Notre Dame-Miami Is Now Catholics vs. Committee, and the Stakes Are Enormous

The “Catholics vs. Committee” shirts that Notre Dame fan Katie Bell printed last December may have renewed shelf life in 2026.

The Fighting Irish host Miami on Saturday, marking the 29th meeting all-time between the programs and the ninth since Catholics vs. Convicts tees became forever entrenched in college football infamy.

The original concept, dreamed up by a pair of Notre Dame students in 1988, faces renewed and warranted scrutiny whenever the topic comes up. Still, the shirts’ place in the sport’s modern-day lore has endured almost 40 years, resurrected every few years for different purposes like 2020’s “Mullets vs. Mormons” matchup of Coastal Carolina and BYU.

Bell gave its new life last year when Notre Dame was skipped for the final spot in the College Football Playoff — a spot that instead went to Miami.

While the Hurricanes’ inclusion in the 12-team bracket a year ago deserved skepticism in general, given Miami failed to reach the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game, they earned the unequivocally earned the spot as it pertains to Notre Dame.

Miami’s 27-24 win in the 2025 season opener gave The U an argument for which the Irish had no counter. And, with the Hurricanes reaching the National Championship Game, they both justified their inclusion and set the foundation for their No. 1 ranking in this year’s first Playoff rankings.

Miami debuting atop Tuesday’s Playoff ranking reveal came as no surprise. Even as the Hurricanes struggled to put away ACC opponents Florida State and North Carolina, their two-touchdown defeat of surprising Wake Forest and an unblemished overall record made their placement at No. 1 a formality.

Notre Dame checking in at No. 11, however, may have been the most surprising revelation.

The Irish came in a full seven spots lower than their spot in the Associated Press Top 25, published on Sunday. The difference between Saturday’s showdown being a top-four pairing in one poll and top-11 in another is jarring.

More importantly, the gap in Notre Dame’s ranking says rather clearly that Saturday is a must-win for the Irish’s Playoff chances.

For as much chaos as has unfolded this season, very few games had quite such high stakes for one side as Miami’s visit to South Bend brings. The Irish resume lacks a signature bullet point, and barring SMU reaching the Top 25 by Nov. 21, Miami is Notre Dame’s last opportunity to score one.

“These are the fun games,” Irish coach Marcus Freeman said on Wednesday’s Wake Up The Echoes podcast. “The big time atmosphere, [and] any competitor loves the opportunity to test their skills against the best.”

Atmosphere is an element Freeman hopes to have a tangible impact. The coach talked in his press conference on Monday about the Notre Dame Stadium crowd’s noise affecting Miami’s offense and its ability to communicate.

Not that the Irish faithful needed additional cause to be loud, but Freeman’s comments about the atmosphere predated the Playoff ranking reveal. With Saturday’s game becoming Catholics vs. Committee as much as it’s Catholics vs. Canes, this ranks among any of the most important home games Notre Dame has played in the modern era.