Miami survives two Hail Marys, leaving FSU without answers in 2OT thriller — SkimNews
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- Miami escaped two Florida State Hail Mary attempts to win 43-35 in double overtime, with safety Bryce Fitzgerald's interception of an Ashton Daniels heave to 6-foot-6 Duce Robinson upheld after replay review on a fourth-and-31 from the Miami 46.
- Officials had already nullified a 36-yard Daniels-to-Micahi Danzy Hail Mary completion with a holding penalty on Xavier Chaplin, setting up FSU's one final desperation shot.
- Despite entering as 21-point favorites, the Hurricanes trailed 21-14 in the fourth quarter — their first deficit of the season — before quarterback Darian Mensah rallied the offense, with freshman running back Javian Mallory finishing with a team-high 108 rushing yards.
- FSU coach Mike Norvell noted the officiating crew was the same one from the Seminoles' disputed loss to Stanford last year, saying, "a tie goes to the receiver, but I guess they had a different angle."
- Fitzgerald re-entered the game after a shoulder stinger specifically to defend Robinson's jump ball, saying his mindset was simply "it's my ball or no ball" and crediting his basketball background for the catch.
- The win could push Miami to No. 1 in the next AP poll given losses by Georgia and Notre Dame, though coach Mario Cristobal dismissed the ranking as "absolutely insignificant and irrelevant."
Why it matters: The result likely vaults Miami to No. 1 in the AP poll and reinforces its status as the ACC favorite for the College Football Playoff — but nearly blowing a 21-point home spread to a struggling Florida State squad exposes a fragility that opposing coaches will look to exploit in the postseason.
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