Every season we get one of those College Football Playoff rankings, and instantly everyone talks about how wrong it is. It really doesn’t matter what our opinions are. I’m sure that someone will miss out on the Playoffs and everyone will be upset about it. It is inevitable, and it seems like this year there is more parity than ever before. It feels like almost weekly we get a new top team in the nation. The current top team takes the field tonight as Miami takes on Notre Dame.
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Miami has passed every test to start this season, but this is arguably the biggest test of the entire year for them. They come into this game at 8-0, and they have done it behind very strong quarterback play from Darian Mensah. For the season, Mensah has thrown for 2,425 yards and 25 touchdowns with just one interception. 13 of those 25 touchdowns have gone to Malachi Toney, who is missing this game with an ankle injury. He is getting surgery on the ankle as well, so someone has to step up in a big way.
Darian Mensah, No. 10, of the Miami (FL) Hurricanes passes the ball against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif., on Sept. 4, 2026. (Getty Images)
I’m going to criticize Notre Dame for this, so I should probably do the same for Miami. Their schedule isn’t very impressive. Notre Dame is the only team on the schedule that is ranked, and therefore will be the first ranked team they play. They beat Stanford, Florida A&M, Wake Forest, Central Michigan, Clemson, Florida State, Pittsburgh, and North Carolina. In fairness to them, it turns out Wake Forest is good, but at the time they were not ranked. They did have a scare against Florida State, winning in a somewhat controversial way in double overtime.
CFP RANKINGS: NOTRE DAME FACES SUDDEN DEATH, SEC FEELING GOOD, AND BIG TEN CLOSE TO HITTING THE PANIC BUTTON
Notre Dame is one of the more frustrating schools in my opinion. They aren’t in a conference, and everyone seems to think they are a powerhouse. I haven’t been impressed by their team in most seasons. They tend to coast to wins against bad teams because they can pick whoever they want to play. This year, the Fighting Irish come into the game with a 7-1 record, having lost against BYU two games ago. That was also a controversial loss, but either way, the loss is on their record.
THESE NUMBERS SHOW JUST HOW FRAUDULENT NOTRE DAME HAS BEEN DURING THE MARCUS FREEMAN ERA
Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman (middle) leads the team onto the field to play the Pittsburgh Panthers at Acrisure Stadium on Nov. 15, 2025. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)
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The other wins they had this season were against Wisconsin, Rice, Michigan State, Purdue, North Carolina, Stanford, and Navy. None of these games were particularly close. They have won all of them by at least two scores. CJ Carr has put together a really strong season, but again, it is hard to assess how good he actually is considering the team has played poor competition. He has thrown 18 touchdown passes, and unlike Miami, he is spreading the ball around the field.
Malachi Tony #10 of the Miami Hurricanes celebrates his touchdown against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on August 31, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
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This was one of the most anticipated games of the season a few weeks ago. Without Toney, Notre Dame does get a bit lucky. Playing Miami, even at home, will still be a challenge, but without their best offensive weapon, it should be easier for the Fighting Irish. I do think the spread is a bit too high, though. Give me Miami +7.5 points in this one. I just think the books are overestimating how good Notre Dame is, and how much of an impact Toney’s absence will have.
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