MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - Miami’s secondary took another hit almost immediately against Florida State, as sophomore safety Bryce Fitzgerald was ruled out after an apparent shoulder injury on the game’s first play.
Fitzgerald had been one of Miami’s biggest bright spots last season, earning Freshman All-American honors while leading the ACC in interceptions. This year, he had been moved around and asked to play corner because of earlier injuries around him. For a defense that was only just getting healthier, losing him again was a tough early setback.
The problems didn’t stop there. On the next series, the Hurricanes also lost Zechariah Poyser after a targeting call on Florida State quarterback Ashton Daniels.
Fitzgerald did make it back to the sideline, but ESPN reported during the broadcast that he was done for the night. Freshman JJ Dunnigan stepped in for him, while Miami continued to rotate pieces through the secondary.
The Hurricanes were also coming off a bye week, and the broadcast noted some rust in their play. Even so, Miami is expected to keep settling in as the game goes on.
Miami and Florida State also came into this matchup with very different recent results. The Hurricanes beat Clemson 41-13 last time out in what was described as one of the best program wins in recent memory, driven by the run game and a dominant defensive front. Florida State, meanwhile, was coming off a rough road loss to Louisville after squandering a chance to jump out to a 21-0 lead.
Miami had already handled Florida State once before, winning 28-22 on the road in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score suggested. In that one, Malachi Toney and the rushing attack did the damage.
The game was being televised by ESPN with Tom Hart on play-by-play, Roddy Jones as the color commentator, and Quint Kessenich reporting from the sideline. On radio, the Hurricanes were carried by 104.3 WQAM with Joe Zagacki, Don Bailey, Jr., and Josh Darrow. Spanish-language coverage was on Radio Libre 790 AM with Alfredo Alvarez and Joe Martinez.
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 🡒]