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Why Three Japanese Stars Could Dominate MLB Free Agency Talks

While there is no star of Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s caliber in this incoming class of Japanese standouts, there is a group of NPB players coming to MLB in 2027 who should help clubs immediately. 

For the next month, prepare to hear a lot more about the headliners of that group: Teruaki Sato, Kaima Taira and Hiromi Itoh. All three are widely considered among the top 50 free-agent players available, and Sato might even be the best bat on the market in a weak free-agent class. 

Plus, there is urgency to sign these players. 

All three were posted at the start of November. While NPB players typically have a 45-day window to negotiate with MLB teams, that time period will likely be shortened with the current collective bargaining agreement ending on the night of Dec. 1. That means you should expect to see decisions on Sato, Taira and Itoh before the end of November. 

Here’s more on each of those players: 

Teruaki Sato

Teruaki Sato

Third Baseman

Click or tap for more details▼

 

NPB career (2021-26)

.271AVG

163Home runs

518RBI

Previous NPB team: Hanshin Tigers

Won the 2026 Central League Triple Crown (.306, 39 HR, 106 RBI)

2025 Central League MVP and Golden Glove winner

Won the 2023 Japan Series with Hanshin

The slugging success of Munetaka Murakami — who hit 35 homers in his first season with the Chicago White Sox this year — could have a positive impact in the free-agent market for Sato, whose prodigious power comes similarly with swing-and-miss concerns. 

The 27-year-old Sato hit 40 home runs and won Central League MVP honors in 2025, then followed that up by launching 39 homers and winning the Triple Crown in 2026. You might remember him from the Dodgers’ exhibition game before the 2025 season, when he homered left-on-left against Blake Snell at the Tokyo Dome. Or maybe in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, where he hit three doubles in 10 at-bats. 

(Photo by Masterpress/Getty Images)

Sato’s power potential will draw obvious comparisons to Murakami, though there are differences between the two sluggers. Sato is more aggressive at the plate than Murakami, chasing more and walking significantly less. Sato’s 11.1% walk rate last season was a career high; Murakami, meanwhile, posted a walk rate above 14% in each of his last five NPB seasons. 

Sato, however, has better bat-to-ball skills. He hit .275 in 2024 and .277 in 2025 before posting career-best slash-line marks across the board in 2026 (.306/.383/.609). His strikeout rate wasn’t quite as high as Murakami’s in NPB though it is still a concern (Sato had a strikeout rate above 25% each of the last four seasons; the MLB average this year was 22.1%). Murakami, who had a 28.6% strikeout rate in his last NPB season, ran a 35.4% strikeout rate with the White Sox this year — the second-highest mark among all qualified MLB hitters. 

Like with Murakami, there are also questions about whether Sato will have to bump from third base to first base or possibly a corner outfield spot. But while his swing-and-miss issues and defensive questions present risks, the upside is obvious with the top international slugger on the market who will be 28 next season and should entice teams in a free-agent field lacking impact offensive talent. 

Kaima Taira

Kaima Taira

Right-Handed Pitcher

Click or tap for more details▼

 

NPB career (2019-26)

1.78ERA

37-24W-L

620/226Strikeouts / walks

Previous NPB team: Saitama Seibu Lions

Won Olympic gold with Japan at the 2020 Tokyo Games

Saved 31 games as Seibu’s closer in 2025 and has 62 career saves

There aren’t many comparisons to Taira, a 5-foot-8-inch right-hander who is built like a fire hydrant yet might be one of the top arms on the market. Taira, who turns 27 later this month, gets surprising extension off the mound for his size and is armed with a four-seam fastball that averaged 95.8 mph this year and reaches up to the high-90s in velocity. 

He has eight different pitches in his vast arsenal, including a slider and a splitter that both registered strikeout rates over 40%. And though his overall strikeout rate (24.8%) this season didn’t jump off the page, he led all qualified NPB starters in both ERA (1.36) and batting average against (.184) over 146 innings in 2026. 

