Florida State quarterback Ashton Daniels briefly left the Seminoles’ game against Miami on Friday after taking a hit while sliding, then returned to the field on the next drive.
The play came after Daniels picked up a 15-yard scramble to move FSU into first down territory. As he went into a slide, Miami’s Zechariah Poyser came in high and made contact with the head area of the quarterback.
Officials threw a flag right away, and after a video review, the targeting call was upheld. Poyser was ejected.
Daniels was slow to rise, stayed down for a moment, and looked shaken after the hit. He was able to make it off the field once the review process started, then went to the medical tent for evaluation.
With Daniels out, backup quarterback Kevin Sperry stepped in while Florida State trailed 7-0 in the first quarter.
Poyser’s ejection was another hit to Miami’s secondary, which had already lost Bryce Fitzgerald on the first play of the game. The game was being televised on ESPN.
Florida State entered the night at 3-3 and 1-2 in the ACC, with its 2026 schedule listed as follows:
vs. New Mexico State | 34-17 W
vs. SMU* | 27-24 L
Bye
at Alabama | 50-36 L
vs. Central Arkansas | 34-7 W
vs. Virginia* | 38-7 W
at Louisville* | 44-20
at Miami* | Oct. 17
Bye
vs. Clemson* | Oct. 31
at Boston College * | Nov. 7
at Pittsburgh* | Nov. 13
vs. NC State* | Nov. 21
vs. Florida | Nov. 27
In Other News...
FSU's Miami Fight Suddenly Comes With A Bigger Worry
Florida States game against Miami took a worrying turn when running back Ousmane Kromah went down with a lower-body injury and had to be taken off the field on a cart with an air cast. It was the kind of scene that immediately shifted attention away from the scoreboard, especially in a rivalry game that was tight from the opening half and headed into halftime tied at 14.
Ashton Daniels also took a hit to the head and briefly left the game before returning, adding another layer of concern for the Seminoles as they tried to stay composed in a physical matchup. With the score still even and the injury situations hanging over both sidelines, Florida States focus now goes beyond just keeping pace with Miami. [Read more 🡒]
FSU Fans Have Every Reason To Be Furious After Miami Heartbreaker
Florida State came out of Miami with a gut-punch loss, falling 43-35 in double overtime to the third-ranked Hurricanes in a game that had enough swings to frustrate everyone involved. Ashton Daniels gave the Seminoles a chance all night, throwing for 298 yards and connecting multiple times with Duce Robinson, but the road skid keeps growing and the bigger concern may be how hard the team had to fight just to stay in position against a top-end opponent.
The Seminoles also took a hit when Ousmane Kromah went down with an ankle injury, thinning an offense that was already leaning on Daniels to make plays through the air. Miamis Darian Mensah answered with 326 passing yards and three touchdowns, and the finish only added to the sting, with the game hinging on a sequence Florida State will not forget anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Heartbreak At Miami Came Down To Two Brutal Twists
Florida States trip to Miami had all the makings of a breakthrough night before it turned into another long ride home. The Seminoles pushed the Hurricanes into double overtime and were still hanging around late in a 43-35 loss, but a nullified touchdown on a holding penalty wiped out one of the biggest swings of the night and kept the game in reach instead of shifting the pressure the other way.
The ending was even harsher, with a final interception call standing after review and sealing the defeat. For Florida State, the loss stretched its road skid to 12 games and left the Seminoles below .500 heading into a bye week, a frustrating place to sit after coming so close in one of the seasons most heated games. [Read more 🡒]