaining, quarterback Elija Lofton appeared to catch a pass that would have tied the game. The officials ruled the catch incomplete, ending Miami's best opportunity to equalize. The Hurricanes' offense, led by Mensah, had to adapt to the absence of their primary receiver. Running back Mark Fletcher Jr. noted that the team focuses on daily performance regardless of the opponent. “We only do things one way, and that’s just to go 1-0 each and every day on Greentree,” Fletcher said.

The team maintained its standard preparation routine while in South Bend. Offensive lineman Matt McCoy emphasized that the group does not alter its habits for high-profile games. “If you freak out like, ‘Oh, it’s a huge game,' it messes our process up,” McCoy said. The players stayed focused on their individual responsibilities. Mensah continued his pre-game rituals, including eating steak and mashed potatoes and arriving at the facility at the same time as usual.

After the final whistle, the team spent time reviewing the disputed call. President Joe Echevarria expressed his belief that the catch was complete. “I wish it had been a touchdown,” Echevarria said. The players and staff consumed post-game meals before boarding buses to the airport. The team's tractor-trailer left the Notre Dame campus around 1 a.m. The flight back to Miami took approximately three hours.

The next scheduled game is a homecoming contest against Duke. This matchup carries personal significance for Mensah and wide receiver Cooper Barkate, who both played for the Duke Blue Devils last season. The Hurricanes will begin preparation for that game immediately. Cristobal dismissed the team with the instruction to return to work. The team will focus on the upcoming week without Toney on the roster.