![\"Miami](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/MIA_2026-10-17AD2602UMvsFSUfootball_1.JPG\" "\\"Miami")
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Miami Hurricanes defensive back Bryce Fitzgerald (3) intercepts the pass for a touchback during the second overtime against the Florida State Seminoles at Hard Rock Stdium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Saturday, October 17, 2026.<\/p>\n
PHOTO BY AL DIAZ<\/p>\n
adiaz@miamiherald.com<\/p>\n
Whenever a football is thrown in Bryce Fitzgerald\u2019s direction, the Miami Hurricanes defensive back has one pressing thought.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s my ball,\u201d Fitzgerald said, \u201cor no ball.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Saturday night, in the biggest moment against the Hurricanes\u2019 biggest rival, it was Fitzgerald\u2019s ball.<\/p>\n
The sophomore hauled in the game-sealing interception in a crowded right corner of the end zone on a fourth-down Hail Mary attempt to cap the No. 3 Hurricanes thrilling 43-35, come-from-behind double overtime win<\/a> over the Florida State Seminoles at Hard Rock Stadium to keep Miami undefeated at 6-0 and 4-0 in Atlantic Coast Conference play.<\/p>\n The interception came on a throw intended for FSU\u2019s Duce Robinson, the Seminoles\u2019 6-6, 230-pound star receiver who had five catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns on the game.<\/p>\n \u201cMy basketball instincts,\u201d the 6-1, 185-pound Fitzgerald said of his ability to compete with larger receivers. \u201cI treat it like I\u2019m getting a rebound off the rim. In basketball, I always got it off the rim, so that\u2019s what I did.\u201d<\/p>\n He also did it while playing banged up. Fitzgerald went to the locker after Miami\u2019s first drive with what he called a stinger in his shoulder, which looked a lot worse in real time. He came back in second quarter, re-aggravated the injury but came back once again to finish the game.<\/p>\n \u201cWe thought he was hurt pretty bad early in the game,\u201d Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal said. \u201cHe went in there and they checked him out, and he didn\u2019t want to be held back. Came back out and was he was all over the field. He made that\u2019s not the only play he made. He gets in the right checks, has a lot of stuff back there that\u2019s sometimes unseen, but almost came up with another big play as well. He found a way to get that ball, and that was one hell of a contested catch by him. Lots of love for Bryce Fitzgerald.\u201d<\/p>\n As for why Fitzgerald returned to the game despite getting hurt?<\/p>\n \u201cCoach Cristobal always says if you\u2019re injured, you can\u2019t go, but if you\u2019re hurt, you\u2019re gonna go,\u201d Fitzgerald said. \u201cI told him I was good to go. Coach trusted me to go back in the game, so I went in and gave it my all.\u201d<\/p>\n And it mattered in the biggest moment even if the team had to hold its collective breath while the play went to replay review.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re all just waiting,\u201d running back Javian Mallory said. \u201cI see the team running around, but there\u2019s a whole bunch going through my mind right there. After the final call was made, all the emotions [came out], I was happy. We celebrated.\u201d<\/p>\n Fitzgerald showcased his ballhawking prowess as a freshman when he led Miami and finished tied for second nationally with six interceptions last season. He was primarily used as a safety and nickel corner then.<\/p>\n This year, he\u2019s had to play a lot at outside cornerback following early-season injuries to OJ Frederique Jr. and Ethan O\u2019Connor. He handled that role admirably over the past four games before getting the opportunity to play his natural positions again on Saturday.<\/p>\n And in the end, in the biggest moment, it paid off.<\/p>\n \u201cTough,\u201d wide receiver Malachi Toney said. \u201cHe willed us to victory.\u201d<\/p>\n