Will he end up a starter or a reliever? That’s to be determined, though if he wants to start, it’s probably safe to assume that the team he signs with will give him that opportunity. Taira was a reliever in NPB for five years, transitioned to starting in 2023, moved back to the bullpen for two seasons (and recorded 31 saves for the Seibu Lions in 2025) before thriving as a starter again in 2026. Over eight NPB seasons, he had a 1.78 ERA with 620 strikeouts in 592 innings. 

Wherever he goes, and whatever role he serves in, Taira will be one of the most fascinating pitchers to watch and one of baseball’s biggest wild cards in 2027.

Hiromi Itoh

Hiromi Itoh

Right-Handed Pitcher

Click or tap for more details▼

 

NPB career (2021-26)

2.92ERA

65-51W-L

902/245Strikeouts / walks

Previous NPB team: Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters

Won the 2025 Eiji Sawamura Award (14-8, 2.52 ERA, 195 strikeouts)

Won the 2023 World Baseball Classic and 2020 Olympic gold with Japan

Itoh is also a diminutive right-hander (5-foot-9) with a deep repertoire, though he has a more extensive history of success as a starting pitcher than Taira. Itoh, who will be entering his age-29 season, has thrown at least 150 innings in each of the last five seasons and won the Sawamura Award — the NPB equivalent of the Cy Young — in 2025 after leading the league in innings pitched (196 ⅔) and strikeouts (195) while registering a 2.52 ERA. 

(Photo by Gene Wang/Getty Images)

The 2026 season represented a step back. Overall, Itoh went 10-10 with a 3.18 ERA and 159 strikeouts in 172 ⅔ innings. His average fastball velocity was down a tick (92.4 mph), his strikeout rate (21.8%) dipped nearly 3% from the year prior, and he had a career-high .266 batting average against. (A career-high .324 batting average on balls in play didn’t help his cause). 

But he posted one of the lowest walk rates in NPB (4.7%), and his terrific command, vast repertoire and ability to eat up innings could make him a valuable piece at the back end of a big-league rotation. It’s also possible his stuff could play up as a reliever, as it did during the 2023 WBC. 



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AP Top 25: Georgia Reclaims No

Georgia was voted No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 for the second time this season Sunday, unbeaten UCLA matched its highest ranking in 25 years and Ohio State’s free fall continued after a wild weekend that followed the first College Football Playoff rankings of the year.

Miami became the fourth No. 1 team to get knocked out of the top spot, the most in a single season since 2008. Only one team — No. 6 Indiana, which was idle — remained in the same spot it had a week ago in the Top 25.

Georgia turned in one of the most dominant performances of the season in a 42-7 victory at Ole Miss on Saturday. The Bulldogs had been No. 1 for one week when they were upset by Auburn on Oct. 17 but never dropped out of the top five, and they were the voters’ choice for No. 1 by a wide margin over Utah and Notre Dame.

Utah moved up one spot to No. 2 after its 28-20 win over rival BYU and the Utes now have their highest-ever AP ranking in the regular season. The Fighting Irish’s 31-24 win over Miami pushed them up one rung to No. 3, while the Hurricanes fell to No. 5 after their first loss.

Georgia earned 53 of the 70 first-place votes from the media voting panel. Utah received 12 first-place votes and Notre Dame got five.

UCLA is 9-0 for the first time since 1998 and moved up to No. 4. It’s the Bruins’ highest ranking since their 2001 team was No. 4 following a 6-0 start. After Miami, Indiana, Alabama, Texas, Tennessee and Texas Tech completed the top 10.

Alabama and Texas were both rewarded with road wins and moved up two spots. The Crimson Tide won at LSU and the Longhorns at Missouri.

Tennessee jumped from No. 16 to No. 9, its highest ranking in two years, after an impressive 34-6 win over a top-10 Kentucky. Texas Tech returned to the top 10 after outscoring West Virginia 53-48.

