Florida State’s trip to Miami turned into one of those games that feels impossible while it’s happening and somehow even worse after it’s over. The Seminoles had not one but two chances to pull off the kind of ending that can change a season. Instead, both went away, and Miami walked out with a 43-35 double-overtime win.
The sequence that will linger started when FSU faced fourth-and-21 after Miami struck quickly with two overtime touchdowns. The Seminoles needed a touchdown just to stay alive.
Ashton Daniels floated a sharp ball to Micahi Danzy, who went up over a defender and appeared to finish a 36-yard touchdown. For a moment, it looked like Florida State had found the exact kind of spark it had been chasing.
Then the flag came out.
Xavier Chaplin was called for holding, and the play disappeared, leaving FSU staring at fourth-and-31 instead. Mike Norvell did not hide his frustration afterward.
"They said it was on 77 [Chaplin's number]. Go watch the film," a disgruntled Mike Norvell said about the call postgame.
Florida State still had one more swing at the wheel. Daniels was forced out of the pocket, rolled to his right and lofted a pass toward the right corner of the end zone. Duce Robinson got both hands on it while boxed in by a cluster of orange jerseys, and for a second it looked like he had delivered the final miracle.
Robinson’s night already had a dramatic feel to it, thanks to a 75-yard game-tying touchdown and a 20-yard score in the fourth quarter and overtime. He finished with five catches for 113 yards.
But the ending did not break FSU’s way. Miami defensive back Bryce Fitzgerald, who had been in and out of the game because of injuries, was ruled to have taken the ball away in the scrum for an interception.
The play was reviewed, and the ACC command center upheld the ruling on the field. Florida State was left with the loss and a road skid that now sits at 12 games, dropping the Seminoles to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the ACC heading into their bye.
"I watched the replay. Since the start of football, the tie goes to the receiver," Norvell said. "I guess they had a different angle that you could see something different."
Florida State’s remaining schedule includes Clemson on Oct. 31, then trips to Boston College on Nov. 7 and Pittsburgh on Nov. 13, before home games against NC State on Nov. 21 and Florida on Nov. 27.
In Other News...
FSU Still Has Key Lineup Questions Entering Rivalry Game At Miami
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Even so, there are still lineup questions hanging over the Seminoles, with offensive lineman Paul Bowling and defensive lineman Darryll Desir remaining probable. Miami coach Mario Cristobal said several defensive players are expected to play, which adds another layer of uncertainty to a game that already carries plenty of pressure and no shortage of physical stakes. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Faces A Rivalry Test That Could Define This Season
Florida State walks into one of the biggest stages on its schedule Saturday night, heading to Hard Rock Stadium for the annual rivalry meeting with third-ranked Miami. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN, and even before the opening whistle, the matchup carries the feel of a measuring-stick game for the Seminoles against a team with postseason ambitions and plenty of momentum.
The numbers around the game underscore the challenge. Florida State has had some success in Miami over the years, but the Hurricanes still own the all-time series edge, and the betting line reflects how steep the task looks on paper, with the Seminoles listed as 20.5-point underdogs in a game with an over/under of 56.5. For Florida State, it is the kind of rivalry test that can reshape the conversation around a season in a hurry, for better or worse. [Read more 🡒]