Notre Dame @ Miami preview

The Skinny: In the late 1980s, Notre Dame and Miami were on top of the college football world. How times have changed since the Irish beat the Hurricanes 29-20 in their last meeting in 1990.

Both sporting 7-5 records, the two meet again for the first time in 20 years at the Sun Bowl on New Year’s Eve.

Notre Dame finished the season with wins over Utah, Army, and USC. Miami completed its season with a disappointing 23-20 loss in overtime to South Florida. After the game, coach Randy Shannon was fired. Larry Coker’s successor had a four-year record of 28-22. Offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland will be the Hurricanes’ interim coach at the Sun Bowl, and then Al Golden, who resurrected Temple's program, will take over.

Point Spread: Miami -3. Over/under – 47.

Miami’s Edge: The Hurricanes rank second in the nation in pass defense, having allowed only seven passing touchdowns this year. They are also second in pass efficiency defense and have 16 interceptions. The Miami defense has forced a total of 28 turnovers and is most effective in the red zone, where it ranks seventh in limiting opponents’ efficiency..

Notre Dame’s Edge: The Irish defense improved dramatically late in the season, limiting its last three opponents to one offensive touchdown. The improved linebacker play has been led by sophomore Manti Te’o who has recorded 127 total tackles.

The Quarterbacks: Miami’s Jacory Harris came back in the second half of the South Florida game after missing two games with an injury. He has completed 54.8 percent of his passes and has been picked off 12 times. True freshman Stephen Morris filled in for Harris while he was out, hitting on 60 of 120 passes, and throwing eight interceptions.

Freshman Tommy Rees replaced injured starter Dayne Crist in Notre Dame’s game against Tulsa and then led the Irish to three wins in November. He has completed 85 of 135 passes for 905 yards and 10 touchdowns.

NFL Prospects: Miami – RB Damien Berry, WR Leonard Hankerson, WR Travis Benjamin, G Brandon Washington, DB Brandon Harris. Notre Dame – WR Michael Floyd, DT Ian Williams.

Bowl history: This is Miami’s 36th bowl appearance and first time in the Sun Bowl. The Hurricanes’ overall bowl record is 19-16.

For the Irish, this will be their 30th bowl appearance and also the first time playing in the Sun Bowl. Notre Dame has an overall 14-15 record in the postseason, having lost nine straight bowl games until they beat Hawaii in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, 49-21, in 2008.

Etc.: Notre Dame and Miami started their series in 1955 with the Irish holding an overall 15-7-1 edge. For four straight years – 1987-1990 – the two teams met when both were ranked in the top 10 nationally.