Miami stiff-arms Florida State: No. 3 Hurricanes hold off No. 18 Seminoles in statement ACC rivalry win

Two weeks ago, I trusted my eyes and ranked Miami No. 1 in the CBS Sports Power Rankings. Then Oregon's impressive win at Penn State bumped them down.

Seven days in college football, though, is an eternity. After demolishing Florida State on Saturday night, Miami deserves the top spot just as much as it did two weeks ago. The Hurricanes were helped by Penn State's inexcusable 0-4 loss at UCLA, which makes Oregon's "win of the year" look very different just a week later. That's not to say Oregon isn't a top-three team -- it is -- but Miami's resume and eye test through six weeks speak for themselves.

There's also reason to believe quarterback Carson Beck should climb the Heisman Trophy charts. Through three quarters, he had thrown four touchdown passes, more than his three incompletions, including four 40-yard bombs.

Miami can bully opponents up front, but why settle for that when you can go vertical?

Carson Beck was on point all night, completing 14 of 16 passes for 193 yards and three touchdowns through the first few minutes of the third quarter. He was helped by the smoothest man in Florida: freshman Malachi Toney.

Toney eclipsed 100 yards on a 40-yard touchdown catch with 9:09 left in the third. He caught six of the first seven passes thrown his way and nearly hauled in a 52-yard touchdown near the end of the first half, only for it to be wiped out by an illegal motion penalty.

Back at Miami's spring game, coach Mario Cristobal let me shadow him on the field and told me to watch No. 10, a quick, shifty 5-foot-11 freshman from Liberty City, Florida. He didn't disappoint in the scrimmage -- and he hasn't slowed down since, emerging as Miami's next superstar.

Toney was rated the nation's No. 357 player in the 247Sports Composite. South Florida's top football player in 2024 (Nations Moore Award) is not just a name to watch, but a weapon capable of propelling the Hurricanes into the College Football Playoff and beyond. He might also be the best receiver in the country not named Jeremiah Smith.

Florida State's first two ACC contests have derailed its dreams of a legendary bounce-back season. On the heels of a 2-10 campaign in 2024, FSU's Week 1 win over Alabama suggested the Seminoles were going to be not just ACC title contenders but maybe even national title contenders. Those dreams have dissipated in a sea of turnovers the past two weeks. While quarterback Tommy Castellanos is proving to be far more dynamic than predecessor DJ Uiagalelei, he's struggling to take care of the football. The Boston College transfer has been picked off four times over the past two weeks. FSU is still tracking to make a bowl game, but its College Football Playoff aspirations are all but gone.

No. 3 Miami cruised by No. 18 Florida State 28-22 on Saturday, solidifying itself as the best team in the ACC and making a case for why it should be No. 1 in the polls. The Hurricanes (5-0, 1-0 ACC) used 28 unanswered points to pull away and silence a raucous crowd of 67,277 at FSU's Doak Campbell Stadium.

Florida State scored a pair of touchdowns and kicked a field goal with 20 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to salvage some respectability in the box score from a game that was mostly dominated by Miami. Had FSU recovered an onside kick with 19 seconds left, it could have gotten the football back with enough time to try for a go-ahead touchdown. But it was not to be.

In the end, the game was lost for FSU over the middle quarters, as Carson Beck provided a steady barrage of big plays in the passing game and the 'Canes defense forced three turnovers.

The Seminoles (3-2, 0-2) had no answer for Miami's explosive playmakers. Malachi Toney and CJ Daniels each caught two touchdown passes from Beck, who threw four touchdown passes in a game for the first time at Miami. The Georgia transfer hit Toney for touchdown strikes of 44 and 40 yards to help break the game open during the second and third quarters. 

Miami's defensive front wreaked havoc, per usual, as the Hurricanes finished with five tackles for loss against an FSU team that is off to an 0-2 start in ACC play after rising to No. 7 in the AP poll last month. It marked the second straight win in the rivalry for Miami, which had dropped three straight against the Seminoles prior to last season.

4Q: Miami 28, Florida State 19

The final score may be end up being a bit misleading. Florida State tallied a couple of touchdowns in the fourth quarter to get back within single digits. Had the Seminoles recovered an onside kick, things may have gotten interesting down the stretch. However, that was not to be. Barring a series of late blunders, the Hurricanes will improve to 5-0 and assume the driver's seat in the ACC title race.

