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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — In a game that see-sawed for four quarters and needed two extra periods to decide, No. 3 Miami outlasted longtime rival Florida State, 43-35, on Saturday night at Hard Rock Stadium. The Hurricanes remain unbeaten at 6-0, but the victory was anything but straightforward.
Here are five quick takeaways from one of the wildest games of the college football season.
Miami's Post-Bye Woes Persist
Under head coach Mario Cristobal, the Hurricanes had been 3-3 in games following a bye week, with all three losses coming at home against ACC opponents. That trend appeared to continue early as Miami came out flat, committing six penalties in the first half and losing a player to ejection in the first quarter. Missed assignments and poor execution on details kept the Seminoles within striking distance and gave them confidence — a dangerous thing in a rivalry game. The sloppy start was reminiscent of previous post-bye performances under this staff, and the team will need to address how it handles extended breaks moving forward.
Secondary Tested Again by Injuries and Ejection
Miami's secondary, already thin due to injuries, faced another challenge when Bryce Fitzgerald left in the first quarter with a shoulder injury. He returned in the second quarter and ultimately made the game-sealing interception in overtime. The unit also lost Zechariah Poyser to a targeting ejection early in the first quarter. The result was the secondary's worst outing of the year, as six different Florida State players recorded a reception in the first half. Seminoles quarterback Ashton Daniels completed 15 passes for 298 yards and four touchdowns, dissecting Miami's defense with ease. The group will need to clean up its communication and assignments before Pittsburgh visits next week.
Defense Delivers Worst Showing of the Season
Defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman's unit turned in arguably its poorest performance of his tenure. The Hurricanes allowed 443 total yards, including 305 through the air, and managed just two sacks and three tackles for loss — a far cry from a group that prides itself on creating negative plays. Missed assignments and poor communication plagued the defense all night, nearly costing Miami its first loss. Hetherman will have plenty of teaching material on film as the unit works to correct its mistakes.
Malachi Toney Saves the Day for the Offense
When the offense sputtered for much of the night, Malachi Toney provided the spark. Quarterback Darian Mensah looked human for the first time this season, but Toney was there to pick up the slack. The receiver finished with 11 catches for 154 yards and two touchdowns, and he also completed a pass to Cooper Barkate for a two-point conversion in overtime. With the Heisman race heating up, Toney made another strong case on a prime-time stage in a huge rivalry win.
Javian Mallory Emerges as Next Great Miami Running Back
True freshman Javian Mallory turned in a fantastic performance, rushing for 108 yards on 13 attempts (8.3 yards per carry) and two touchdowns. His 25-yard scoring run in overtime tied the game and kept Miami alive. Mallory showed explosive flashes throughout the night and may have just made a name for himself in one of college football's fiercest rivalries. Players often seize the spotlight in games like this, and Mallory appears to have done exactly that.