Ohio State, which was No. 2 two weeks ago, went from No. 11 after its loss at USC to No. 21 this week after a 41-28 home loss to Oregon. The Buckeyes hadn’t been ranked so low, excluding the 2020 pandemic season, since 2014.

Full AP Top 25

25. SMU
24. LSU
23. New Mexico
22. Arizona
21. Ohio State
20. South Carolina
19. Ole Miss
18. Oregon
17. Boise State
16. Iowa
15. USC
14. Houston
13. Kentucky
12. BYU
11. Wake Forest
10. Texas Tech
9. Tennessee
8. Texas
7. Alabama
6. Indiana
5. Miami
4. UCLA
3. Notre Dame
2. Utah
1. Georgia

In And Out

Oregon avoided its fourth loss of the season after upsetting Ohio State on the road 41-28. (Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

In: No. 18 Oregon’s big win at Ohio State, which followed a ranked home win over Northwestern, put the Ducks in the poll for the first time in five weeks.

In: No. 25 SMU had been ranked all season until it lost at Syracuse and is now back after throttling Virginia Tech.

Out: Missouri’s loss to Texas was its second in three games and left the Tigers 1-3 against ranked opponents.

Out: Florida has lost four of five since its 4-0 start.

Poll Points

Utah is ranked No. 2 for the first time since 2008. (Photo by Bryan Byerly/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

— Utah has its highest ranking since the 2008 season’s final poll.

— The last time the Big 12 had two teams reach No. 2 or higher in the same season was 2015. BYU was No. 2 in the Oct. 18 poll.

— At No. 3, Notre Dame has the lowest ranking for a top-five team that just beat a No. 1 team since Auburn went from No. 4 to No. 3 after beating Alabama in 2013.

Conference Call

Alabama climbs to No. 7 after a 31-13 win over LSU. (Photo by Morgan Simmons/Getty Images)

SEC (8 ranked teams): No. 1 Georgia, No. 7 Alabama, No. 8 Texas, No. 9 Tennessee, No. 13 Kentucky, No. 19 Mississippi, No. 20 South Carolina, No. 24 LSU.

Big Ten (6): No. 4 UCLA, No. 6 Indiana, No. 15 USC, No. 16 Iowa, No. 18 Oregon, No. 21 Ohio State.

Big 12 (5): No. 2 Utah, No. 10 Texas Tech, No. 12 BYU, No. 14 Houston, No. 22 Arizona.

ACC (3): No. 5 Miami, No. 11 Wake Forest, No. 25 SMU.

Independent (1): No. 3 Notre Dame.

Pac-12 (1): No. 17 Boise State.

Mountain West (1): No. 23 New Mexico.

Ranked vs. Ranked

No. 2 Utah at No. 22 Arizona: Utah, alone in first place in the Big 12, hasn’t won in Tucson since 2021.

No. 8 Texas at No. 24 LSU: The Longhorns have won three straight and can go 5-0 against Top 25 opponents with a win here.

No. 11 Wake Forest at No. 25 SMU: The Demon Deacons can take a big step toward securing a spot in the ACC championship game.

No. 15 USC at No. 6 Indiana: The Trojans are 1-7 on the road against Top 25 opponents under Lincoln Riley, their only win against crosstown rival UCLA in 2022.

Reporting by The Associated Press.



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Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Takes Rough Hit, Remains Day-To-Day With

The Kansas City Chiefs’ season almost took a turn for the worse on Sunday. 

Patrick Mahomes suffered an elbow injury on his throwing arm late in the first half of Sunday’s game against the New York Jets. The injury occurred when Mahomes was strip-sacked by Jets edge rusher David Bailey.

Although Mahomes played through the rest of the game following the injury, the quarterback now remains day-to-day ahead of Kansas City’s Week 10 contest against the Atlanta Falcons, EPSN’s Adam Schefter reported.

Mahomes was in immediate pain after the play, taking a few moments to leave the field as he was in clear agony. He went to the sideline and still appeared to be in pain, taking practice throws as trainers evaluated him. 

