Florida State’s trip to South Florida got physical in a hurry, and quarterback Ashton Daniels took the brunt of it.
Miami struck first after the Seminoles opened with a punt, moving down the field with three third-down conversions before Mark Fletcher finished the drive with a touchdown. Then came the moment that changed the tone of the early game.
On Florida State’s second possession, Daniels tucked the ball and scrambled up the left side into space. He picked up the first down, then slid to protect himself.
Even after the slide, Miami defensive back Zechariah Poyser came in with a hit and delivered a headshot on the defenseless quarterback. Daniels was forced out of the game briefly after the collision.
Poyser was ejected for targeting and will not play for the rest of the night.
Daniels stayed down after the contact while trainers and head coach Mike Norvell rushed onto the field. He got back to his feet shortly after and made his way to the sideline, but the hit sent him to the injury tent to be checked for a concussion.
While Florida State evaluated Daniels, sophomore Kevin Sperry took over at quarterback. He completed 1 of 2 passes for 7 yards and added 2 rushing yards as the Seminoles moved inside the five. But the drive stalled there, with Ousmane Kromah stopped short on fourth down and Florida State turning it over on downs at the goal line for the second straight week.
Daniels later returned and helped flip the script. On the next drive, he guided a 7-play, 53-yard march and hit Desirrio Riles for a 23-yard touchdown to tie the game.
Through the opening stretch of the second quarter, Daniels had completed 4 of 5 passes for 68 yards and a touchdown while running for 26 yards on five carries. Florida State and Miami were tied 7-7.
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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 🡒]