MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – It’s a rivalry that has been defined by its competitiveness.
For much of their shared history, when Miami and Florida State have met the stakes have usually been high, no matter either team’s record or ranking.
Pride, passion and bragging rights have always been at the forefront and on Saturday night at Hard Rock Stadium, the annual meeting between the Hurricanes and Seminoles was as gritty and as hard-fought as many of the rivalry’s past matchups.
This game, though, brought something with it something rare: overtime.
For just the second time in the series’ 71-year history, the two teams needed extra time to decide things and ultimately, it was Malachi Toney – one of Miami’s homegrown stars – that helped deliver the Hurricanes’ most emotional win of the season.
Moments after catching a 3-yard touchdown pass from Darian Mensah during the second overtime, Toney tossed a 2-point conversion to Cooper Barkate that eventually gave the Hurricanes a 43-35 win over Florida State.
Miami’s defense held the Seminoles on their ensuing possession, with Bryce Fitzgerald intercepting Florida State’s fourth-down Hail Mary pass attempt. The pick sealed the victory and kept the third-ranked Hurricanes unbeaten on what was a chaotic day across the nation in college football.
Toney finished with 11 catches for 154 yards, while Mensah completed 23 of 34 passes for 326 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Running back Javian Mallory, meanwhile, had a game-high 108 rushing yards.
And despite all the late-game theater, early on, the Hurricanes (6-0, 4-0 ACC) looked as steady as they have all season.
After forcing Florida State to punt on the game’s opening possession, Miami wasted little time getting into Seminoles territory with a highlight-worthy 30-yard pass play from Mensah to Toney.
The Hurricanes then put the ball in the hands of running back Mark Fletcher Jr., who had four straight carries, including a 7-yard touchdown run that capped an 11-play, 86-yard drive.
The touchdown was the 32nd of Fletcher’s career, tying him with Edgerrin James for second all-time on Miami’s career rushing touchdowns list. The senior needs just four more to take the top spot from Stephen McGuire.
But Florida State, which came into the game an upset-minded underdog, answered early in the second quarter.
The Seminoles tied it when Ashton Daniels connected with Desirrio Riles on a 23-yard pass play to cap a 7-play, 53-yard scoring drive.
The game kept going back-and-forth after that.
The two teams traded possessions before the Hurricanes regained the lead when Toney caught a 14-yard touchdown pass from Mensah with 8:19 left in the first half.
Florida State, though, capitalized on a series of Miami mistakes to tie it again.
A series of Hurricanes penalties shortened the field and set FSU up on the Miami 15 with 2:08 left before halftime.
The Seminoles needed just three plays and 28 seconds to get in the end zone, with Daniels running it in from 2 yards out to send both teams into the locker room tied at 14.
Florida State took that momentum from the final moments of the first half into the second and gave the Seminoles their first lead of the night when Quintrevion Wisner caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from Daniels.
Miami answered with a pair of touchdown drives, tying it at 21 when Javian Mallory scored on a 3-yard run and later taking the lead when Miami’s offense capitalized after a Florida State turnover.
After Ethan O’Connor forced a Seminoles fumble, Xavier Lucas recovered it and put the ball back in the hands of the offense.
The Hurricanes then marched down the field on a 10-play, 61-yard drive that took 6:08 off the clock and ended when Elija Lofton caught a 3-yard scoring pass from Mensah that gave the Hurricanes a 28-21 lead with 2:49 left.
It looked then as if the Hurricanes were in position to escape with a win, but in this rivalry, nothing is a given.
On its first play after the Miami touchdown, Daniels connected with Duce Robinson on a 75-yard scoring play that tied it again and set the two teams up for the overtime ending.
This story will be updated.