Mario Cristobal describes what’s at stake in Week 1 matchup against Notre Dame

There are a handful of huge games on tap for Week 1 of the college football season. Very few will be bigger than Miami vs. Notre Dame.

With the AP Top 25 released on Monday, we now know that the matchup will be between two top-10 programs. Miami checks in ranked No. 10, while Notre Dame debuts at No. 5. It’s going to be a huge game.

“Without a doubt, I think everybody knows that,” ‘Canes coach Mario Cristobal said on the Gramlich & Mac Lain show. “It’s such a big, such an incredible opportunity for our program that that’s going to take care of itself come game week. As the big guy knows, I can’t be baited into talking about an opponent before game week.”

Still, Cristobal did break from his normal tradition to talk about the Notre Dame game. It will be hugely important for creating some early momentum in the season.

That Miami will get to host the game at Hard Knock Stadium is another factor. You get to play at home in a huge game to start the season, the pressure ramps up considerably to produce a result.

“We know. And I think it’s great when you have it on the schedule because you can say what you want as a coach, say, ‘Hey, let’s focus on this and what not,’ but everybody knows the opportunities that await us,” Cristobal said. “The only way to perform to your best levels is to prepare as hard and as best as you possibly can.”

The game is also a rekindling of an old and fierce rivalry. The two teams have met 27 times, with Notre Dame holding an 18-8-1 advantage in the series.

The two teams have met just four times in the last 35 years, though, with Notre Dame winning three of the last four. Miami took the most recent meeting, a 41-8 stomping in Miami Gardens.

Given the history, Cristobal expects a knock-down, drag-out fight with Notre Dame. It should be a good one.

“Yeah, I was part of that rivalry,” Cristobal said. “Moreso as a spectator. It was more of a redshirt. I didn’t get to play in the games like you would want to play. But certainly here at Miami as a player when that rivalry was really, really rolling. I’m sure the excitement, the juice surrounding it I think will be through the roof.”