Notre Dame vs Miami could deliver next legendary college football game

A college football game becomes truly legendary when it’s given a name. “The Miracle at Michigan,” “The Kick Six,” and “The Play” are all wonderful examples. One of the best “games with names” was actually slightly controversial – the legendary “Catholics vs. Convicts” game between Miami and Notre Dame in 1988. The nickname sprung from an unauthorized, unlicensed T-shirt made by Notre Dame students. The game was so legendary that ESPN made a “30 for 30” documentary about it. MORE:Biggest risers in College Football after Week 9The game directly altered the course of the 1988 National Championship, as Notre Dame emerged victorious and went on to win it all. Fast forward to 2026. Notre Dame and Miami are slated to meet in Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday night. College Gameday will be there, and NBC will air the game nationally. It’s the Game of the Year, and the way we got here is feeling a lot like 1988.History could be repeating itselfIn that fateful 1988 matchup, the two teams entered with Miami ranking #1 and Notre Dame ranking #4 in the AP Poll. That’s precisely where the two teams enter this week. The 1988 game had direct National Championship implications, and this meet-up will have direct CFP implications.Both teams have plenty to proveOct 31, 2026; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Miami (FL) Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney (1) celebrates with tight end Gavin Mueller (87) after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)The national media loves to discredit Notre Dame because of a perceived weak schedule, yet no one seems to do the same for Miami, when the schedules are more alike than different. Heading into Week 10, Notre Dame’s strength of schedule ranks 55th, and Miami 49th. Ironically, both teams had quite easy draws from the ACC. Notre Dame plays 5 ACC games per year, and this year, they drew Miami, SMU, and three below-average ACC opponents. USC canceling their rivalry game with Notre Dame didn’t help things, either. For Miami, they have already beaten Wake Forest, but do not draw Louisville or SMU. The simple fact of the matter is that, for both of these teams, weak schedules make this game matter more. We won’t get many more opportunities to see either of these teams against College Football Playoff-level competition. And a loss would be massively detrimental for both programs. For Notre Dame, we just saw a 10-2 Notre Dame team get denied entry to the CFP last season. For Miami, losing this game would create a razor-thin pathway. With no reputable wins outside of Wake Forest, Miami would likely need to win out and win the ACC Championship in order to qualify for the CFP.MORE:Biggest fallers in College Football after Week 9Heisman Trophy implications add to the stakesThis game also has massive Heisman Trophy implications. Heading into Week 10, Miami’s Darian Mensah and Malachi Toney, as well as Notre Dame’s CJ Carr, rank in the top-4 betting favorites to hoist the Heisman trophy (according to DraftKings sportsbook). A nationally televised game in November against top competition sounds like a great opportunity for a “Heisman moment” for any of that trio.Last season’s meeting adds another layerNotre Dame quarterback CJ Carr scrambles with the ball during a NCAA football game against Stanford at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, in South Bend. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)These same two teams also gave us a great meeting last season. On Sunday night of Week 1 of the season, the college football world was introduced to CJ Carr and Malachi Toney in their first starts. Toney was outstanding, and Carson Beck was solid at quarterback. But some hiccups on the Notre Dame side allowed the Hurricanes to come out on top. It was the first game for new Defensive Coordinator Chris Ash, and the defense had multiple mental mistakes and communication errors on all levels. It was also Carr’s first start, and for some reason, Notre Dame decided not to give the ball to Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price – they totalled 16 carries for a pedestrian 78 yards. It was Miami’s pass rush duo of Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor that sealed the deal, sacking CJ Carr on the game’s final play and ending an Irish comeback effort. Heading into this season, Bain, Mesidor, Price, and Love are all gone. Ash, Carr, and Toney are all in their second seasons on campus. This game in 2026 will look different than that one – especially considering Notre Dame’s All-American cornerback Leonard Moore seems prepared to follow Malachi Toney all over the field in a college football clash of the titans.What will we call this one?This one is going to be fun. It’s the Game of the Year. There will be sweeping implications all over college football, no matter the victor. The only question that needs to be answered is – what will we call it?— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —