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Mario Cristobal’s Message to Marcus Freeman Shows His True Character After Miami-Notre Dame

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Rex Villas | Last updated Sep 1, 2025 6:03 AM ET

The No. 10 Miami Hurricanes sent a strong message across the college football world on Sunday, thanks to a big 27-24 victory over the No. 10 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.

The victory also marked the program's first win in the Carson Beck era, with the quarterback bringing his steady presence under center from his stint with the Georgia Bulldogs to the Hurricanes.

Miami mostly took control in the contest, as the Hurricanes took a seven-point lead to halftime and had a 14-point advantage at the start of the fourth quarter. But Notre Dame refused to go down without putting up a fight, with the Fighting Irish scoring two touchdowns and a field goal in the final period to level the score with just minutes left in the game.

But Miami made the plays when it mattered the most, scoring a field goal to grab the lead for good with just a minute remaining in regulation.

Notre Dame had a chance to tie or win the score with the game's final possession, but the Hurricanes kept CJ Carr and the Fighting Irish's attack from doing anything meaningful with the ball, as head coach Mario Cristobal's squad got its first win in the 2025 college football season.

Mario Cristobal reacts to incredible Miami-Notre Dame game

Cristobal acknowledged the difficulty of dealing with a team like Notre Dame, which came just a win away from winning the College Football Playoff National Championship in the 2024 season. He also gave props to Freeman, whose team truly gave Miami a tough challenge.

“It was a muddy, and bloody night…hats off to Coach Freeman and his team," Cristobal said following the game (h/t Miami athletics communications senior editor Christy Chirinos).

"We knew this game was going to be about who’s got one more shot in them…everything was about being 1-0 on every single play.”

The game will also be remembered for being Beck's official on-field introduction to the Miami fateful. The two-time national champion went 20-of-31 for 205 passing yards and zero interceptions.

His touchdown pass to wide receiver CJ Daniels near the end of the second quarter gave the Hurricanes the highlight play that could define the marquee matchup. On the other side of the field, the Hurricanes' defense forced two turnovers (an interception and a forced fumble).

Looking ahead, Miami will face off against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats on Sept. 6 at Hard Rock Stadium.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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