Miami Loses to Notre Dame 31-24 After Disputed Lofton Catch
The No. 1 ranked Hurricanes trail in the fourth quarter before a controversial incomplete call halts their comeback.
By Marta Gray ·
Miami entered the fourth quarter trailing by 21 points. The Hurricanes trailed 24-3 in the third quarter before mounting a late surge. The game ended 31-24 in favor of Notre Dame.
The final score mirrors a loss from 38 years ago. In 1988, Miami lost to Notre Dame by a 31-30 margin. The No. 1 ranked Hurricanes lost that game after a disputed fumble by Cleveland Gary near the goal line. That loss cost Miami a national title shot.
On Saturday, the No. 1 ranked Hurricanes faced the No. 4 ranked Fighting Irish in South Bend, Indiana. The teams entered the game with the same rankings as in 1988. Miami quarterback Darian Mensah threw a late pass to Elija Lofton. The play was intended to be a touchdown.
Referees ruled the catch incomplete. Lofton had both hands on the ball and both feet inbounds. He was knocked out of bounds by Notre Dame defensive back Luke Talich. The officials determined Lofton did not have total control of the ball.
Mario Cristobal, the Miami coach, disputed the call. He stated that the officials negated a touchdown with two hands on the ball and two feet inbounds. Cristobal told his team not to leave the outcome in the hands of officials. He expressed disappointment in the decision with the game on the line.
Had the catch stood, the score would have been 31-30. Miami would have faced an extra point try. Talich said he felt Lofton did not have control of the ball. Talich described himself as super pumped-up when the call was upheld.
Terry McAulay, a rules analyst on the NBC broadcast, agreed with the officials. He noted that Lofton bobbled the ball slightly before it was knocked out. McAulay declared the play incomplete. Former Miami star Randal Hill called the 1988 play a robbery. He said the team was robbed of a chance at the title.
The absence of Malachi Toney shaped the game. Toney was second in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 73 catches. He was tied for second with 13 touchdown receptions. He led the nation in receiving yards with 1,027. Toney accounted for 46% of Miami's touchdown receptions in the first eight games. Cooper Barkate and Lofton caught touchdown passes in Toney's absence.
