SOUTH BEND, Ind. Miami coach Mario Cristobal sharply criticized the ACC officiating crew after a disputed end zone ruling helped halt the Hurricanes' comeback against Notre Dame on Saturday night. The top-ranked Hurricanes lost 31-24, their first defeat of the season, after officials upheld an incompletion that denied them a touchdown and an opportunity to tie.
With 3 minutes, 43 seconds remaining, tight end Elija Lofton appeared to secure a pass with both feet inside the corner of the end zone. As Lofton tried to finish the catch, he stepped out of bounds and Notre Dame safety Luke Talich knocked the ball loose. The pass was ruled incomplete, and a brief replay review left that decision unchanged.
Cristobal argued afterward that Lofton had possession with two hands and both feet in bounds. He expressed anger at the ruling but also repeated a message he said he had delivered before the team left Miami: The Hurricanes needed to avoid putting the outcome in officials' hands. He acknowledged that the players would have to accept the decision and improve their own performance.
Miami had fallen behind 24-3 early in the third quarter while playing its first game without star receiver Malachi Toney. Quarterback Darian Mensah, held to 49 passing yards before halftime, then connected with Cooper Barkate and Lofton for a combined three touchdowns. The rally brought Miami within 31-24 with 9:53 remaining.
A missed 53-yard field goal by Notre Dame gave Miami favorable field position for another drive. Lofton's 41-yard reception moved the Hurricanes into scoring position, setting up the disputed pass on fourth-and-6 from the Notre Dame 18. Mensah went over to celebrate because he had not seen Talich dislodge the ball. He later said Miami could not place responsibility on a single play or the officials and that he needed to perform better.
Talich, whose earlier interception led to a Notre Dame touchdown, said he briefly looked away from his assignment before the receiver went downfield. After turning back toward the play, he followed his training to attack the receiver's hands and managed to knock the ball free.
Cristobal also confirmed that Toney had undergone ankle surgery and was expected to return in about four weeks. The coach said the operation "went great." Toney was injured during Wednesday's practice after becoming tangled up and landing awkwardly, despite the session involving players in shells without contact.
Toney stayed behind rather than traveling to South Bend, but spoke to his teammates before they departed South Florida and urged them to return with a victory. Mensah said the message motivated him to take a leadership role, and he apologized for being unable to deliver the win.
Cristobal later apologized for letting his frustration with the ruling overshadow the start of his postgame remarks. While maintaining his disagreement, he said he needed to respond professionally and focus on Miami's own shortcomings. "I'm beyond upset, but that's not the way to go here," he said.
