ACC Referees Ripped for Missing Apparent Safety for Miami vs. Florida State

The Hurricanes caught a tough break in a tightly contested rivalry matchup.

When Miami and Florida State get together, weird things tend to happen.

Ask anyone old enough to remember the rivalry in its glory years, when the Hurricanes and Seminoles ruled the college football world. Missed kicks decided the outcome in 1991, 1992, 2000, ’02, the ’04 Orange Bowl and ’18. It’s not for the faint of heart.

On Saturday, the rivalry was once again loaded with stakes, with No. 4 Florida State seeking to remain firmly in the national picture. However, the Seminoles benefited from a controversial call in the first half.

With 2:02 to play in the second quarter and Florida State facing first-and-20 on its own 15-yard line, Miami linebacker Wesley Bissainthe appeared to sack Seminoles quarterback Jordan Travis in the end zone for a safety. However, Travis was ruled to have come down at the one-yard line, and the play was upheld on review.

The moment loomed large in a tight first half and earned attention across the country.

This wasn’t called a safety for Miami.

It was REVIEWED and not called a safety. pic.twitter.com/xjsDyI8qL4

— CFB Kings (@CFBKings) November 11, 2023

Fans of the Hurricanes and other teams were irate.

Some questioned their sanity after watching the clip.

How is this defensible? Am I the crazy one? https://t.co/iNKIDloMmP

— Ross Turke (@Ross_Turke) November 11, 2023

Many questioned how the placement of Travis’s knee didn’t meet the standard of “indisputable video evidence” for overturning a call on the field.

Looks like “indisputable video evidence” to me. https://t.co/QwcU0fPoUa

— Matt McGavic (@Matt_McGavic) November 11, 2023

Miami backers noted that a similar occurrence had befallen them against Clemson on Oct. 21.

second time this has happened to us this year

— braden (@blockedbybethea) November 11, 2023

One Florida State writer, however, pointed out that the call may have actually helped out the Hurricanes.

The non-call on safety might have actually given Miami an extra point. Hurricanes got the ball at the FSU 31 after the punt. So, instead of 10-9 it's 10-10. Then again, it could be 12-10 Miami. No way of knowing. But getting ball at FSU 31 was a nice trade-off.

— Corey Clark (@Corey_Clark) November 11, 2023