In a crucial matchup between ranked rivals, No. 3 University of Miami defeated No. 18 Florida State University 28-22 on Oct. 4 at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. The loss marks the Seminoles’ second straight defeat, dropping them to 3-2 on the season.
FSU opened strong, as senior quarterback Tommy Castellanos led an 11-play, 70-yard drive. He hit freshman running back Ousmane Kromah for 28 yards on third-and-2, then scrambled for 15 more on the next play to reach the red zone. The drive stalled and the ’Noles settled for a field goal to take a 3-0 lead.
Following a punt on their first drive, Miami’s offense found its rhythm. Senior quarterback Carson Beck found senior wide receiver C.J. Daniels deep down the middle for a 47-yard gain that set the Hurricanes up in the red zone. That duo reconnected moments later for a 4-yard touchdown, giving Miami a 7-3 advantage late in the first quarter.
Things began to unravel for the Garnet and Gold on the ensuing possession. Facing fourth-and-8, Castellanos looked for junior tight end Randy Pittman Jr. over the middle, but freshman defensive back Bryce Fitzgerald jumped the route and intercepted the pass.
Fitzgerald’s 43-yard return on the interception flipped the field position and Miami took one play to capitalize when Beck connected with freshman wide receiver Malachi Toney for a 44-yard strike to put the Hurricanes ahead 14-3 in the second quarter.
The third quarter was all Miami. The Hurricanes outgained Florida State 171-35 in total yardage and forced two more turnovers. Toney struck again midway through the quarter, taking a short pass and weaving through defenders for a 40-yard touchdown that extended the lead to 21-3.
Later, after another Castellanos interception, Daniels caught a 24-yard screen pass and sprinted into the end zone for his second touchdown of the night, making it 28-3.
As Miami’s lead ballooned by 25 points and some fans began to head out, the Seminoles continued to show fight. Castellanos led back-to-back scoring drives in the fourth quarter, each capped by a touchdown and successful two-point conversions to cut the deficit to 28-19 with just over a minute remaining.
Miami attempted to seal the game but failed to convert on fourth-and-8 from the FSU 23-yard line. Castellanos then moved the offense downfield once again, finding junior wide receiver Duce Robinson for a 30-yard completion that brought the ’Noles inside the Miami 20-yard line.
With under 30 seconds remaining, Garnet and Gold head coach Mike Norvell sent out freshman kicker Jake Weinberg, who drilled a 35-yard field goal to make it 28-22 with 20 seconds remaining.
Florida State attempted an onside kick, but did not recover it. Miami took over, kneeled out the clock and left with a rivalry win.
After the game, Castellanos took responsibility for the team’s turnovers and mentioned his thoughts on the past two losses.
“We just have to eliminate beating ourselves,” Castellanos said. “No one has beat us yet — we’re beating ourselves right now and it starts with me.”
Castellanos finished with 329 total yards and two touchdowns, but he struggled to find consistency early. His two interceptions both turned into quick Miami scores, flipping the game’s momentum.
The Seminoles committed three turnovers for the second straight game, all of which directly resulted in Miami touchdowns. Despite outgaining the Hurricanes in total offense, FSU’s mistakes and missed opportunities proved costly.
“When you fail to execute the little things against a team like that, it hurts,” senior offensive lineman Luke Petitbon said. “We did things that hurt ourselves at times, and that was kind of the issue.”
Norvell echoed frustrations over mental lapses in such an important game.
“There were just some untimely penalties, just some mistakes that we made,” Norvell said. “They were just a little too much to overcome.”
The victory gives Miami its first win in Doak Campbell Stadium since 2020 and extends its lead in the all-time series to 37-33. For the ’Noles, the back-to-back Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) losses add pressure on the second half of the season as they aim to stay in playoff contention.
“I know how much this game means for our team, our individuals, coaches, players, everybody involved,” Norvell said. “To come up short in this one is disappointing in every way.”
The Garnet and Gold will remain home next Saturday, Oct. 11 at noon to host the University of Pittsburgh as Norvell’s team looks to rebound and secure its first Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) win of the year.
Francisco Garcia is a Staff Writer for the FSView & Florida Flambeau, the student-run, independent online news service for the FSU community. Email our staff at contact@fsview.com.
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This article originally appeared on FSU News: ‘Disappointing in every way’: Turnovers cost Florida State in a 28-22 loss to rival Miami
Reporting by Francisco Garcia, Staff Writer / FSU News
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