Miami Hurricanes vs Notre Dame 2025: Catholics vs Convicts Rivalry Renewed in Season Opener
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Hurricanes will open their 100th season of football with a Sunday night showdown that carries the weight of history, the burden of expectations and the promise of championship implications when they host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on August 31, 2025 at Hard Rock Stadium.
The 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on ABC marks the renewal of the storied Catholics vs. Convicts rivalry—a matchup that defined college football in the 1980s and early 1990s but has waned in recent decades as both programs experienced varying degrees of success.
A Rivalry Reborn
The matchup represents the first of seven scheduled meetings between the programs over the next 13 years, signaling a commitment to restoring one of the sport's most compelling rivalries. Miami holds a 30-27 advantage in the all-time series and has won eight of the last 10 meetings, including a dominant 41-8 victory at Hard Rock Stadium in 2017.
But context matters. Notre Dame enters the contest as the No. 6 team in the nation fresh off a 14-2 season that ended with a College Football Playoff National Championship appearance, where the Fighting Irish fell to Ohio State. Under third-year head coach Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame has established itself as a legitimate national championship contender.
Miami, ranked No. 10 in the preseason AP Poll, carries its own lofty aspirations under fourth-year head coach Mario Cristobal. The Hurricanes finished 10-3 in 2024 but saw their season end in disappointment with a loss in the Pop-Tarts Bowl.
The Quarterback Battle
The most intriguing storyline centers on the quarterback matchup—a study in contrasts between experience and youth.
For Miami, former Georgia signal-caller Carson Beck makes his Hurricanes debut after throwing for 3,941 yards and 24 touchdowns during the 2023 season with the Bulldogs. Beck's 2024 campaign proved inconsistent, but offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson's scheme should provide him opportunities to showcase his NFL-caliber arm talent.
Notre Dame counters with redshirt freshman CJ Carr, a former high four-star prospect and the No. 45-ranked national recruit in his class. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound quarterback represents Notre Dame's first homegrown starter at the position in three years, following transfer portal rentals Sam Hartman and Riley Leonard.
While Carr flashed potential during spring practices, his inexperience could prove costly against a Miami defense looking to rebound from a disappointing 2024 season when it ranked 68th nationally in points allowed per game.
Defensive chess match
Notre Dame's defense returns seven starters from a unit that ranked second in the nation in EPA per play allowed last season. Freeman's defensive acumen remains one of college football's most respected, and the Fighting Irish forced 32 turnovers in 2024—the most in the FBS.
Miami's retooled secondary features rising sophomore OJ Frederique alongside transfers Ethan O'Connor, Jakobe Thomas, Zechariah Poyser, Xavier Lucas and Charles Brantley. New defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman faces the daunting task of integrating these pieces in his first game leading the Hurricanes' defensive unit.
The trenches will likely determine the outcome. Notre Dame features a top-10 offensive line by most preseason rankings, providing protection for Carr and creating lanes for preseason first-team All-American running back Jeremiyah Love. Miami counters with edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr., considered one of the nation's premier pass rushers, who will aim to disrupt Carr's timing and rhythm.
Motivational factors
For Notre Dame, the loss to Ohio State in the national championship game remains fresh motivation. The Fighting Irish possess championship experience and understand the playoff path, giving them a mental edge in high-pressure situations.
Miami hasn't beaten a top-10 opponent since 2017—against Notre Dame. The Hurricanes snapped an eight-game slide against top-10 foes with their previous victory over the Fighting Irish, making this rematch particularly significant for a program seeking to reclaim national prominence.
The game also carries added significance as both programs seek to validate their preseason rankings. Notre Dame entered as slight 2.5-point favorites, reflecting the perceived parity between these programs despite the rankings gap.
Historical context
This marks Miami's first Sunday season opener since 2018, when the Hurricanes faced LSU at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Sunday night spotlight on ABC provides maximum exposure for both programs to showcase their championship credentials.
Notre Dame has dominated this series on the road historically, but the Fighting Irish have struggled at Hard Rock Stadium. Notre Dame's last victory in Miami Gardens came in 1990, extending a current seven-game road losing streak to the Hurricanes since 1977.
The stakes
Both teams harbor legitimate College Football Playoff aspirations. The winner gains an immediate top-10 victory to bolster their résumé, while the loser must navigate a challenging conference schedule knowing they've already dropped a critical nonconference game.
For Miami, the game represents the first step toward potentially hosting a national championship game at Hard Rock Stadium—the ultimate South Florida dream scenario. For Notre Dame, it provides an opportunity to exorcise demons from previous visits to Miami and establish dominance in a rivalry set to define the next decade of college football.
The stage is set. The rivalry renewed. Come Sunday night, one program will take a significant step toward championship contention while the other begins the season with questions instead of answers.
