No. 3 Miami survived one of the wildest nights of the season, outlasting Florida State 43-35 in double overtime at Hard Rock Stadium to move to 6-0.
It was a rivalry game that never settled down. The Hurricanes and Seminoles traded blows for four quarters before the game spilled into overtime, where Miami finally found enough answers to escape with the win.
The first half gave Miami plenty of problems. The Hurricanes were sloppy early, and the mistakes piled up fast: an ejection in the opening quarter, six penalties before halftime, and several missed assignments that kept Florida State in the game. The Seminoles took advantage of the opening, and in a matchup like this, that kind of looseness can flip the whole script.
Zechariah Poyser’s early ejection only made things tougher for Miami’s defense. He was called for personal foul and targeting, leaving the secondary shorthanded in a game where that group was already dealing with injuries. Bryce Fitzgerald went down midway through the first quarter with a shoulder injury, then returned in the second quarter and still managed to deliver the game-saving interception in overtime to seal the victory.
Florida State quarterback Ashton Daniels had a huge night against Miami’s defense, completing 15 passes for 298 yards and four touchdowns. The Seminoles piled up 443 total yards, including 305 through the air, while Miami’s defense managed just two sacks and three tackles for loss. For a unit that usually leans on disruption, it was a rough outing and one that will give Corey Hetherman plenty to sort through on film.
Miami’s offense wasn’t sharp for much of the night either, with Darian Mensah struggling at times and the unit looking stagnant and inconsistent. But when the Hurricanes needed a jolt, Malachi Toney delivered again. The true freshman finished with 11 catches for 154 yards and two touchdowns, and he also completed a pass to Cooper Barkate for a 2-point conversion in overtime.
Toney kept answering every time Miami needed a play, and Javian Mallory made sure the comeback stayed alive too. He ran for 108 yards on 13 carries and scored two touchdowns, including a 25-yard overtime burst that tied the game and kept Miami rolling. He averaged more than eight yards per carry and turned in the kind of performance that can stick in a rivalry game like this.
For a night that started messy and stayed tense all the way through, Miami found enough late-game firepower to stay unbeaten and walk away with a dramatic rivalry win.
In Other News...
Ashton Daniels Hit Leaves Florida State Fans Watching One Thing
Florida States sideline had to hold its breath for a few moments Saturday after Ashton Daniels took a hit to the head while sliding against Miami. The play drew an ejection for Hurricanes defensive back Zechariah Poyser on a targeting call, and Daniels was sent to the medical tent for evaluation before eventually making his way back onto the field.
Kevin Sperry stepped in during Daniels brief absence, giving the Seminoles a reminder of how quickly a game can tilt when the quarterback is forced out for even a snap or two. For Florida State, the bigger concern was Daniels health, and his return on the next drive at least offered some relief after a tense sequence in a rivalry game already packed with emotion. [Read more 🡒]
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 🡒]