CJ Carr came through with an incredible performance to help Notre Dame pull off a valuable 31-24 win over the No. 1 Miami Hurricanes on Saturday night, earning serious acclaim from sports analysts.

Carr is going through the junior campaign of his collegiate career with the Fighting Irish. He shines as one of the best quarterbacks in the country, looking to lead Notre Dame to their place in the CFP after missing out on the tournament last season.

Carr was remarkable with his playmaking in the offense. He completed 29 out of 40 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns. His efforts on the field garnered a lot of praise from sports media, specifically Richard Johnson and Beanie Wells on the CBS Sports broadcast.

“CJ Carr blew away my expectations!” Johnson exclaimed.

“This was the CJ Carr I wanted to see all year long. He stepped up and really put the team on his back,” Wells remarked.

"CJ Carr blew away my expectations!"
–@RJ_cfb

"This was the CJ Carr I wanted to see all year long. He stepped up and really put the team on his back."
–@BeanieWells26 #CFBPostgame pic.twitter.com/VMk668k0Y8

— CBS Sports College Football 🏈 (@CBSSportsCFB) November 8, 2026

How CJ Carr, Notre Dame played against Miami

CJ Carr and Notre Dame may have punched its ticket to the CFP with a few weeks to spare. Beating No. 1 Miami, even though they missed Heisman candidate Malachi Toney, was huge as they boosted their chances of national championship contention.

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Notre Dame landed the first big punched, taking a 17-3 lead at halftime. Miami tried to fight back in the second half, but the Fighting Irish made enough big plays down the stretch to secure their most pivotal win of the season.

Nolan James Jr. had a decent outing in the run game, racking up 16 carries for 52 yards and a touchdown. Micah Gilbert led all receivers with nine catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns. Jordan Faison came next with six receptions for 77 yards and a touchdown, while Mylan Graham caught three passes for 32 yards.

The Fighting Irish will look forward to their next matchup, remaining at home. They host the Boston College Eagles in Week 11 as kickoff commences on Nov. 14 at 3:30 p.m. ET.