Notre Dame Faces Potential Playoff Elimination in Primetime Clash With Miami

No. 1 Miami (8-0) travels to South Bend for a primetime matchup against No. 11 Notre Dame (7-1) on Saturday, November 7, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.

The stakes are exceptionally high for the Fighting Irish. A loss would likely eliminate Notre Dame from contention for the 12-team College Football Playoff, according to committee members, according to USA Today. The Irish are slotted 11th in the CFP rankings, a position Hunter Yurachek, the SEC Commissioner and a CFP Selection Committee member, attributed to a lack of a signature win. When you look at Notre Dame's schedule and the wins that they have versus the teams that are ahead of them, they don't have that signature win right now, Yurachek said. Their lone loss came at BYU, a defeat that has put immense pressure on a victory over the top-ranked Hurricanes.

A Playoff Rekindled

The rivalry’s current intensity is fueled by last season’s outcome. In Week 1 of 2025, Miami defeated Notre Dame 27-24 in a game that proved decisive for both teams’ playoff fates. That victory became a significant boost to Miami’s resume, helping them climb the rankings and secure a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff, where they ultimately reached the national championship game. Notre Dame, meanwhile, controversially dropped out of the final rankings and chose not to play in a bowl game, a decision that was heavily criticized.

Offensive Questions for Miami

This could put extra pressure on Miami’s defense, which has struggled to keep teams out of the end zone lately. The Hurricanes rank 25th in scoring defense, allowing 19.3 points per game, and have played just 61.13 snaps per game, the 30th fewest in the nation. Against a Notre Dame offense that ranks third nationally in points per drive and fourth in success rate, more time on the field could be detrimental.

Game Day in South Bend

Fans traveling to Notre Dame Stadium should plan ahead. Game-day parking lots will open at 8 a.m., with the Golden Lot for pre-sold passes opening at 7 a.m. One-way inbound traffic patterns will begin at 4 p.m., and stadium gates open at 6 p.m. Vehicles will be towed from game-day parking lots starting at 6 a.m. Sunday morning. Reserved parking is not guaranteed less than 90 minutes before kickoff.

Inside the stadium, fans must adhere to a strict clear bag policy. Prohibited items include aerosol cans, artificial noisemakers, bottles of water, glass bottles, drones, fireworks, and large umbrellas. The forecast calls for heavy traffic, so rideshare services are expected to be a popular option for getting to and from campus. Roads around the stadium will be closed or restricted to one-way traffic, with signs and officers directing drivers.

Tracking the Spread's Movement

The matchup is expected to be one of the most bet games of the college football season. By Saturday evening, it would not be surprising to see this become one of the biggest-bet college football games of the season, Caesars Sports head of football trading, Joey Feazel said. Oddsmakers have adjusted the spread significantly since Toney’s injury was announced. Notre Dame opened as a 4.5-point favorite but has moved up to -7.5 (-102) in some sportsbooks.

Despite the line movement, Feazel noted the action has been relatively balanced. We’re still seeing decent two-way action, he said. But with the public masses still to come on Saturday, don’t be surprised if that number climbs. Feazel added that bettors are still backing the undefeated Hurricanes to win straight up.

Earlier coverage: Week 9 College Football Power Rankings: Notre Dame Takes No. 1, Miami & Ohio State Close Behind

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