Early 4Q: Miami 28, Florida State 11

Florida State is not going quietly into the Tallahassee night.

The Seminoles finally scored their first touchdown on a third-and-goal scramble and pass by Tommy Castellanos to Lawayne McCoy with 10:04 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The 8-yard pass capped a 10-play, 47-yard drive that spanned 2 minutes, 56 seconds. The Seminoles converted the 2-point try on Michai Danzy's run to pull within three scores.

FSU has crossed the 50-yard line six times tonight, but has only 11 points to show for it.

End 3Q: Miami 28, Florida State 3

This game seems all but over after another stop by Miami's defense.

We head to the fourth quarter in Tallahassee with the student section beginning to empty, with the Hurricanes holding a 28-3 lead. 

FSU has been held to 216 yards, but what was most impressive for Miami was the third quarter. The Hurricanes limited the Noles to 35 yards. Meanwhile, Miami converted four of five third downs on offense and racked up 171 yards, including 112 and two touchdowns thrown by Carson Beck.

Late 3Q: Miami 28, Florida State 3 

CJ Daniels may have just hammered home a win for Miami -- even though it's only the third quarter.

The receiver just caught his second touchdown pass, this one a screen on third-and-6, to score on a 24-yard, catch-and-run with 3:353 remaining in the third quarter.

Daniels has four catches for 80 yards, joining Malachi Toney (107 yards on seven catches) with a pair of touchdown catches.

The Hurricanes have 310 yards of offense. Carson Beck is 18 of 21 passing for 238 yards and four touchdowns. He's been on point all night.

Mid 3Q: Miami 21, Florida State 3

Florida State was moving the ball once again, but quarterback Tommy Castellanos heaved a ball into the end zone for an interception. The ball hung in there a bit too long, allowing Jakobe Thomas to pick off the pass. 

FSU has turned the ball over three times. The Hurricanes have an opportunity to perhaps put the game away on this drive.

Castellanos is 10 of 18 passing for 119 yards and two picks.

Early 3Q: Miami 21, Florida State 3

Malachi Toney has the smoothest moves in the state of Florida. The Miami receiver juked a defender in the middle of the field by faking a cut to his right upfield, and then ran left to split a pair of defenders (a safety had to turn his back to give chase) for a 40-yard touchdown catch from Carson Beck.

Oh, and he did it on fourth-and-2.

Beck is 14 of 16 passing for 193 yards and three touchdowns.

If Florida State can't get on the scoreboard on this next possession, the game could get ugly.

Halftime: Miami 14, Florida State 3

This game is closer than it feels at halftime. Miami nearly broke the game open late in the first half but the Seminoles were bailed out by a flag.

An illegal motion penalty erased an incredible 52-yard, catch-and-run touchdown by Malachi Toney, who juked a defender, broke a tackle and managed to extend himself over the left pylon. But that darn penalty flag erased the 21-3 lead. The Hurricanes' drive ended with a punt after pressure from Mandrell Desir resulted in a pass breakup.

The 52-yard play would have been the longest by either team tonight.

FSU is out-gaining Miami 181-150 but two turnovers have buried any chances at reaching the end zone.

Carson Beck has been sharp, completing 9 of 11 passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns. FSU's Tommy Castellanos is 9 of 15 for 99 yards and one interception. He's also been sacked.

Miami is only 1 of 5 on third-down conversions; FSU is 4 of 9.

Late 2Q: Miami 14, Florida State 3

Florida State's defense finally got a stop with the Hurricanes stalling on their own side of the field. Will the Seminoles' offense finally break through to make this a game?

Nope.

FSU's Ousmane Kromah fumbled on the first play following the punt, gaining four yards and coughing up the ball for the Noles' second turnover of the game.

FSU has crossed the 50-yard line four times but only has three points to show for it. 

The Noles have out-gained Miami 155-140, but Tommy Castellanos has 69 passing yards and an interception. 

Early 2Q: Miami 14, Florida State 3

Miami went flea flicker, and Malachi Toney capped it off with a 44-yard touchdown from the arm of Carson Beck.

