The ending of Florida State’s 43-35 double-overtime loss to Miami last Saturday is still drawing heat, and Jordan Travis is right in the middle of it.
The former FSU quarterback unloaded on the ACC officiating on the Travis Take Two podcast, singling out the holding penalty that erased Micahi Danzy’s apparent touchdown and kept the Seminoles from even reaching a possible game-tying two-point try. Travis called the flag “absolute trash” and said the call took the finish out of Florida State’s hands.
On fourth-and-21 from Miami’s 36-yard line in the second overtime, Ashton Daniels hit Danzy for what looked like a touchdown. Instead, officials flagged left tackle Xavier Chaplin for holding, wiping out the score and forcing Florida State into a fourth-and-31.
Travis didn’t hide where he thought the blame belonged.
“That ref wanted to make an impact in a big-time game, and he ruined something that could have been a really special ending to a game,” Travis said. "But you still have to go for the two. If we go down and we lose by two points, then it's like 'let's give it to Miami,' but now we have to live with what could have been."
He also pointed out that, until that stage of the game, there had only been two holding calls: one on the opening play against FSU wide receiver Jayvan Boggs, and another that Miami declined after choosing an illegal forward pass late in the second quarter.
Travis took issue with when the flag came out, saying it arrived after Daniels had already thrown the ball and taken a hit. He said he expected the officials to flag Miami for roughing the passer instead.
"If you're not calling holding calls the entire game, ok, don't call holding calls the entire game," Travis continued.
Then came the final snap of the game. Facing fourth-and-31, Daniels threw toward Duce Robinson in the end zone, and Miami safety Bryce Fitzgerald was credited with the interception. The ruling stood after review, and the game was over.
Travis said he believed Robinson had the ball and challenged the way possession was determined as the players came down with it.
“If you’re going to wait to see who has the ball at the end of the pile, it’s not a fumble. It’s a freaking catch or not,” Travis said. “And both of them had control, if you want to say it.”
Daniels still finished with 298 passing yards and four passing touchdowns, plus 31 rushing yards and another score, and Travis made sure to salute him.
“We lost the game, but Ashton Daniels played his heart out, and I respect him,” Travis said.
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