The Florida State Seminoles pushed Miami all the way to double overtime on Saturday night, but the Hurricanes escaped with a 43-35 win in Miami after a hail-mary interception intended for wide receiver Duce Robinson.
Florida State found big plays all night and finished with eight gains of 20 yards or more, a key reason the game stayed tight deep into the night. Jayvan Boggs and Jasen Lopez each hauled in long first-half receptions of 20 and 39 yards, and tight end Desirio Riles added a 23-yard touchdown to bring the Seminoles level in the first half.
Ashton Daniels kept FSU in the fight, going 15-for-28 for 298 yards and five total touchdowns. He also added a two-yard rushing score on the next play after star running back Ousmane Kromah left the game before halftime with what appeared to be a serious ankle injury.
Kromah was carted off with an air cast on his leg, and the injury lands as a major blow for a Florida State backfield that had already lost Sam Singleton, Jr. earlier in the season. Before going down, Kromah had 44 yards on 14 carries to lead the team.
The Seminoles also got a huge defensive moment when Ashlynd Barker intercepted Darian Mensah in the end zone to shut down Miami’s first second-half drive. But FSU could never fully cash in on that momentum. Twice in the first half, the Seminoles came up empty on fourth down inside the Miami 5-yard line, leaving points behind.
Then there was the turnover that hurt the most. With the score tied 21-21 in the fourth quarter, Tre Wisner fumbled with 8:57 left, and Miami turned that mistake into a 61-yard touchdown drive that took more than six minutes off the clock.
Still, Florida State had chances late. Daniels found Wisner for a 28-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter to give the Seminoles their first lead, and Robinson delivered two of the biggest plays of the night when it mattered most. He caught a 75-yard touchdown to tie the game, then grabbed a 20-yard touchdown in the first overtime to put FSU ahead 35-28 and force Miami to respond.
In double overtime, Danzy appeared to score on a 36-yard touchdown, but the play was wiped out by a holding penalty on Xavier Chaplin. The Seminoles never got the finish they were chasing.
Florida State now heads back to Doak Campbell Stadium to face Clemson on Halloween night, with kickoff time still to be announced.
In Other News...
ACC Coach Chuck Amato Remembered For The Legacy He Left Behind
Chuck Amato, whose coaching journey included a meaningful stop at Florida State before he became the head coach at NC State, has died at 80, closing the book on a career that stretched across several programs and decades. Amato spent seven seasons leading the Wolfpack from 2000 to 2006, guiding them to a 49-37 record, four bowl victories and a school-record 11-win season in 2002, all while building on the reputation he had already established as a longtime college football coach.
For Florida State fans, Amatos name carries the kind of familiar weight that comes from being part of the sports coaching fabric long before he ever took charge elsewhere. His path also included a stint at Akron, and he retired in 2018 after leaving behind a broad footprint in the game, one now being remembered for the stability, success and longevity he brought wherever he worked. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State's Backfield Suddenly Has One Huge Job Before Clemson
Florida States running back depth took a major hit this week, leaving Quintrevion Wisner and Amari Thomas as the only healthy backs in the room after Ousmane Kromahs season-ending injury. It is the kind of turn that immediately changes how a staff has to plan a week, especially with Clemson looming and the Seminoles trying to steady themselves after a rough stretch.
Mike Norvell said he remains confident in where the program is headed, even with the recent setbacks piling up around the roster. The day also brought sad news off the field, with former FSU assistant and NC State head coach Chuck Amato dying at 80 after battling throat cancer, a reminder of how tightly connected the sports present-day urgency can be to its past. [Read more 🡒]
Florida State Just Exposed A Miami Problem Other Teams Will Notice
Miamis double-overtime win over Florida State came with a clear warning sign attached. Darian Mensah spent much of the night under duress, as the Hurricanes allowed 14 quarterback pressures, their most since Sept. 27, 2024, and the Seminoles kept finding ways to disrupt the pocket with stunts and twists that tested the protection from the edges inward.
Samson Okunlola and Matt McCoy had a difficult time sorting out those looks, and coach Mario Cristobal pointed to Florida States twisting maneuvers as the source of some of the breakdowns. Center Ryan Rodriguez said the answer has to come from sharper recognition and better technique, because if Miami keeps leaving that kind of pressure on its quarterback, other defenses will notice the film and come after the same weak spots. [Read more 🡒]