Return to Hard Rock

The last time Notre Dame played Miami at Hard Rock Stadium, I was on the field. It was a top-10 matchup, and we got rolled. I’ll never forget that atmosphere, the noise, the energy, the swagger Miami brought that night. So when Notre Dame returned to Hard Rock earlier this season, I knew exactly what kind of environment they were walking into.

There’s something different about playing Miami in Miami. The heat, the humidity, the crowd, it all creates a storm that can swallow teams if they’re not ready. You can feel the energy from warmups to the opening kickoff. Hard Rock doesn’t just host games; it breathes life into them.

Notre Dame came into this one with momentum and a lot of confidence, but Miami came to play. Their defense set the tone early, flying around and feeding off the fans. Offensively, they capitalized on big moments and never let up. Every time Miami made a play, that place erupted, and you could feel the shift in momentum.

Notre Dame had its moments, tough drives and flashes of fight, but ultimately fell short. Watching from the stands this time instead of being in uniform gave me a different kind of appreciation. It wasn’t about talent or effort; it was about timing, composure, and how you respond when everything around you is against you.

Even in defeat, I left encouraged by both teams. Notre Dame remains as disciplined and detail-oriented as ever, and Miami looks like a program rediscovering its edge. There’s so much talent on both sides, and I’m excited to see where each ends up by season’s end.

By Shaun Crawford