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No. 3 Miami Survives Sloppiest Game of the Year With Massive Gut Check Performance In Double OT Thriller

After playing the sloppiest half of football the Hurricanes have seen all season, they come out blazing in the second half, highlighting why they are one of the nation's best teams.
Justice Sandle|
Oct 17, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney (1) makes a catch during the first quarter against the Florida State Seminoles at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Oct 17, 2026; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney (1) makes a catch during the first quarter against the Florida State Seminoles at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

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Miami (FL) HurricanesFlorida State Seminoles

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Entering this game, weather concerns were the topic of conversation between the historic rivalry game of No. 3 Miami and Florida State. Let alone the outside college football world with upsets galore.

Rivalry games are tricky, with energy and emotions that allow for a fun, violent night. For both teams, that was the goal, but UM would be the beneficiary of the rain and take advantage of it as they escaped an upset against the Seminoles, 43-35.

The walk-in was wet and muggy, as rain continued to pour into Hard Rock Stadium as the game kicked off. However, it was expected for most of the game. What wasn't expected was the first-half play of the Hurricanes.

For each team, it was a sloppy first half. FSU head coach Mike Norvell would fall into his self-inflicted trap of not taking points, while the Hurricanes' defense would stand stout. However, the Seminoles still found a way to tie the game 14-14 entering halftime. Miami hurt itself with penalties, gifting great field position and allowing the rival team to take control.

Darian Mensah would have his first Heisman-like moment of the season in the first half, but he would be hit-or-miss in the first half of the game. It's also how the offense moved.

Miami's first half would be thrown into the dumpster. They would turn to their run game, but not before the Noles took the lead and entered the fourth quarter, 21-14. For Miami, it would be gut-check time.

However, more questionable calls on the offensive side of the ball would hold the Canes back from getting fourth-down conversions. Time after time, the Hurricanes would run to the weak side of the line the Seminoles would stop them.

However, all it took was one creative drive to get the Hurricanes back into the game. First is was a pass to Malachi Toney to get down the field. After a run from Javian Mallory. After a jet sweep to Toney before Mallory punched it in for the game tying touchdown.

After, it would be up the Miami's defense made of tape and paper clips to make a play. They did, and it came from the best player all season who has remained healthy, Ethan O'Connor.

It would turn into the drive of the year for Miami. Mensah had been spotty all day, but a dime on third and long would keep the Hurricanes in the game. Miami would return to the run game, this time with Jordan Lyle, and punch it in the end zone with a pass to Elija Lofton with 2:49 remaining on the clock.

28-21 with Miami's defense ready for the call, but in one play for a 75-yard bomb, Duce Robinson and Ashton Daniels would throw over Xavier Lucas for a touchdown. 28-28. Miami would get the ball back and have a chance to go down the field and score, but got stopped short of a first down. Thanks to a great punt, they were able to pin FSU back and force the

It would be time for Miami to be a closing team again. But it would turn into an overtime thriller in remaining few minutes.

First, the Seminoles would have the ball and march down the field to get inside the end zone. It would be the first possession of overtime, and they would execute with ease. However, Miami would return to Mallory, and he would punch it in for a 25 yard rush.

Miami would get a chance to get the ball again after tying the game. They would flip the script and use Lyle to pound it down the field before it ended with Toney catching the touchdown. Then he would throw the finishing touch with the two-point conversion.

It was down to the defense, and at that point anything could happen. History and Hail Marys haven't been a consistent trend for the Hurricanes.

This time it came down to two. One was caught but was called back thanks to a holding call. The final prayer would come before Bryce Fitzgerald, who had been in and out of the lineup the whole game. He would use his basketball instinct to out-jump Robinson to finish the game.

Survive and advance. Miami will return home after this emotional win and face Pitt in the first afternoon game of the year.

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Justice Sandle
JUSTICE SANDLE

Justice Sandle is a graduate of Mississippi State University earning a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Communications with a concentration in Print and Digital Journalism. During his time in Starkville, he spent a year as an intern working for Mississippi State On SI primarily covering basketball, football, baseball, and soccer while writing, recording, and creating multimedia stories during his tenor. Since graduating, he has assumed the role of lead staff writer for Miami Hurricanes On SI covering football, basketball, baseball, and all things Hurricanes related.

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