The 2025 college football season has finally arrived. Tonight on Sunday, toe will meet leather at Hard Rock Stadium as Miami hosts Notre Dame for some Week 1 ball in Miami Gardens. Mario Cristobal and his 4th Miami team are chomping at the bit to get rolling.
As we wait for the gates to open for parking on game day, let's take a look at three Hurricane players to watch in today's game against Notre Dame. Home could be a differnce maker today.
Let's get into it!
Offense: Carson Beck
Of course. Carson Beck is the guy who’s going to decide this game for Miami. He came over from Georgia, where he threw for almost 4,000 yards and 24 touchdowns, so everyone knows he can sling it. He had an elbow injury, but now he’s back and ready to roll. If he’s hitting his receivers and not turning the ball over, Miami’s offense is going to move the ball all night. But if Notre Dame’s defense gets to him early, it could be rough. Beck’s the one player who can make Miami’s offense look unstoppable or stuck, and that’s why all eyes will be on him.
I'm ready to see what Beck can do today, and the nation will be watching going up against one of the best defenses in the country.
Offense: Mark Fletcher
Mark Fletcher is the hammer in Miami’s backfield, and he’s going to have a huge role against Notre Dame. At 6’2”, 230 pounds, he’s tough to bring down and can wear out a defense over four quarters. Last season, he flashed that power but battled some injuries, and now he’s healthy and ready to be the lead back. If Fletcher is breaking tackles and picking up tough yards, it makes life way easier for Carson Beck and the passing game. Miami wants to control the clock and keep Notre Dame’s offense on the sideline, and Fletcher is the guy who can do it.
Defense: Rueben Bain
Rueben Bain is Miami’s defensive leader coming into the 2025 season, even though he missed all of last year after getting hurt in the Florida game. When healthy, Bain is a tackling machine who can stop the run, maybe drop into coverage, and make big plays all over the field. His size, speed, and instincts let him read plays before they happen, and now that he’s fully recovered, he's expected to set the tone for the defense. If Bain is flying to the ball like he did before his injury, he could completely disrupt Notre Dame’s offense and be a game-changer for Miami.
