Notre Dame-Miami Rivalry Spans 71 Years as 'Catholics vs Convicts' Still Shapes No. 1-No. 11 Clash
Updated
Updated · CNN · Nov 6
Notre Dame-Miami Rivalry Spans 71 Years as 'Catholics vs Convicts' Still Shapes No. 1-No. 11 Clash
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Nov 6
Summary
CNN traces the Notre Dame-Miami feud from its 1955 debut before a then-Florida record crowd of 75,685 to Saturday’s matchup between No. 1 Miami and No. 11 Notre Dame.
Three games cemented the rivalry’s mythology: Miami’s 58-7 rout in 1985, Notre Dame’s 31-30 win in 1988 after stopping a 2-point try, and Miami’s 27-10 Orange Bowl victory in 1989.
The 'Catholics vs Convicts' label amplified a broader clash of identities—Notre Dame’s tradition against Miami’s swagger—even as former players say the stereotype oversimplified both programs.
That animosity helped drive a 26-year break after 1990, yet former players from both sides still describe the series in intensely personal terms, showing why the past still frames the present meeting.