Photo by Bobak Ha'Eri (CC BY 3.0), via Wikimedia Commons

Miami’s Controversial Notre Dame Ruling Gets Powerful Final Decision From Legendary Referee

Former NFL official Gene Steratore reviewed a contested end‑zone play from the November 7, 2026 game between Miami and Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, and concluded that the reception by Notre Dame tight end Elija Lofton did not satisfy the complete‑catch criteria, ruling it an incomplete pass. Steratore explained that while Lofton secured the ball and got both feet down, the required catch process was not finished before the ball came loose, leaving the play without a touchdown.

Miami head coach Mario Cristobal was seen disputing the call on the field, but Steratore’s final assessment upheld the original decision, confirming no score for Notre Dame on the play that had sparked debate among fans and analysts.

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