COACH: “We didn't tackle well.”

Nov. 3, 2026 - Miami head coach Mario Cristobal is preparing his team in what most consider the biggest game of the year for the Canes, Notre Dame in South Bend on Saturday.

On Monday, coach Cristobal made multiple appearances, first early on The Joe Rose Show and later in the day he met with the local press on campus. He shared his thoughts on last week's game, what's to ben improved and upcoming game against Notre Dame

We have compiled his remarks by topic.

Opening statement… (press conference)

"First and foremost, I want to thank our fans who made the trip out to Chapel Hill. I really appreciate them and the turnout out there.”

On the hard fought game against North Carolina…

“…solid road win for us. Players show a lot of resiliency to earn that 1-0. Progress in some areas, more progress to be made in some other areas, and then all focus on a tremendous opportunity against an elite football team in Notre Dame.”

On Miami’s performance in Chapel Hill…

"These are good teams," Cristobal said on The Joe Rose Show. "The rate of people winning is down a bunch and the rate of top 25 teams losing is at an all-time high because there is a portal, there is NIL, and there is parity. Bill Belichick and Bobby Petrino have some experience. They have good players. That tight end is a good player. They have some NFL offensive linemen. They have really good running backs and receivers and their defensive line is good. Let's not take away what football is. It is a competitive game that has to be won on the field.”

"It was a matter of you just have to keep your guys playing as hard as they can for as long as they can. Eventually, you are going to find a situation where a play is going to come to you just by doing your job. You are going to get the momentum and when you have it, you have to take it and finish it. We were able to finish it in the fourth quarter."

On the offensive line play in Chapel Hill…

"Played really well. They were really physical at the line of scrimmage. Created a lot of movement. Pass protection was good. I think the one sack was actually a scramble on the design, like rollout. So you know, it's always fun for an O-line coach to see on the stat sheet. But they played well. They're hungry for more. They really they think that they're just scratching the surface, and they are. So certainly looking forward to building on that.”

On Miami’s defensive effort against the Tar Heels…

"Yeah, certainly we have to continue to push and elevate our levels of communication technique and fundamentals. Missed tackles certainly played a part, right? We were in positions where it could be maybe a two-yard gain end up being 14, 25, a little bit more. So I think it's things that we have to coach better, things that we have to execute better. But certainly, I think what's obvious, it's not up to the standard of physicality and whatnot. But we have done it before, and always every ounce of effort is poured in a self-assessment, improving and getting better.”

On Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman…

“ A ton of respect for Coach Freeman, what he's done there, and continues on with an awesome career that he's had, but has a very physical and talented team that is coached very well. Number one in the country on total defense. Top five on offense. Blocked more kicks than anybody in the country over the past couple years. Great scheme. Players play really hard and physical and fast. Play with a lot of intensity and detail. Again, great opportunity.”

On Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr…

"Well, right away you saw in that game that he was on his way to being an elite player, and by the second half he was doing elite things. So he's a guy that continues, has continued to develop as a passer, as a runner, a guy that has complete control of the offense. Very accurate, gets him in the right plays. Understands where pressure is coming from. Understands where he's protected, where he's not protected. Gets him in the right run game stuff. Extends plays, hurts you with his feet. I mean, he's become the complete quarterback and arguably one of the best players in college football."

On fixing Miami’s tackling…

"We didn't tackle well. When there was a lot of space and they checked the ball down into the boundary or a screen play, there was some missed tackles. In the world of coaching, you have to find answers. We have the ability to find answers and we just have to get there."

On Miami’s pass rush…

“There are guys winning. We just have to close on the quarterback. The game of college football is full of quarterbacks who can extend plays. We have to continue to work and get better and collapse pockets and get home.”

On getting ready, health wise…

"Sure, sure. I mean, the sports science is really helpful. I mean, them and trying to condition. I mean, we get our internal load data to tell us, 'Alright, what was the bounce back?' You get back at four in the morning, five in the morning. Got an hour back, right? But what does it look like today? After lifting, after running, after practice, what does it look like? What's our recovery weight? What's our freshness level? What's our heart rate at? What's our breath per minute at? All the things that give you indications of where has the body, how has it bounced back from a late game that had a pretty high play count So we use all that stuff to determine the fact that we practice the same but if there's anybody that is bouncing off the wrong way on that stuff, on those readings, then we make adjustments that are necessary.”

On Miami's “1-0” mentality…

"Well, you know our messaging. We do it behind closed doors, and we like to keep it that way. We like to keep it private and edgy in a way that helps us get the mindset necessary to go play. But that's probably the best way to leave it. We know it's a great environment. We certainly understand the challenges that come with playing great environments and respect it. And looking forward to a great opportunity."

On managing a long conference schedule…

"Conference games is playoff football. Remember, there are teams that need other teams to lose. You are not just playing against one staff, you are playing against all those staffs that need you to lose. Everyone is sharing information and finding your warts. That is how ball has been for a million years.”

On public trash talk…

"I think we're really focused on doing the things that help you actually win football games. There's no value in those words. There's no value in some things we talked about the other day in predictions, forecasts, narratives. There's not one of those things. Not one of the people talking about those things can block anybody, throw a ball, catch a ball, chase down and make a tackle. I mean, you have to be very grateful and humble to be entering the month of November, and have a chance to be playing really relevant football, and knowing that the teams that are going to continue to do well in November are teams that are really good at technique and fundamentals and playing with a lot of intensity, playing with a lot of energy, and this game is blocking and tackling, throwing, catching and running, executing right. So we'd rather pour the focus into that, right, and figuring that any ounce that goes into that other noise is an ounce that was important to the thing that mattered.”

GO CANES!