— Opening weekend Sunday delivered a pair of headline results: No. 10 Miami outlasted No. 6 Notre Dame 27-24 at Hard Rock Stadium on a late 47-yard field goal, and No. 13 South Carolina handled Virginia Tech 24-11 behind a momentum-flipping punt return and a composed debut from quarterback LaNorris Sellers.
Key Takeaways
- Miami 27, Notre Dame 24 — Carter Davis hit a 47-yard field goal with just over a minute remaining.
- The Hurricanes controlled most of the night before the Irish rallied to tie it at 24.
- Miami’s defense produced the final stop to close out the win at Hard Rock Stadium.
- South Carolina 24, Virginia Tech 11 — Vicari Swain’s 80-yard punt-return TD proved decisive.
- Gamecocks QB LaNorris Sellers flashed big-play potential in the opener.
- Another SEC–ACC chapter: South Carolina topped an ACC foe; Miami beat a top-10 Independent.
Verified Facts
In the primetime matchup, No. 10 Miami defeated No. 6 Notre Dame 27-24. The Hurricanes led for long stretches before Notre Dame mounted a late push to knot the score at 24. Kicker Carter Davis then converted a 47-yard attempt with a little over a minute left, and Miami’s defense preserved the three-point margin on the final series.
Earlier Sunday, No. 13 South Carolina earned a 24-11 victory over Virginia Tech. Quarterback LaNorris Sellers showed promise in his first start of the season, while special teams delivered the game’s pivotal moment — an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown by Vicari Swain — echoing the program’s emphasis on field position and opportunistic play.
Both results extended the drama of college football’s opening weekend, which began with a busy Saturday slate and continued with ranked storylines on Sunday.
Sunday Scoreboard
| Matchup | Final | Pivotal moment |
|---|---|---|
| No. 10 Miami vs. No. 6 Notre Dame | 27–24 | Carter Davis 47-yard FG in the final minutes |
| No. 13 South Carolina vs. Virginia Tech | 24–11 | Vicari Swain 80-yard punt-return TD |
Context & Impact
For Miami, a late-game kick to topple a top-10 opponent is the kind of Week 1 statement that can reverberate throughout September. Special teams composure and a closing defensive stand suggest a balanced formula the Hurricanes can lean on in early conference play.
Notre Dame’s comeback to pull even underscores resilience, but the Irish leave with a narrow road defeat that tightens their margin for error in a season where every top-tier nonconference result carries outsized weight.
South Carolina’s win over an ACC opponent reinforces the Gamecocks’ reputation for impact plays in the third phase. If Sellers’ poise holds and the return game continues to flip fields, South Carolina’s ceiling in the SEC could rise quickly.
Unconfirmed
- The exact game clock at the moment of Carter Davis’ 47-yard field goal was described as “just over a minute” remaining; the precise timestamp awaits official box score confirmation.
- Comprehensive player stat lines (drive charts, passing/rushing totals) were not provided in the source report.
Bottom Line
Miami pocketed a signature September win over Notre Dame thanks to a clutch 47-yarder and a timely defensive stand, while South Carolina rode special teams spark and a steady QB debut to a comfortable victory over Virginia Tech. Both outcomes add early definition to the opening weekend’s pecking order.