However, Mahomes didn’t miss a snap. He was back on the field after the Jets missed a field goal that could’ve given them the lead before halftime, and helped the Chiefs move down the field in the final seconds of the first half. He completed a 12-yard pass before rushing for a 7-yard gain on that possession, setting Kansas City up for a field goal that Harrison Butker missed.

Mahomes completed 11 of 16 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns in the first half of Sunday’s game. He’s been playing like one of the best quarterbacks in the league again this season as well, after suffering an ACL tear last year. Entering Sunday’s game, Mahomes had thrown for 1,795 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions with a 99.7 passer rating. 

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bet365 Bonus Code FOX365 Unlocks $200 in Bonus Bets for

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. 

NFL Week 9 delivers a packed Sunday schedule with several exciting matchups, including the Green Bay Packers visiting the New England Patriots and the San Francisco 49ers hosting the Las Vegas Raiders. New bet365 customers can use bonus code FOX365 to unlock up to $200 in Bonus Bets and get in on any NFL game this week.

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*Probabilities are subject to change* 

GB Packers  +3.5 (-116) O 44.5 (-112) +149
NE Patriots -3.5 (-104) U 44.5 (-108) -178

How to Watch Packers vs. Patriots

  • When: Sunday, November 8, 2026 at 4:25 p.m. ET
  • Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
  • TV: FOX
  • Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One

SF 49ers 

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O 52.5 (-103)

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+365

More markets available on bet365.

How to Watch Raiders vs. 49ers

  • When: Sunday, November 8, 2026 at 4:25 p.m. ET
  • Where: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
  • TV: FOX
  • Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One



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Giants QB J.J. McCarthy Leaves Game vs. Eagles Before Returning

The New York Giants nearly had to deal with another injury at quarterback.

J.J. McCarthy departed Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles in the third quarter after taking a hard hit. McCarthy suffered the injury after he scrambled for a short gain, with Eagles linebacker Zack Baun hitting from behind.

McCarthy didn’t express immediate pain, but he went to the Giants’ sideline for the next snap. He attempted to throw a pass while trainers evaluated him. However, McCarthy let out a yelp and was evaluated by the Giants’ training staff in the blue medical tent. He eventually went to the locker room.

McCarthy missed a drive due to a hip injury before returning right before the start of the fourth quarter.

Luckily for the Giants, Jameis Winston was able to hold it down. He led the Giants on a 14-play, 76-yard touchdown drive to give New York a 13-8 lead.

Winston was initially the Giants’ primary backup quarterback, becoming New York’s starter after Jaxson Dart suffered a season-ending injury in Week 2. But Winston was benched after struggling during his fourth start of the season. Winston has thrown for 957 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions this season, going 2-1-1 in the games he’s started.

McCarthy, meanwhile, threw for 495 yards, a touchdown and an interception prior to Sunday’s game. He completed 9 of 13 passes for 101 yards prior to leaving Sunday’s game. The Giants trailed the Eagles 8-6 when McCarthy got hurt.

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Eagles’ Braden Mann Boots Second-Longest Punt Of The Century vs

Week 9 of the NFL just saw a wild special teams stat: the longest punt in over 25 years. 

As the Philadelphia Eagles faced the Giants in an NFC East clash, Eagles punter Braden Mann delivered a wild 86-yard punt to put the Giants on their own six-yard line. Mann’s crucial punt marked the longest punt since 2001. 

The Eagles and Giants had been nothing short of a defensive struggle, as they ended the half with a low 8-6 score. So, when it was down to one of Philly’s final plays of the first half, head coach Nick Sirianni sent out the punt team and Mann delivered. 

Mann punted from the Eagles end zone and initially landed around the Giants’ 17-yard line, and rolled out of bounds at the six-yard line with just seconds left in the second quarter. 

The 86-yard punt ranks as the sixth-longest punt in the league since 1975. The longest punt still stands at Steve O’Neal’s 98-yarder with the New York Jets in 1969, and just above Mann’s most recent punt was the New England Patriots’ Luke Prestidge punt of 89 yards in 1984. 

