MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. - The sequence began with a completed desperation pass, a 36-yard throw from Florida State quarterback Ashton Daniels to Micahi Danzy in the end zone corner that gave the Seminoles an opportunity to even the score during the second extra period.

A holding penalty wiped out the play.

Facing one final opportunity to topple rival Miami, Daniels launched another long pass into the end zone, this time covering 46 yards toward 6-foot-6 Duce Robinson. As both players leaped for the ball, Miami safety Bryce Fitzgerald contested it as well. They came down entangled with hands battling for possession. Officials ruled it an interception on the field, and after a short replay review the decision stood, allowing the third-ranked Hurricanes to rush the field in celebration of their 43-35 double overtime victory against their rivals.

"I believed Bryce had secured the ball and drawn it into his body," Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. "Yet we have experienced similar situations in this venue previously, so we must avoid repeating that pattern moving ahead."

Two seasons earlier, Miami had escaped a similar last-second throw against Virginia Tech in the far end zone when replay reversed an initial touchdown ruling. The Hurricanes were then starting their ascent in the ACC. Today they stand as the clear frontrunners to claim the conference title and reach the College Football Playoff.

Miami entered as 21-point favorites, implying outsiders expected an easy night for the Hurricanes. Instead they trailed 21-14 in the fourth quarter, behind for the first time this season.

At that moment quarterback Darian Mensah informed his offensive line they would not lose. Miami responded by knotting the score on a four-play possession that leaned heavily on Malachi Toney and freshman running back Javian Mallory, who led the team with 108 rushing yards.

They moved ahead with 2:49 remaining following a drive where they controlled the line of scrimmage behind Mallory and Jordan Lyle. Florida State answered right away with a 75-yard completion to Robinson on the next series to tie the game at 28 and force overtime.

The closing sequence occurred after Miami claimed the advantage in the second extra period. The Hurricanes applied heavy pressure on Daniels and sacked him. A penalty created fourth-and-21 and the initial Daniels throw into the end zone for Danzy. Officials flagged Xavier Chaplin for holding. Florida State coach Mike Norvell indicated after the game he would review the film before addressing the decision.

"[Danzy] rose and delivered an outstanding effort," Daniels said. "Yet we failed to perform properly at every spot, all 11 players on offense, and that responsibility falls on us. During critical moments we cannot afford a penalty that sets us back."

That created fourth-and-31 from the Miami 46-yard line and one last chance for the Seminoles to prevail.

"I believed it was a touchdown," Daniels said. "We gave Duce an opportunity, which is his strength. He secures those catches, and we trust he did so, yet we are not the officials making the rulings and cannot influence those choices. We do not grasp it. Clearly it stings, but nothing can be done now."

Norvell noted he received no explanation for the on-field ruling and pointed out it was the same crew from the Stanford contest the prior year that the Seminoles also lost on a disputed final play.

"It stands out when the identical group returns in consecutive seasons for game-ending plays that conclude on the final snap," Norvell said. "I reviewed the play. From the beginning of the sport a tie favors the receiver, though perhaps they held a different view that revealed something else."

Fitzgerald had exited earlier with a shoulder stinger yet requested re-entry to cover Robinson. He credited his basketball experience for allowing him to jump higher and secure the ball.

He described his approach on the decisive play simply.

"It belongs to me or to no one," Fitzgerald said.

With prior defeats to Georgia and Notre Dame, Miami stands a strong chance to reach the top ranking in the Associated Press poll released Sunday. Cristobal dismissed any focus on that possibility.

"We possess sufficient evidence from 2026 to recognize that such matters hold no real weight or relevance amid weekly shifts," Cristobal said. "They offer nothing useful to our approach. My attention stays on the only meaningful mark, which is 1-0."