Notre Dame football picked up a marquee top-10 victory, beating Miami 31-24. Quarterback CJ Carr delivered the kind of performance Fighting Irish fans have been waiting for, and the Notre Dame offense was sharp early in the contest and into the third quarter.

Carr has carried five-star billing from some outlets since the 2024 recruiting class, along with first-round hype before and after this season. The missing piece was production in the biggest games. He finally delivered it against the Hurricanes, completing 29-of-40 passes for 319 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions while averaging 8 yards per attempt.

The more important takeaway is the group catching those passes.

Not long ago, Notre Dame’s wide receivers were a unit you looked at and wondered whether it was good enough to make plays in the biggest moments against championship-caliber teams. Miami fits that description.

Mario Cristobal’s team reached the National Championship game last year, although it lost. Against that opponent, the top two Irish pass catchers were up for the task.

Micah Gilbert rises to the occasion

There were some concerns about Micah Gilbert going into this contest. Was he a receiver who only beat up on poor competition and weaker secondaries? Or could he rise to the occasion against the best teams on the schedule?

Gilbert answered that emphatically. The 6-2, 205-pound pass catcher hauled in nine receptions for 98 yards and two touchdowns. The scores stand out, but his consistency was just as impressive. Gilbert fought through contact and made plays at the catch point all game, showing that he belongs on the biggest stage.

That matters for this offense. The boundary position has been sporadic over the last couple of years. Malachi Fields was really good in 2025, while the 2024 group with Beaux Collins was not nearly as productive.

Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock’s offense functions a whole lot better when the boundary receiver is involved, and Gilbert showed he can fill that role.

Jordan Faison is that dude

It was also great to see, especially early in the game, that Jordan Faison is that dude. He will end up being one of the great walk-on stories in Notre Dame history. He might also be one of the more underappreciated players when his Fighting Irish career ends, whether that comes after this season or after he utilizes the 5-for-5 rule next year.

If you ask me, the latter won’t be necessary because he’s going to get drafted in the 2027 NFL Draft.

Faison finished with six receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown. The score came on a tremendous adjustment along the right sideline, and it highlighted how much he has grown as a complete receiver.

He has always been slippery after the catch and a good route runner. Despite his smaller frame, his ability to win through contact has been much better this season, and it showed against Miami.

On top of that, Faison ripped off a 56-yard punt return that set Notre Dame up in scoring position. He has been invaluable as Carr’s favorite target and as a punt returner, turning himself into a tremendous overall weapon for the Irish.

Is this receiver room good enough to win a championship?

Gilbert isn’t doing this in isolation anymore. He is starting to produce more consistently, and pairing that with the steady play Faison has provided gives Notre Dame a reliable top two.

The supporting cast chipped in, too. Jaden Greathouse came up with a big catch on the two-minute drill scoring drive, and Mylan Graham added three receptions for 32 yards.

If the Irish get a little more consistency out of the slot position, this wide receiver room is good enough to win a championship. There were years in the not-too-distant past when that was a very real question. I don’t think it is anymore.

I would still like to see the rotation get deeper. If Jerome Bettis Jr. or Elijah Burress can earn some snaps and make some plays, that would be a welcome boost for this offense.

Overall, Gilbert and Faison were outstanding for Carr against Miami. They lived up to the expectations fans had for them in the smaller games, and this time they did it on the biggest stage.