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No. 3 Miami avoids an upset in a double-overtime rivalry game.
On October 17, 2026, the No. 3 Miami Hurricanes defeated the Florida State Seminoles 43-35 in a double-overtime contest. Miami trailed 21-14 in the fourth quarter before rallying to take the lead.
The game concluded in the second overtime when Miami's Bryce Fitzgerald intercepted a final pass intended for Duce Robinson, securing the victory.
Miami's narrow victory over Florida State was decided by two controversial officiating calls in double overtime.
Miami survived two late Hail Mary attempts to defeat Florida State 43-35 in a double-overtime thriller.
Florida State coach Mike Norvell contacted the ACC head of officiating to protest two controversial calls that cost his team a win against Miami.
No. 3 Miami won a thrilling, back-and-forth double-overtime game against rival Florida State with a final score of 43-35.
A victory secured by a defensive stand and a disputed whistle
Miami maintained its undefeated record by overcoming a fourth-quarter deficit to win in double overtime. The game ended when Bryce Fitzgerald intercepted a final pass intended for Duce Robinson.
Whether the result was fair remains a point of contention. Florida State argues that a holding penalty negated a potential game-tying touchdown, while others maintain the call was correct based on the rules. The judgment depends on whether the penalty was a critical error or a standard application of the rules in a high-stakes moment.
Focusing on the whistle over the game
Coverage largely converged on the drama of the final plays, but USA Today and ESPN shifted the focus toward the officiating. USA Today specifically highlighted the conflict between the coach's frustration and the analyst's support for the ruling, framing the victory as a product of officiating decisions.
ESPN provided more depth by noting that the same officiating crew had presided over a previous disputed loss for Florida State. NY Post remained the most traditional, focusing on player statistics and Florida State's road struggles. While the outlets captured the immediate tension, they largely ignored the structural tendency of high-profile games to be decided by subjective penalties that fuel long-term institutional grievances.
Oct 20 · Mike Norvell contacted ACC head of officiating Gary Patterson
The game concluded with a disputed interception on a Hail Mary. Mike Norvell described the holding penalty as an 'absolute joke' and stated that the calls were disappointing for his players. Norvell contacted Gary Patterson, the ACC head of officiating, to discuss grievances, and stated that a dismissive response from officials would be telling.
The dispute over whether athletic performance or officiating decided the game has moved from a debate among analysts to a formal grievance process. Mike Norvell's decision to contact the ACC head of officiating transforms a post-game complaint into an institutional challenge [1].
Newsweek focused on the coach's emotional response and the specific plays in question. However, it framed the event as part of a broader trend of officiating errors across professional and college football, shifting the context from a single game's fairness to a systemic failure [1].
Mike Norvell described the holding penalty as an 'absolute joke.'
NewsweekMike Norvell contacted Gary Patterson, the ACC head of officiating, to discuss grievances.
NewsweekMike Norvell stated that the calls were disappointing for his players and that a dismissive response from officials would be telling.
NewsweekThe game's conclusion involved a disputed interception on a Hail Mary.
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