Mann’s boot was not the longest punt in Eagles history, though. That honor belongs to quarterback Randall Cunningham (yes, you read that correctly), who had a 91-yard punt back in 1989.

Mann’s punt also exceeded his career-high by over 10 yards, when he punted a 72-yarder in 2022 with the New York Jets. Now, the 5-foot-11 punter just notched a career best in his seventh season in the league.

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Betr Promo Code FOXSPORTS: Claim $200 in Bonuses and 4x

This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports.

New users on Betr can get $200 in bonuses and four Sweat-Free Picks when they 

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How to Watch Raiders vs. 49ers

  • When: Sunday, November 8, 2026 at 4:25 p.m. ET
  • Where: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
  • TV: FOX
  • Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One

  • When: Sunday, November 8, 2026 at 4:05 p.m. ET
  • Where: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
  • TV: CBS
  • Stream: Paramount+
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    Kyle Larson Clinches Third NASCAR Cup Series Title At Homestead

    Homestead-Miami Speedway (Homestead, Fla.) — Kyle Larson, considered one of the most talented race-car drivers in the world, has entered a club that now has 11 members.

    Larson clinched his third Cup title Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where he eliminated the last two Chase drivers (Christopher Bell and Denny Hamlin) after already eliminating 13 others in the first nine races by earning enough points so that they couldn’t catch him at the season finale.

    Larson won titles in 2021 and 2025 and now joins the three-time champion club as its 11th member. 

    He is also the first back-to-back champion since Jimmie Johnson won five consecutive titles from 2006-2010. 

    At age 34, he is the third-youngest driver to win three titles behind former Hendrick drivers Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon. 

    All three titles have come since Larson joined Hendrick Motorsports in 2021 and with Cliff Daniels as his crew chief.

    Kyle Larson’s third title puts him in elite company among NASCAR drivers. (Getty Images)

    “When you look at a lot of different championship organizations and teams throughout many different sports, I think that’s a common theme that you see. It’s led by Cliff and his leadership,” Larson said during a news conference last month.

    “I think we’re just really good at refocusing on what’s ahead and not getting too far ahead or behind of what we need to accomplish.”

    They have now accomplished the goal that was all but certain Sunday, compared to last year, when a late two-tire pit call earned him the title when it appeared Hamlin would win it.

    “They all are equally memorable in different ways,” Larson said at a news conference Friday anticipating the third title. “2021 was just a dominating season and back in the Cup Series, which made that one memorable, first championship, memorable.

    “The second one, just being in the fashion that it was … we still struggled at Phoenix, but just the surprise of that championship and the elation at the end of that is definitely a reason. Main reason why I’ll remember that one forever. This one I’ll remember forever because of just the season that it was and the struggle that it was and then just building as a team to be ready for The Chase, and then to go execute like we have. 

    “I think that’s what I will remember this one for.”

    Crew chief Cliff Daniels has been a huge part of Kyle Larson’s success in Cup. (Getty Images)

    The championship came, thanks to a late surge in the season, as Larson entered The Chase as the seventh seed following a winless regular season. 

    He snapped a 51-race winless streak in the second-race (St. Louis) of the 10-race Chase. He also won Chase races at Kansas and Talladega, with his only bad race in The Chase coming at Phoenix, where he earned just three points as he struggled throughout the race before crashing out.

    He followed that Phoenix race with the wild victory two weeks ago at Talladega. A ninth-place finish a week ago at Martinsville set up a relatively easy path at Homestead; Larson needed only to earn eight stage points (out of a possible 20) or finish 28th or better without stage points. 

    Hamlin and Bell faced must-win situations with significant stage-point totals, while also needing a Larson collapse.

    Larson’s incredible Chase didn’t surprise many as one of the sport’s greatest talents combined with one of the best organizations to rise to the occasion.

