IRISH EYES NOT SMILING
Ugly loss vs. Canes puts huge dent in ND’s playoff hopes
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami is getting championship rings when this season is over. And maybe, just maybe, the biggest kind.
The Hurricanes sent two very clear messages to the College Football Playoff committee Saturday — that they’re worthy of being a national- title contender and that Notre Dame isn’t. Travis Homer ran for 146 yards, Deejay Dallas scored two touchdowns and No. 7 Miami dominated the No. 3 Irish 41- 8 to extend the longest winning streak in the country to 14 games.
‘‘ I never would have predicted what happened,’’ Hurricanes coach Mark Richt said of the rout. ‘‘ But it happened.’’
Malik Rosier threw for a touchdown and ran for another for Miami ( 9- 0), which forced four turnovers for the fourth consecutive week and handed Notre Dame ( 8- 2) its second- worst loss in the history of the series. Only the Hurricanes’ 58- 7 romp in 1985 was more decisive.
‘‘ We didn’t see this coming,’’ Irish coach Brian Kelly said. ‘‘ Obviously, we felt we were prepared to play at a high level. We did not.’’
The rout came on the day that Miami clinched its first trip to the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. The Hurricanes wrapped up the Coastal Division title when Virginia’s loss to Louisville went final about an hour before kickoff, giving them a berth against Clemson in the ACC title matchup Dec. 2 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
‘‘ It’s a tremendous win,’’ Miami linebacker Shaquille Quarterman said. ‘‘ It’s a tremendous moment.’’
Alize Mack caught a 14- yard pass from Brandon Wimbush for the lone touchdown for Notre Dame, which hadn’t played a road game against the Hurricanes since 1989.
‘‘ We are back,’’ former Florida governor and Miami fan Jeb Bush tweeted during the game.
It sure seems the swagger is back. Former Hurricanes safety Ed Reed was on the field before the game waving a Turnover Chain, and former Miami defensive tackle Vince Wilfork called the Irish out on Twitter for standing on the ‘‘ U’’ midfield logo during a pregame talk.
The game was a sellout. A simultaneous concert a few miles south in Miami by Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull — both Miami natives with enormous fan bases — still had some tickets left not long before showtime.
For now, the Hurricanes are the biggest thing in town again.
‘‘ Say whatever you want about us,’’ Miami wide receiver Braxton Berrios said. ‘‘ But at the end of the day, we’re going to make you respect us.’’
Berrios made a diving catch for the first touchdown of the game, then ran back to the Hurricanes’ sideline with his hands clasped behind his back, a nod to the ‘‘ Cath- olics vs. Convicts’’ moniker from the 1980s that still makes Miami players seethe.
Rosier ran in from 16 yards out 88 seconds later after Jaquan Johnson got the Hurricanes’ first interception of the night, and they were well on their way to the rout. Trajan Bandy’s 65- yard interception return just before halftime sent Miami into the break leading 27- 0, and Dallas scored twice in the second half.
‘‘ Growing up right before our eyes,’’ Richt said.
Notre Dame was out of sorts all night. The Irish changed quarterbacks in the first half, giving Ian Book a look after Wimbush — who predicted Notre Dame would have a dominant victory — started 2- for- 10 with two interceptions. And Heisman contender Josh Adams never got going, finishing with 40 yards on 16 carries.
‘‘ Credit to them all over the place,’’ Notre Dame linebacker Drue Tranquill said. ‘‘ They played a whole game.’’