Carson Beck threw four touchdown passes — two each to Malachi Toney and CJ Daniels — and No. 3 Miami held off a furious late rally to defeat No. 18 Florida State, 28-22, on Saturday night at Doak Campbell Stadium.
The win marked a statement moment for the Hurricanes (5-0, 1-0 ACC), who earned their first road victory of the season and their third triumph over an Associated Press Top 25 opponent, having already defeated Notre Dame and South Florida.
True freshman receiver Malachi Toney continued his breakout campaign, catching seven passes for 107 yards and two touchdowns. Beck was sharp for most of the night, taking advantage of Florida State’s mistakes to build a commanding lead.
“We wanted to play fast and disciplined, and we did that for most of the game,” Miami head coach Mario Cristobal said. “That’s our fourth straight game against an opponent from the state of Florida — USF, Florida State, Florida — and being state champions means a lot to us.”
Florida State (3-2, 0-2 ACC) entered the game looking to bounce back from a double-overtime loss to Virginia in Week 5, but familiar issues resurfaced. Quarterback Tommy Castellanos threw two interceptions, both leading to Miami touchdowns.
The Seminoles also fumbled once — their third turnover of the night — though that one did not lead directly to points. A week after committing three turnovers against Virginia, FSU’s inability to protect the ball again proved costly.
Miami capitalized on every opportunity, building a commanding 28-3 lead entering the fourth quarter.
Despite being down 25 points, Florida State made things interesting in the final quarter. Castellanos connected with Lawayne McCoy and Randy Pittman for a pair of touchdown passes, and a 35-yard field goal in the final seconds brought the score to 28-22.
The Seminoles attempted onside kicks after each score but failed to recover either one. Miami’s special teams and defense held firm to seal the win.
For most of the night, Miami’s defense suffocated Florida State’s offense. The Hurricanes stopped the Seminoles on seven straight drives — forcing four punts and generating three turnovers.
A Florida State offense that had rushed for over 230 yards in each of its first four games was limited to just 132 yards on 38 carries (3.5 yards per carry).
“We were physical up front and played with great discipline,” Cristobal said. “That’s what it takes to win these rivalry games.”
Miami, already entrenched at No. 3, likely won’t move up in the rankings but continues to solidify its playoff resume with another win over a ranked opponent. Florida State, on the other hand, is expected to fall out of the Top 25 after suffering its second consecutive loss.
Takeaway: Miami proved it can win on the road and close out tough games, while Florida State’s turnover issues continue to derail its promising season.
Florida State: Hosts Pittsburgh on Saturday. Miami: Returns home to host Louisville on Oct. 17 in a pivotal ACC showdown.