    “I’ve said all along, even during the winless drought that we were on. Our team is there,” Larson said during a news conference at Martinsville. “Our team is really, really good, and when things come together, we’re going to be ready, and I think we’ve proven that.

    Larson credits his team’s resilience in his latest title run. (Getty Images)

    “We didn’t know exactly when that time was going to be, but we were going to be ready whenever it came. Thankfully, it came when The Chase started.”

    The Chase system in 2027 was almost a reboot of the original NASCAR postseason format starting in 2004 with a reset of points prior to the final 10 races and then a 10-race mini-season Chase to crown a champion. 

    NASCAR went back to a slightly altered version of that format after disposing the format from 2014-2025 that featured elimination rounds and a one-race, “winner” take all championship format.

    It was that format where Larson won last year, not leading a lap in the season finale but using a late two-tire stop to finish ahead of all three championship contenders, including Hamlin, who had dominated that race.

    Larson is now the 11th driver to win at least three titles, joining seven-time champions Dale Earnhardt, Richard Petty and Johnson; four-time champion Gordon and three-time champions Tony Stewart, Joey Logano, Darrell Waltrip, Lee Petty, Cale Yarborough and David Pearson.

    “With repeat champions, it was obviously really tough with the previous format, so I think you’ll see more of it now as we get back to The Chase,” Larson said a week ago Martinsville. “It’s just easier to put together 10 good races than one.

    “But I think if we happen to go back-to-back with it being two different formats, I think that also just shows the resilience of this team.”

    WHAT YOU SHOULD READ NEXT

    How Marathon Training Has Put Kyle Larson On Brink Of Third NASCAR Title

    In an exclusive interview, Kyle Larson shares how training for his very first marathon has paid dividends on the track.



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    Kalshi Promo Code FOXSPORTS55: Get a $55 Bonus for Packers

    This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you sign up or place a wager, FOX Sports may be compensated. Read more about Sports Betting on FOX Sports. 

    NFL Sunday is here, and Week 9 brings a full slate of exciting matchups, including divisional showdowns and potential playoff previews. New Kalshi users can get a $55 bonus by signing up with promo code FOXSPORTS55 and trading on Patriots vs. Packers, 49ers vs. Raiders or any other NFL game.

    The Packers head to Foxborough for a battle with the Patriots. Green Bay looks to end New England’s undefeated record at home. While the 49ers host the Raiders in a Bay Area showdown. Whether you’re focused on divisional bragging rights or the race for playoff positioning, Sunday’s schedule has something for every NFL fan.

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    How to Watch Packers vs. Patriots

    • When: Sunday, November 8, 2026 at 4:25 p.m. ET
    • Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, MA
    • TV: FOX
    • Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One

  • When: Sunday, November 8, 2026 at 4:25 p.m. ET
  • Where: Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, CA
  • TV: FOX
  • Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One
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    CJ Carr, Notre Dame In Perfect CFP Position After The

    NOTRE DAME STADIUM (South Bend, Ind.) — The bar is set high for real history at Notre Dame, but when the final play ended and the Fighting Irish knew they had a 31-24 upset of then-No. 1 Miami, quarterback CJ Carr couldn’t savor the moment enough.

    “I was trying to enjoy it some more,” Carr said after throwing three touchdowns in a win important enough that fans stormed the field Saturday night. “They kept trying to offer me over to talk to people. I’m like ‘Dude, let me go celebrate this sucker.’ We earned this thing. Let’s go. Let’s go hang with the crowd and our teammates.”

    There was so much to celebrate. A year ago, in his first start, Carr had seen Notre Dame take a loss at Miami in the season opener — a loss that ultimately kept the Fighting Irish out of the College Football Playoff. So Saturday night was a chance for Carr to show how far he had come, how much he had grown since the last time he faced the Hurricanes.

    Notre Dame fans storm the field following the upset win over then-No. 1 Miami in college football’s Week 10 on Saturday. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

    “A huge difference,” Carr said. “My dad called me before this game, said he’d watched that game, and his words were like there was a boy playing, you know, at Miami for my first start. So it was cool to see this team be able to come out with a win today. It means so much to every person in that locker room individually and then as a collective as well.”

