What happened: Notre Dame secured a victory over the Hurricanes on Saturday night. The outcome marks a high-profile stumble after Miami opened at No. 1 in the first CFP rankings earlier this week. Despite the loss, the Hurricanes remain positioned to contend for a postseason berth.

Why it matters: Under the expanded 12-team playoff format, a non-conference loss to an elite opponent does not derail national championship aspirations. Miami maintains control of its standing in conference play with an automatic bid still on the table. Avoiding further missteps ensures the program stays firmly within the playoff field.

What to watch: The Hurricanes turn back to conference action aiming to rebound and secure their position in the rankings.