Miami and Notre Dame have played each other 27 times since 1955, and as we know, the rivalry has spanned much of, if not all, that time. There have been verbal and physical spats; it’s frankly, one of the best rivalries the sport has to offer.
Notre Dame leads the series 18-8, with one tie in the mix. The complexion of Miami as a program, though, was much different at the beginning of this rivalry. Especially with Miami’s first official season beginning in 1936, and Notre Dame’s in 1899
But that is a lot of years to look at, quite frankly. Which is why I’ll be examining the trends of how each team has performed during the years Miami and Notre Dame have clashed in the last 45 years, or 14 games.
For easier viewing, winners from each year will be highlighted in bold and italicized.
1980 - Miami (9-3) at Notre Dame (9-2-1): 32-14.
1981 - Notre Dame (5-6) at Miami (9-2): 37-15
1982 - Miami (7-4) at Notre Dame (6-4-1): 16-14
1983 - Notre Dame (7-5) at Miami (11-1*): 20-0
1984 - Miami (8-5) at Notre Dame (7-5): 31-13
1985 - Notre Dame (5-6) at Miami (10-2): 58-7
1987 - Notre Dame (8-4) at Miami (12-0*): 24-0
1988 - Miami (11-1) at Notre Dame (12-0*): 31-30
1989 - Notre Dame (12-1) at Miami (11-1*): 27-10
1990 - Miami (10-2) at Notre Dame (9-3): 29-20
2010 - Miami (7-6) vs Notre Dame (neutral site) (8-5): 33-17
2012 - Miami (7-5) vs Notre Dame (neutral site) (12-1): 41-3
2016 - Miami (9-4) at Notre Dame (4-8): 30-27
2017 - Notre Dame (10-3) at Miami (10-3): 41-8
The home team – excluding neutral sites – in this series since 1980 is 11-1, with the only away win being in 1984 by Miami. The team that wins this game averages out around 9 wins on its season, at 9.35. The team that loses this game historically averages around four losses, at 3.92, specifically.
When Miami plays in this game and wins, since 1984, it averages just about 10 wins (10.1) a season when they beat Notre Dame. When Miami loses to Notre Dame, in comparison, they average almost eight and a half wins per year (8.42), and they lose just about 3 and a half times per year (3.57).
This has been pointed out once before by fellow CIS writer Trinton Breeze – Notre Dame hasn’t won while playing Miami in Miami, FL, since 1977, making the ‘Canes 6-0 against the Irish after 1980 – and to reference him once again, the Irish have only averaged 6.6 points per game in those meetings.
It’s hard to say whether or not there’s a true correlation; there are different teams each year, but the philosophies and makeup of each program show parallels over time. If the trends hold up, though, fortune favors the ‘Canes in a home matchup against Notre Dame.
Not to mention the crowd factor, and a brand new quarterback – CJ Carr – coming to Hard Rock Stadium for his first start. Sometimes, trends change, and there’s always an anomaly, like 1984 in this case, when it comes to home victories. Homefield advantage means everything in college football, and that’s proven to be the case spanning the large majority of this rivalry’s history.
Much of the attribution can go to the glaring trend pointed out within my research, as well: The team that wins this game often goes on to have a better season. And you’re probably thinking, “Well, yeah, duh, it’s an extra win.” But it goes beyond that; this game, due to its status, often sets the tone for either team’s season.
Miami has won a National Championship three times in its history while beating Notre Dame in the same season, and Notre Dame has three times in total throughout the entirety of the rivalry as well. This game may be – dare I say – a lucky charm?
Notre Dame leads the series 18-8, with one tie in the mix. The complexion of Miami as a program, though, was much different at the beginning of this rivalry. Especially with Miami’s first official season beginning in 1936, and Notre Dame’s in 1899
But that is a lot of years to look at, quite frankly. Which is why I’ll be examining the trends of how each team has performed during the years Miami and Notre Dame have clashed in the last 45 years, or 14 games.
For easier viewing, winners from each year will be highlighted in bold and italicized.
- Asterisk denotes National Championship victory that season.
1980 - Miami (9-3) at Notre Dame (9-2-1): 32-14.
1981 - Notre Dame (5-6) at Miami (9-2): 37-15
1982 - Miami (7-4) at Notre Dame (6-4-1): 16-14
1983 - Notre Dame (7-5) at Miami (11-1*): 20-0
1984 - Miami (8-5) at Notre Dame (7-5): 31-13
1985 - Notre Dame (5-6) at Miami (10-2): 58-7
1987 - Notre Dame (8-4) at Miami (12-0*): 24-0
1988 - Miami (11-1) at Notre Dame (12-0*): 31-30
1989 - Notre Dame (12-1) at Miami (11-1*): 27-10
1990 - Miami (10-2) at Notre Dame (9-3): 29-20
2010 - Miami (7-6) vs Notre Dame (neutral site) (8-5): 33-17
2012 - Miami (7-5) vs Notre Dame (neutral site) (12-1): 41-3
2016 - Miami (9-4) at Notre Dame (4-8): 30-27
2017 - Notre Dame (10-3) at Miami (10-3): 41-8
The home team – excluding neutral sites – in this series since 1980 is 11-1, with the only away win being in 1984 by Miami. The team that wins this game averages out around 9 wins on its season, at 9.35. The team that loses this game historically averages around four losses, at 3.92, specifically.
When Miami plays in this game and wins, since 1984, it averages just about 10 wins (10.1) a season when they beat Notre Dame. When Miami loses to Notre Dame, in comparison, they average almost eight and a half wins per year (8.42), and they lose just about 3 and a half times per year (3.57).
This has been pointed out once before by fellow CIS writer Trinton Breeze – Notre Dame hasn’t won while playing Miami in Miami, FL, since 1977, making the ‘Canes 6-0 against the Irish after 1980 – and to reference him once again, the Irish have only averaged 6.6 points per game in those meetings.
It’s hard to say whether or not there’s a true correlation; there are different teams each year, but the philosophies and makeup of each program show parallels over time. If the trends hold up, though, fortune favors the ‘Canes in a home matchup against Notre Dame.
Not to mention the crowd factor, and a brand new quarterback – CJ Carr – coming to Hard Rock Stadium for his first start. Sometimes, trends change, and there’s always an anomaly, like 1984 in this case, when it comes to home victories. Homefield advantage means everything in college football, and that’s proven to be the case spanning the large majority of this rivalry’s history.
Much of the attribution can go to the glaring trend pointed out within my research, as well: The team that wins this game often goes on to have a better season. And you’re probably thinking, “Well, yeah, duh, it’s an extra win.” But it goes beyond that; this game, due to its status, often sets the tone for either team’s season.
Miami has won a National Championship three times in its history while beating Notre Dame in the same season, and Notre Dame has three times in total throughout the entirety of the rivalry as well. This game may be – dare I say – a lucky charm?