    As big as the win was for Notre Dame, it was also huge for Carr, who out-dueled Miami’s Darian Mensah in a showdown of two of this year’s top Heisman Trophy candidates. Both are likely behind Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith, but in the biggest head-to-head battle of the regular season, Carr avoided mistakes — Mensah threw just his second interception of the season — and most importantly led his team to victory.

    Miami — which played without star receiver Malachi Toney due to an ankle injury — mounted a comeback in the second half. But Notre Dame built a 24-3 lead, and much of that separation came at the end of the first half. 

    Only up 10-3, facing a third down at his own 25, Carr spun out of a potential sack, reversed back 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage, then found running back Aneyas Williams to move the chains. He completed three straight passes for 10, 18 and 19 yards, and after one miss, he threw an 18-yard touchdown to receiver Micah Gilbert for a 17-3 halftime lead.

    “Every game it just gets better, through the constant work in practice, through all the reps we put in together,” Gilbert said of his rapport with Carr, good for nine catches for 98 yards and two scores. “[Saturday] was just another example of us putting the work in and coming out and being able to showcase it.”

    Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman talked to his players about the rivalry with Miami, about the famed 1988 “Catholics vs. Convicts” game, which also had the Hurricanes unbeaten and No. 1 and the Fighting Irish ranked fourth by the Associated Press. 

    The late Lou Holtz was honored by Notre Dame on Saturday, and the game carried the weight of past meetings and then some.

    “What a night! What a moment for this program, for this university, for so many people that love this place,” Freeman said postgame, as fans could still be heard cheering outside. “A special moment, and it’s hard to describe. We’re grateful for the people that helped this team get to that point and find a way to get that victory. I’m so proud of those guys and the way they battle.”

    Miami quarterback Darian Mensah looks to pass against Notre Dame in the second half of the Hurricanes’ first loss of the season. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

    Mensah rallied the Hurricanes with two touchdowns in a span of three minutes, so it was just a 24-17 lead early in the fourth quarter. Notre Dame faced a fourth-and-2 at the Miami 43 and took a risk by going for it. Carr found running back Nolan James wide open down the left sideline for a 36-yard gain to the seven-yard line, and Carr’s keeper on third-and-goal drew a facemask penalty that set up James’ one-yard touchdown for what would ultimately end up as the margin of victory.

    “I feel like we made a big statement,” said Carr, who finished 29 of 40 for 319 yards and three touchdowns, the third-highest yardage total of his college career. “I feel like we’re a great team. I feel like everybody knows we’re a great team, but tonight kind of showed what we’re capable of doing.”

    Notre Dame likely will face, at most, one more ranked opponent, SMU, before the College Football Playoff begins, closing out the regular season with Boston College (4-5), the Mustangs (7-2) and Syracuse (4-5). 

    Wide receiver Micah Gilbert goes in for the touchdown late in the first half against Miami in Notre Dame’s revenge win vs. the Hurricanes in Week 10.  (Photo by Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

    So if the Fighting Irish take care of those three, they’re in good shape to be a top-4 team when the playoff field is announced. Had they lost to Miami, they might have found themselves on the bubble to make the playoff, something they wanted to avoid after missing the cut a year ago.

    This season had a deep and talented quarterback class, competing not only for the Heisman but for positioning at the top of the 2027 NFL Draft. 

    You’ve already seen top prospects like Oregon’s Dante Moore and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin lost to long-term injuries, and Texas’ Arch Manning led the team to back-to-back losses to unranked teams. That set up Saturday as the two best quarterbacks left standing, and gave Carr a huge platform to prove himself against the No. 1 team in the nation.

    “I think myself, and the offense as a whole, has continued to just elevate as the year has gone on,” he said. “It’s been an exciting experience to be in a locker room with those guys in there and such amazing people and players, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

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