Miami's Cristobal blasts refs over denied tying TD vs. Notre Dame - ESPN

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Miami coach Mario Cristobal ripped the ACC officiating crew for not overturning a called incompletion in the end zone that would have given Miami a chance to tie the score Saturday night against Notre Dame. Instead, the top-ranked Hurricanes lost for the first time this season, 31-24.

Tight end Elija Lofton appeared to come down with the ball and two feet in bounds in the corner of the end zone with 3 minutes, 43 seconds left in the game. But after he stepped out of bounds while attempting to complete the catch, Fighting Irish safety Luke Talich knocked the ball out.

Officials ruled the pass incomplete, and after a brief replay review, the call was upheld.

«Really, really disappointed that they negated Elija Lofton's touchdown with two hands on the ball and two feet in bounds, but like we told our team before we left Miami, do not leave it in the hands of the officials because that's what you're going to get out here,» Cristobal said in his postgame news conference.

«I'm pissed off. It's bulls--- and I'll leave it at that. That's the way it was seen by them. So, I gotta live with it and respect it, and our players gotta live with it, and we gotta do better. Again, don't leave it in the hands of the officials.»

Playing in its first game without star receiver Malachi Toney, who hurt his ankle in practice on Wednesday, Miami trailed 24-3 early in the third quarter before launching its comeback. Darian Mensah, who had only 49 yards passing in the first half, came alive, finding Cooper Barkate and Lofton for three total touchdowns to help close the gap to 31-24 with 9:53 left in the game.

After Notre Dame missed a 53-yard field goal, Miami got the ball in good field possession with a chance to tie. Lofton