Notre Dame knocks off top-ranked Miami 31-24

Notre Dame climbed back into the College Football Playoff conversation Saturday night, hanging on for a 31-24 victory over top-ranked Miami. Quarterback CJ Carr completed 29 of 40 passes for 319 yards for the Fighting Irish, who hung on after jumping out to a 24-3 lead. Micah Gilbert caught nine passes for 98 yards and two touchdowns, and Jordan Faison added six catches for 77 yards. "I'm happy for this university," Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman told NBC Sports' Kathryn Tappen. "I'm happy for our players. There's a lot of support from Notre Dame Nation, and this is a special moment for them. Miami vs Notre Dame live updates, score: Fighting Irish hang on for 31-24 win over top-ranked Hurricanes The top-ranked Hurricanes are on the road against the Fighting Irish in a matchup with major College Football Playoff implications. Nate Ryan , "I'm so happy for our players, because they put a lot of work in to achieve this. They're a dang good football team, and they beat a dang good football team." The Fighting Irish (8-1) are sure to improve their No. 11 ranking in the College Football Playoff, avoiding a second defeat that would have likely kept Notre Dame out of the CFP for the second consecutive year. The win at Notre Dame Stadium came down to the final minute because of a late surge by the Hurricanes' explosive offense, which entered No. 1 in scoring but looked anemic in the first half without injured star wideout Malachi Toney. But after trailing 17-3 at halftime, Miami got in gear and scored twice in three minutes midway through the third quarter. The Hurricanes stayed close the rest of the way behind Heisman Trophy favorite Darian Mensah, who completed 22 of 40 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns (but also threw only his second interception of the season). "When it mattered the most, we executed," Freeman said. "It got a little ugly in that second half, and we talked about this moment before the game. I said at some point, in the game, there's going to be a struggle. I don't know when it's going to be. But they battled through it and executed when it mattered most." In the absence of Toney (who is out after ankle surgery), wide receiver Cooper Barkate had nine catches for 118 yards, and tight end Elija Lofton had seven catches for 113 yards.