Miami DC Diaz: Losing to Notre Dame is a failure

Miami travels to Notre Dame this weekend to renew one of college football's most storied rivalries, and although the Fighting Irish are suffering through a rough season, Hurricanes defensive coordinator Manny Diaz admits this game is still of the utmost importance.

"They're being told, at Miami, you get judged on whether you beat Notre Dame or not. If you don't beat Notre Dame, it's a failure," Diaz told reporters after practice Wednesday. "It's a big deal. It's a big thing in this town. If we're both 12-0 or 0-12, playing here, there or on the moon, Miami must beat Notre Dame."

Related: 4 memorable games from the Notre Dame-Miami series

The struggles of Notre Dame has been one of the most shocking stories of the season thus far. The Irish were the No. 10 team in the preseason polls, but have sputtered to a 2-5 record, including losses in four of their last five games. Despite the poor mark, Diaz insisted this is not a team that can be taken lightly.

"Their offensive video is not 2-5," Diaz said. "It speaks as one of the top offenses in the country. The game in Raleigh was a farce, it should never have been played, they're playing in a lake. You can't judge anything on that, so you throw that one away. They've been putting up a truckload of points."

Miami also enters on a sour note, having lost three straight games after a 4-0 finish, and looks to right the ship at 3:30 p.m. ET in South Bend on Saturday.