Miami is tied for second all-time with Notre Dame with nine victories against the top-ranked team nationally per ESPN. Alabama is first with 11 wins all-time against the top-ranked team in the country. The first two Miami national championships were won at home against the number one team.
Miami earned its first win over the top-ranked team nationally with a 17-14 victory over number one Penn State in 1981. The Hurricanes held on after taking a 14-0 lead into the fourth quarter. Jim Kelly of Miami and Todd Blackledge of Penn State were the quarterbacks and would become first-round picks in the 1983 NFL Draft.