(Photo: Jason Strother/Fighting Irish Preview)
Notre Dame went to Provo looking for a statement win. Instead, the Irish suffered their first loss of the season, leaving them with plenty to clean up and a much narrower path to the College Football Playoff. With five games remaining, Notre Dame still has an opportunity to accomplish everything it set out to do, but the margin for error is pretty much gone.
At 6–1, Notre Dame is still in an excellent position to make the College Football Playoff. Win the final five games, including matchups against top-25 opponents Miami and SMU, and the Irish would have a compelling claim to a playoff spot and perhaps even a first-round bye.
But two losses? That would change the conversation. With the 2025 CFP snub still fresh, Notre Dame knows all too well what a 10–2 finish can mean.
The question now is whether the Irish can respond to BYU and finish the job.
The Path to the Playoff
Notre Dame outscored its first six opponents 264–66 before falling to BYU. That start showed what the Irish are capable of when they play their best football, but they need to prove they can maintain that level against the toughest teams on their schedule.
Wins over Miami and SMU would give Notre Dame two more quality victories and strengthen its playoff résumé. Finishing 11–1 would put the Irish in excellent position to make the playoffs, with a first-round bye potentially in play.
A 10–2 finish would be much less certain. Much would depend on which games Notre Dame loses and how other playoff contenders finish. The Irish could find themselves waiting on the selection committee again, rather than controlling their own playoff path.
Notre Dame does not need to spend the next five weeks worrying about every possible scenario. It needs to win, starting with Navy on October 31.
What Notre Dame Must Fix
Notre Dame did enough to put itself in position to beat BYU, but it did not do enough to finish the job.
The offense needs to finish drives. Notre Dame had opportunities to score touchdowns against BYU but settled for field goals. CJ Carr also needs to be more consistent after finishing with 261 passing yards on 27-of-49 passing. Those numbers weren’t horrible, but missing open receivers on their way to the end zone was. The Irish cannot afford to leave points on the field against teams like Miami and SMU.
Getting Jonaz Walton more involved has to be part of that plan. After his breakout performance against Stanford, giving him just six carries against BYU was difficult to understand. Walton has demonstrated that he can change a game with a single touch, and Notre Dame needs to take advantage of that ability. How often he gets the ball is entirely up to the coaching staff.
The defense has to start faster and do a better job getting off the field on third down. Bear Bachmeier gave the Irish problems with his ability to extend plays, and BYU converted eight of 12 third downs. Notre Dame cannot allow another opponent to sustain drives that way, especially against Miami’s passing attack.
And then there’s Boubacar Traore. Notre Dame needs its best pass rusher on the field, particularly against quarterbacks like Darian Mensah. Traore’s first-quarter targeting ejection against BYU deprived the Irish of one of their most disruptive defensive players for nearly the entire game. Unlike Walton’s carries, Traore’s availability is largely in his own hands. He needs to play with the discipline necessary to stay on the field for four quarters.
The Irish also need to capitalize when the defense creates opportunities. After Jayden Sanders intercepted Bachmeier, Notre Dame went three-and-out with a chance to build on its 24–21 lead. Those are the moments that can decide games against top opponents.
Notre Dame has the talent to compete with the best teams in the country. Now it needs to execute more consistently on both sides of the ball.
The Miami Game Just Got Bigger
Notre Dame–Miami. 7:30 kickoff. Notre Dame Stadium. November 7.
This matchup was already going to be a huge game on Notre Dame’s schedule. Now, coming off its first loss, it could define the regular season.
Miami is undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll. The Hurricanes have a dangerous passing game led by quarterback Darian Mensah and receiver Malachi Toney. Notre Dame cannot afford to let that connection get comfortable early.
That starts with the defensive front. Notre Dame needs to pressure Mensah without losing control of its assignments. Bachmeier hurt the Irish by extending plays, and Notre Dame cannot afford to give Mensah time to find receivers downfield.
The secondary will need to stay disciplined, too. Toney can turn a completion into a big play, and Miami has other receiving options that can punish Notre Dame if too much attention goes toward one player. The Irish need to limit explosive plays and make Miami work for its points.
Notre Dame’s offense has to do its part, too. Against BYU, the Irish settled for field goals when they had chances to score touchdowns. Against Miami, Carr and the offense need to sustain drives and finish in the red zone. Notre Dame cannot afford to waste scoring opportunities against an undefeated opponent.
Notre Dame and Miami have a long history of bitterly contested games, including some of college football’s most memorable showdowns. From the legendary No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup in 1988 to Miami’s 27–24 victory in last season’s opener, these two programs have repeatedly stood in each other’s way when national championship aspirations were on the line.
Now the rivalry returns to Notre Dame Stadium, with the stakes once again enormous. For the Irish, it’s an opportunity to avenge last year’s loss, strengthen their playoff résumé and prove they can beat one of the nation’s best teams when it matters most.
Five Games, No Margin for Error
First comes Navy on October 31. The Midshipmen’s option offense requires discipline and sound tackling. Notre Dame’s defense needs to stay in position, avoid missed assignments and keep Navy from extending drives. The Irish cannot afford to overlook that challenge while preparing for Miami.
After Navy comes Miami, followed by Boston College, SMU and Syracuse. Each game presents a different challenge, but Notre Dame knows what it needs to do.
The Irish cannot change what happened in Provo. They can control what happens next.
Five games remain. and you have one job.
Win out.