CJ Daniels may have just ended the Catch of the Year debate before September even started, as written by Larry Brown Sports.
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The Miami senior wideout pulled off his best Odell Beckham Jr. impression in Sunday's 27-24 win over Notre Dame, hauling in a one-handed touchdown grab that belongs on every highlight reel.
It happened with 18 seconds left in the first half. Miami had 2nd-and-3 at the Irish 20 when Carson Beck took the snap — and immediately got swallowed by the pocket. With Notre Dame's Boubacar Traore draped all over him, Beck flung a desperation throw that sailed high.
OH. MY. CJ. DANIELS. 🤯🖐️
📺 ABC x @CanesFootball pic.twitter.com/FnoKVni8nw
— ACC Football (@ACCFootball) September 1, 2025
Enter Daniels. Backpedaling near the goal line, he launched into the air and somehow snatched the ball with his right hand, then let momentum carry him into the end zone. Touchdown. Hard Rock Stadium erupted.
The slow-motion replays made it look even more ridiculous. If Daniels doesn't make the play, Notre Dame safety Adon Shuler is walking away with the easiest interception of his life. Instead, Beck got credit for his second touchdown of the night — and probably owes Daniels dinner for bailing him out.
CJ Daniels with an Odell impression for the Touchdown#NDvsMIA pic.twitter.com/3GhDeHlWwN
— Blego (@BlegoBro) September 1, 2025
The score gave Miami a 14-7 halftime lead, setting the stage for a college football opening classic that went down to the wire. But the takeaway was clear: CJ Daniels just gave us one of those plays people will still be talking about in December.
Daniels and the Hurricanes are set to host Boston College next week. The Fighting Irish host 19th-ranked Texas A&M.
