Miami survives Florida State in 2OT as holding flag and upheld interception decide rivalry

Miami is 6-0, but its 43-35 double-overtime win over Florida State came down to two officiating decisions in the last 30 seconds of the night, and the Seminoles were on the wrong end of both.

Miami opened the second overtime with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Darian Mensah to Malachi Toney. Toney then threw the required 2-point conversion to Cooper Barkate, and Florida State had to answer an eight-point deficit. A sack and a false start left the Seminoles facing fourth-and-21 from the Miami 36. Ashton Daniels threw deep and Micahi Danzy came down with it in the end zone over a Miami defensive back, which would have made it 43-41. As USA TODAY Sports laid out, a holding flag on offensive lineman Xavier Chaplin wiped out the score and backed Florida State up 10 yards. Plenty of fans and media members watching the replay could not find the hold, and Mike Norvell told critics to "go watch the film," USA TODAY reported.

On fourth-and-31 from the Miami 46, Daniels rolled right and threw again, this time into a crowd around 6-foot-6 receiver Duce Robinson. Once officials pulled the pile apart they ruled that Miami's Bryce Fitzgerald had the ball. Replay mattered here. Had the review found simultaneous possession, the ball would have gone to the offense and Robinson would have had a touchdown. After checking with the ACC replay center, the officials let the interception stand. ESPN rules analyst Steve Shaw said on the broadcast that Fitzgerald clearly had his hands on the ball and that replay showed nothing to overturn.

The finish buried a strong night from both quarterbacks. According to ESPN, Mensah threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns, and Toney caught 11 passes for 154 yards and two scores. Daniels threw for 298 yards and four touchdowns. Robinson caught a 75-yard score that tied the game with 2:49 left in regulation, then scored from 20 yards out to open the first overtime.

What it means next

Miami's defense came into the game having allowed 49 points across its first five games, and Florida State scored 35 in one night. The offense has made up for it. The Hurricanes are averaging 48.5 points over six games and have scored at least 33 in every one. Pittsburgh visits on October 24. It is Miami's first game since its closest call of the season. Before Saturday, Wake Forest's 13-point margin was the tightest anyone had played the Hurricanes.

Florida State gets a week off before hosting Clemson on October 31. The Seminoles are 3-4. All three wins came at home against Virginia, Central Arkansas and New Mexico State, and they have lost to SMU, Alabama, Louisville and Miami. The Louisville and Miami losses came on consecutive road trips, and the defense gave up 44 and 43 points in them. Clemson is coming off a 41-13 home loss to the same Miami team. That makes the Oct. 31 game a meeting of two programs looking for answers, and Florida State has to get its defense fixed during the open week, whatever the officiating debate.