{"id":431381,"date":"2026-10-18T17:32:15","date_gmt":"2026-10-18T17:32:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/431381\/"},"modified":"2026-10-18T17:32:15","modified_gmt":"2026-10-18T17:32:15","slug":"were-an-extremely-resilient-team-takeaways-from-miamis-43-35-rivalry-win-over-fsu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/431381\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018We\u2019re an extremely resilient team:\u2019 Takeaways from Miami\u2019s 43-35 rivalry win over FSU"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Freshman safety JJ Dunnigan celebrates after a turnover on Oct. 17, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium. <\/p>\n

Two years ago, Miami stood at the edge of disaster with a Hail Mary floating toward the endzone.<\/p>\n

On Sept. 27, 2024, Virginia Tech\u2019s Kyron Drones launched one on the final play, looking to steal victory from No. 7 Miami. It came down to Hokies\u2019 Da\u2019Quon Felton and Hurricanes\u2019 receiver-playing safety Isaiah Horton.<\/p>\n

Officials ruled it a touchdown, sending the VT sideline into a frenzy and the Hokies rushed the field. After a tense five-minute review, the touchdown was overturned and gave Miami the 38-34 win<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Two years later, it happened again.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Up 43-35 in double overtime, No. 3 Miami watched Florida State\u2019s Ashton Daniels heave a fourth-down pass into the right side of the end zone. Just one play before, Daniels found Micahi Danzy on the opposite side of the endzone for a 36-yard touchdown, but was called back for an offensive holding.<\/p>\n

On 4th and 31, Miami\u2019s Bryce Fitzgerald and Florida State\u2019s Duce Robinson both got hands on the ball.\u00a0 The officials ruled in an interception, reviewed it, and upheld the call. No. 3 Miami moved to 6-0.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe found a way to win,\u201d Miami head coach Mario Cristobal said after the game.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Freshman running back Javian Mallory celebrates after scoring a touchdown in overtime against Florida State on Oct. 17, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium.<\/p>\n

1-0 Mentality<\/p>\n

Miami trailed 21-14 entering the fourth quarter and still found a way to win.<\/p>\n

In years past, Miami didn\u2019t win a game like this. Last season, the Hurricanes let leads slip away against Louisville and SMU. The year before, they lost to Georgia Tech and Syracuse.<\/p>\n

Postgame, wideout Malachi Toney was asked to describe this team\u2019s identity in one word:<\/p>\n

\u201cHunters\u201d<\/p>\n

Toney finished the game with 11 receptions for 154 yards and two touchdowns.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo ranking, nothing matters in that type of football game,\u201d Toney said. \u201cIt\u2019s who wants it the most.\u201d<\/p>\n

Quarterback Darian Mensah had his biggest struggles in a UM uniform, facing 11 pressures and throwing his first interception of the season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But when it mattered most, Mensah found his groove, going 9-of-11 for 145 yards and two touchdowns in Miami\u2019s final five drives.<\/p>\n

While the passing game wasn\u2019t at its best, freshman Javian Mallory was able to take over with his legs.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The standout running back had 13 carries for 108 yards and two touchdowns, breaking multiple long runs on the outside.<\/p>\n

Someone was always there to step up. This team, these players, have each other\u2019s back no matter the score and that is what showed up on the field.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Freshman running back Javian Mallory celebrates after scoring a touchdown in overtime against Florida State on Oct. 17, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium. <\/p>\n

Defense, you\u2019re better than that<\/p>\n

Corey Hetherman\u2019s defense did not have its best showing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Miami allowed a season-high 35 points and 134 rushing yards, an uncharacteristic showing for a run defense that came into the game leading the country in rushing yards allowed per game with 42.6.<\/p>\n

Two weeks ago, defensive lineman Damon Wilson II had a breakout game against Clemson with 2.5 sacks. That momentum was not carried into Saturday night\u2019s games as he went unnoticed.<\/p>\n

The bigger problem was Florida State\u2019 6-foot-6 senior receiver, who the Hurricanes could not slow down.<\/p>\n

Robinson finished the game with five receptions for 113 yards that included a crucial one-play, 75-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 28.<\/p>\n

If not for Fitzergerald\u2019s heroics, Robinson might have pulled Florida State within two in double overtime.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Self-Inflicting Wounds<\/p>\n

It\u2019s no question that the Hurricanes want to play fast, physical,and violent; In fact, we have heard that motto from Miami Head Coach Mario Cristobal ad nauseum.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But, you have to play smart. Today, Miami lacked that aspect of the game.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Headed near the two minute warning in the first half, the Hurricanes punted the ball from deep into their own territory to their own 45-yard line. Cam Pruitt was charged with a face mask and Keona Davis was called for unsportsmanlike conduct as a scuffle broke out in midfield. Both were 15-yard penalties.<\/p>\n

With the ball on Miami\u2019s 15, FSU scored in four plays and tied the game up at 14.<\/p>\n

Miami had six penalties for 68 yards alone in the first half.\u00a0<\/p>\n

UM was able to clean it up in the second half, but its mistakes allowed Florida State to put 14 points on the board.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The bye week was a double-edge sword for the Hurricanes. While key players like Xavier Lucas and Marquise Lightfoot returned, UM spent most of the game shaking off rust.<\/p>\n

Miami returns to Hard Rock Stadium next Saturday at noon to Face Pitt.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The Hurricanes and Seminoles brawl after an intense play sequence on Oct. 17, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Freshman safety JJ Dunnigan celebrates after a turnover on Oct. 17, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium. Two years…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":431382,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[123,125,124],"class_list":["post-431381","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-miami","tag-miami","tag-miami-headlines","tag-miami-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/431381","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=431381"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/431381\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/431382"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=431381"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=431381"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=431381"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}