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Miami incomplete pass controversy: Hurricanes miss out on game-tying TD vs, Notre Dame due to questionable call originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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It's only fitting that we had a controversial call in the end zone during the 2026 edition of the Miami-Notre Dame rivalry, right? Miami's offense, which was playing without star receiver Malachi Toney on the road against Notre Dame, struggled in the beginning. But it started to find its groove in the second half.
The Canes scored 21 points in the second half, but a controversial call in the fourth quarter may have taken a game-tying touchdown off the board. Miami quarterback Darian Mensah hit his receiver Elija Lofton in the end zone, but the pass was called incomplete.
Here's everything you need to know about the play.
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Miami incomplete pass controversy
Miami's offense struggled in the first half, managing just a field goal, and trailed 17-3 at halftime. But Mensah and the Canes started to find their groove in the second half, as they had three touchdown drives, while the defense started to get stops against CJ Carr and Notre Dame's offense.
The Canes made it a one-score game with 9:53 left as Mensah found Cooper Barkate for a touchdown. Notre Dame's Spencer Porath then missed a 53-yard field goal to give Miami the ball back with 3:31 left. Mensah quickly got the offense deep into Notre Dame territory thanks to a 41-yard strike to Elija Lofton.
Mensah then had two incompletions after a second down to set up a crucial 4th-and-6. On the play, Mensah threw a pass to Lofton in the end zone. Lofton appeared to initially haul it in, but bobbled it as he went out of bounds.
Elijah Lofton couldnt hold it Notre Dame big 4th down stop pic.twitter.com/hXiEXZgvVS
— wok (@wokdior) November 8, 2026
The officials called the pass incomplete on the field. Officials reviewed the play, and the NBC broadcast stated that it was an ACC officiating crew on the call. The call was upheld as incomplete, although fans were hoping it would have been a touchdown:
Miami was THIS CLOSE to tying things up against Notre Dame.
Elija Lofton can't secure the catch and the Hurricanes turn the ball over on downs. pic.twitter.com/yk3IaSGI75
— Underdog CFB (@UnderdogCFB) November 8, 2026
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Did officials get the incomplete pass call right?
Because Lofton did not maintain control while he completed the process of making the catch, the call was ruled incomplete. There is also the "football move" part of the catch here in-play, which Lofton attempted to make before the ball came out.
Here's what the NCAA rulebook says regarding what constitutes as a catch:
To catch a ball means that a player:
1. Secures firm control with the hand(s) or arm(s) of a live ball in flight
before the ball touches the ground, and
2. Touches the ground inbounds with any part of the body, and then
3. Maintains control of the ball long enough to enable that player to
perform an act common to the game, i.e., long enough to pitch or hand
the ball, advance it, avoid or ward off an opponent, etc., and
4. Satisfies paragraphs b, c, and d below.
c. If the player loses control of the ball while simultaneously touching the ground with any part of their body, or if there is doubt that the acts were simultaneous, it is not a catch.
NBC rules analyst Terry McCauley said on the broadcast that the ball even started moving when Lofotn first caught the ball.
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Reactions to Miami incomplete pass controversy
Several fans had mixed reactions
Am I bugging or should that have been a touchdown for Elija Lofton? He had both feet down and the ball got knocked out after he was out of bounds… maybe I gotta see the play again
— hectic (@hecticscene) November 8, 2026
How’s that not a touchdown for Miami and Lofton? 2 feet in, with possession. Once you have possession and a foot down across the goal line it’s a touchdown.
— 🥇 (@7Mante4) November 8, 2026
This is the rule. Lofton catches the ball with two feet and steps out of bounds. I think it was a bad call on the field and the refs didn’t want to overturn it. https://t.co/kDECKuVZoT
— The Commonest Man in Festo (@hottakeharry) November 8, 2026
https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/miami-incomplete-pass-controversy-hurricanes-043325646.html
