Miami coach Mario Cristobal says his team isn’t focused on their season-opening showdown with Notre Dame despite the primetime matchup generating massive attention.
The Hurricanes and Fighting Irish meet August 31st in what’s expected to be a top-10 clash to open the 2025 season.
“I think everyone in the world knows who we’re playing game one, so it’s not a focal point as we enter the offseason program,” Cristobal told ESPN’s Greg McIlroy on the Always College Football show. “Obviously, as a staff, you’re always breaking down your opponents and you’re very well aware of how prominently and how successful, and how elite some of the teams are that we play this season, but it’s something that you won’t be hearing in meetings.”
Miami enters 2025 with championship expectations after landing one of the nation’s best transfer portal classes.
The Hurricanes added former Georgia quarterback Carson Beck as the centerpiece of a top-15 recruiting haul. The moves have Miami positioned for their first College Football Playoff appearance.
But Cristobal remembers how high-profile games can overshadow preparation for the entire season.
Last season, Miami stumbled twice against unranked ACC opponents late in the year. Those road losses cost the Hurricanes a spot in the ACC Championship Game and eliminated them from CFP contention.
The Notre Dame opener represents just one of several challenging matchups on Miami’s 2025 schedule. The Hurricanes also face Florida in mid-September plus ACC games against Florida State, Louisville and SMU.
Miami avoids Clemson, Georgia Tech, Duke and North Carolina in conference play.
“Come two weeks out, all attention will be on Notre Dame,” Cristobal said. “But between now and then, man, it’s all about Miami getting better, getting tougher, getting in the best shape we could possibly be in. The best individual, best position group, best unit and best overall team we could possibly be.”
Both teams are expected to be ranked in the top 10 when the first AP Poll is released before the season opener.
The Hurricanes-Fighting Irish game will be played in primetime on opening weekend, putting immediate spotlight on Miami’s playoff aspirations.
