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Notre Dame vs Miami: Who do the Irish Need to Look Out for?

With a week to go until Notre Dame takes the field at Hard Rock Stadium against the Miami Hurricanes, we're gearing up for game week by highlighting some of the best players that the Canes have to offer, and what they bring to the table in this highly anticipated matchup. Let's get into it!

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Photo by University of Miami Athletics


Rueben Bain Jr. - Defensive Line


As a true freshman in 2023, Bain Jr. made an instant impact, racking up 44 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. It was clear from the start that Bain Jr. was a dominant playmaker on the defensive side of the ball and would be for the foreseeable future. Last season, Bain Jr. was once again productive but was held back early in the year due to a calf injury. Bain Jr. comes into this season as one of the better returning defensive linemen in the entire country. Now, with two years of experience, it is safe to assume that he will be as impactful as ever. A player with his skill set can easily swing the momentum of a game with a big sack, forced fumble, or TFL. Luckily for Notre Dame, they will walk into the Miami game with one of the best offensive lines in the country, meaning it should be a strong competition in the trenches. All in all, Bain Jr. is too good a player to be completely neutralized in this game, but strong play up front paired with the proper scheming can mitigate his impact. The Irish would be wise to steer clear of him where possible.


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CJ Daniels - Wide Receiver


Speaking of good matchups, transfer wide receiver CJ Daniels is someone Notre Dame's secondary will have to stick to closely all game long. Before arriving in Miami, Daniels spent four years at Liberty and one year at LSU. At Liberty, Daniels put together his best season, with an impressive 1,067 yards and 10 touchdowns. After a season like that, Daniels took advantage and transferred to LSU, where he played last season. There, his production took a steep drop due to nagging injuries, resulting in only 480 yards and zero touchdowns. Now, in his sixth season, Daniels looks to recreate the magic he had in that last year with Liberty. Daniels is a versatile playmaker with the ball in his hands who is always a threat to break a play loose. He can do so by simply beating defensive backs downfield or finding the weak spot in the second or third level of the defense. With Notre Dame's extremely talented secondary, Daniels will have his work cut out for him, but the Irish will also have to be wary of his ability to beat them with one play.


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Francis Mauigoa - Offensive Tackle


Although offensive linemen can often be overlooked, Francis Mauigoa is just too good to leave off this list. As a junior, Mauigoa has played in every game since his freshman season, and he is now regarded as one of, if not the best, offensive tackles in the country. With his intimidating 6'6" frame, Mauigoa combines incredible strength, speed, and agility to become almost unbeatable on the outside. Last season, he allowed only two sacks during the 534 snaps he played. That sort of protection was a huge contributor to the high-powered offense Cam Ward was able to produce, and now, it is Carson Beck's turn to orchestrate that offense behind Mauigoa. Although Beck may not be as athletic as Ward, he has shown the ability to pick defenses apart when given the proper time. Mauigoa is more than capable of giving Beck that sort of time, so Notre Dame will have to find a way to establish some pressure. Notre Dame does have a talented group of pass rushers that can give offensive lines fits, but even they will have trouble beating Mauigoa. That means they will have to get creative with how they disguise their blitzes and bring pressure, so that they can keep Miami's offensive line and Beck on their toes. Once again, this will be an entertaining and interesting matchup to keep an eye on for the entire game, as both coaches will surely make adjustments as the game wears on.


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