The three big tests the Hurricanes’ revamped defense will face against Notre Dame
Corey Hetherman has been waiting for this moment.
“We finally get a chance to go against different colored jerseys,” Hetherman said.
After months of practices, from the spring through the fall, the Miami Hurricanes’ new-look defense under new defensive coordinator Hetherman will make its debut Sunday when No. 10 UM hosts the No. 6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Hard Rock Stadium (7:30 p.m., ABC).
The Hurricanes return just four full-time starters from last season’s defense that struggled once Miami got into conference play.
Their first game under Hetherman will be no easy test as the Hurricanes play a Notre Dame team that reached the national championship game and returns seven starters from a squad that averaged 36.1 points per game, although it did have to replace quarterback Riley Leonard.
Here are the three biggest challenges the Hurricanes’ defense will face on Sunday.
1.) The unknown of a new quarterback.
Notre Dame last week named redshirt freshman CJ Carr as its starting quarterback. He beat out redshirt sophomore Kenny Minchey to succeed Leonard, who was selected in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Indianapolis Colts.
Carr, a consensus four-star prospect in the Class of 2024, dealt with an elbow injury most of his first season with the Fighting Irish. He appeared in one game for Notre Dame last season (a blowout win against Purdue on Sept. 14, but has not thrown a pass at the collegiate level.
The quarterback pushed through his rehab and has impressed the coaching staff since. In the team’s spring game, he completed 14 of 19 passes for 170 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
“It’s been a surprise blessing,” Carr said, according to 247Sports. “You come off injury, you’re pissed, you’re hurt, but you come back, you can throw it 10 yards further than you did before.”
Since Carr hasn’t taken a significant rep in a live setting for Notre Dame yet, Miami will be going into the matchup with some unknown as to how the Fighting Irish will approach the passing game.
But they’re not taking anything for granted.
“It’s Notre Dame. He’s there for a reason,” Hurricanes redshirt sophomore safety Zechariah Poyser said. “He has to be some sort of good, so it’s gonna be a challenge, for sure.”
One thing they will attempt to do is make Carr uncomfortable however they can.
“You definitely want to mess up his rhythm,” senior linebacker Wesley Bissainthe said. “Just try to try to do different things to mess with his head and to get him off track. Just attack the game plan.”
2.) The known commodity in the backfield.
While Notre Dame’s passing game will be an unknown entering the matchup, the Fighting Irish’s run game is well-known and a potent threat.
Notre Dame as a team was third nationally last season in rushing touchdowns (45).
Junior Jeremiyah Love, a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate, leads the way. He ran for 1,125 yards and 17 touchdowns (tied for 12th nationally) on 163 carries a year ago. His 6.9 yards per carry ranked seven nationally among running backs with at least 100 carries.
“Very talented,” Hetherman said. “Runs the ball really well. He’s gonna make the first guy miss. He runs with power.”
But it’s more than just Love. Notre Dame’s Nos. 2 and 3 running backs in Jadarian Price and Aneyas Williams return as well. Price ran for 746 yards and seven touchdowns last season while averaging 6.22 yards per carry. Williams had 219 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries as a freshman.
3.) A stout battle in the trenches.
And then there’s the always important battle at the line of scrimmage.
Notre Dame returns four of its five starters from last season in left tackle Anthonie Knapp, guard Billy Schrauth, center Ashton Craig and right tackle Aamil Wagner. The four have a combined 52 starts. Redshirt sophomore Sullivan Absher, who spent most of last season contributing on special teams, or redshirt freshman Guerby Lambert is projected to be Notre Dame’s other starting guard.
All six are at least 6-4 and 300 pounds.
The Hurricanes will counter with their defensive line led by Rueven Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor, a duo on the edge with a combined 53 tackles for loss and 34 sacks over 72 college games. Miami’s defensive tackles will be a rotation led by Louisiana Tech transfer David Blay, sophomore Justin Scott and redshirt junior Ahmad Moten Sr.
“They’ve got size and they’ve got strength,” Mesidor said, “but I’m confident in our D-line. You just play with great technique every play. They’re a strong group, and we’re also confident in ourselves, so it should be an interesting matchup.”
This story was originally published August 26, 2025 at 12:30 PM.
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