Miami and Notre Dame are preparing for one of the biggest games of the college football season, and the stakes extend beyond the College Football Playoff picture. With the No. 1-ranked Hurricanes traveling to face the No. 11 Fighting Irish, all eyes will be on two quarterbacks who are making strong cases to become Top 10 first-round picks in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Darian Mensah and CJ Carr have played their way into the Heisman conversation, and this matchup gives them an opportunity to strengthen their individual cases. However, there is another competition developing between them that could carry into the NFL Draft.
Mensah and Carr are both projected to be early first-round selections in several mock drafts. A strong performance against a top opponent could help either quarterback separate himself from the rest of the 2027 class.
Darian Mensah has an opportunity to strengthen his Heisman and NFL Draft cases
Mensah has been one of the most impressive quarterbacks in college football this season. His performances have put him in the Heisman conversation alongside Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith.
A victory against Notre Dame would give Mensah another opportunity to jump Smith in the odds. Beating the No. 11 team in the country on the road would be one of Miami's best accomplishments this season, and a strong performance from its quarterback would make that result even more impressive. However, he must do so without Malachi Toney, who is getting surgery on his ankle.
Mensah is projected to be an early first-round pick, but his position within the quarterback class remains difficult to determine. Most mock drafts have him going somewhere in the top 20, while some even in the Top 5.
That uncertainty creates an opportunity for Mensah. He has the talent to compete with the other quarterbacks in this class, but performances against quality opponents can help NFL evaluators determine where he belongs.
Drew Mestemaker, Carr, and Trinidad Chambliss are among the quarterbacks who could challenge Mensah to be one of the first players selected at the position. If Mensah leads Miami to a victory in South Bend while delivering another impressive performance, he could strengthen his argument to be the first quarterback off the board.
CJ Carr needs a statement performance against the No. 1 team
Carr has also put together a season worthy of Heisman consideration. He is currently among the top candidates, but Notre Dame's matchup against Miami presents a challenge that could determine how much momentum he carries into the final stretch of the season.
Article Continues BelowThe Fighting Irish are hosting the No. 1 team in the country, and Carr needs to deliver against the best opponent on their weak schedule. A victory would be a major addition to his resume, while another loss could make it difficult for him to remain in the Heisman conversation.
His NFL Draft outlook is a little different from Mensah's.
Carr has already appeared in the top five of several 2027 NFL mock drafts. That projection makes sense considering what he has shown throughout the season. He has demonstrated the maturity and decision-making ability that NFL teams want from a quarterback entering the league.
Mestemaker has also shown those qualities, making the two quarterbacks potential favorites to be the first players drafted at their position. However, Carr cannot afford to overlook the opportunity in front of him. A strong performance against Miami would give NFL evaluators another reason to view him as a potential franchise quarterback.
If he can lead Notre Dame to a win while competing with Mensah throughout the game, Carr could strengthen his position as one of the premier prospects in the 2027 class.