The Hurricanes went for the dagger against the Seminoles after Tommy Catellanos made the first mistake of the game: throwing an interception down the middle of the field as he was hit in the pocket.

The play was strange, even before the snap. Castellanos turned to the sideline as if he was receiving a new play call, but clapped for the ball, and grabbed the snap with his body still partially turned to the sideline. Bryce Fitzgerald streaked from the left side, snagging the ball in the middle of the field and ran it back 43 yards.

Beck is 7 of 8 passing for 112 yards and two touchdowns.

END 1Q: Miami 7, Florida State 3 

The stats are nearly even after the first quarter, but Miami was able to finish a drive with a touchdown.

Carson Beck is 6 of 7 passing for 68 yards and one touchdown, a 4-yard strike on a slant run by C.J. Daniels. Tommy Catellanos is 2 of 4 passing for 30 yards. 

Beck, in particular, has looked sharp. Miami's defensive line also appears to be finding its footing here of late.

The Hurricanes have picked up first downs on short-yardage situations via the run (16 yards), while Florida State has been more explosive on the ground (13 for 60 yards). 

FSU has a 90-84 edge in yardage after the first quarter.

Late 1Q: Miami 7, Florida State 3

Carson Beck and C.J. Daniels had quite the connection on the Hurricanes' first scoring drive.

Beck hit Daniels on a quick slant for a 4-yard touchdown pass to give the Hurricanes their first lead. He also threw a beautiful ball to a wide-open Daniels down the seam for a 47-yard gain. FSU was called for defensive holding, which was declined, setting up the Hurricanes at the 19-yard line.

Miami kept its offense on the field on fourth-and-1 at the 10, and Mark Fletcher Jr. picked up a first down on a 1-yard run to the 9.

The scoring drive spanned 4 minutes, 51 seconds and went 79 yards on nine plays.

Miami defensive tackle Ahmad Moten Sr. had to be tended to on the field by trainers after a first-down run play by Florida State. He was able to walk to the bench on his own and didn't appear to be limping. He did not immediately walk over to the injury tent but sat down on the bench, where trainers continued to talk to him.

Mid 1Q: Florida State 3, Miami 0

Florida State's defense did a nice job of mixing and substituting their big defensive linemen with smaller 'backers and tackles on a third-down pass play, and then the big dogs ate up the Hurricanes just enough to force them to punt from their own 30.

Carson Beck was poised in the pocket and just missed on a deep route that would have been a huge explosive earlier in the drive, but FSU had solid coverage.

The key in this game is FSU's interior defensive line against Miami's massive offensive line. Miami was held to minus-4 rushing yards on its first possession. Though one round, the Noles are up 1-0.

Early 1Q: Florida State 3, Miami 0

Florida State marched down the field thanks to an explosive wheel route and the legs of quarterback Tommy Castellanos, but Miami stood tall inside the 10 and held the Seminoles to a 23-yard field goal.

Castellanos hit Ousmane Kromah on a 28-yard wheel route in which a cornerback allowed the running back to slip into the third level of the defense uncovered. Kromah slipped on the turf as he tried to cut back inside for a bigger gain.

Castellanos then ran for a 15-yard gain on a keeper, but the Noles stalled inside the 10.

Florida State safety Ashlyn Barker will not play tonight against Miami. Barker is one of the Seminoles' best run stoppers on the third level of the defense. He was injured in the 46-38 double overtime loss last week at Virginia.

Brandon's take: Florida State should have beaten Virginia, but played catch up last week after two early turnovers led to a 14-0 deficit. Meanwhile, Miami hasn't been threatened in a game since holding off a furious Notre Dame rally in the season opener. FSU's defense is still figuring things out and was especially disappointing last week, missing tackles and blowing assignments. That wasn't the case in the Week 1 win against Alabama. Which version of FSU will we see on defense Saturday? Miami's massive offensive line is licking their chops after Virginia ran for 211 yards. Pick: Miami -4.5 

The Miami-Florida State rivalry is not only one of the fiercest on the field, but it's also a tremendous soap opera on social media.

It's been a while since these programs met as ranked opponents (2013), but we break that streak today at Doak Campbell Stadium. That doesn't mean the rivalry has cooled off among the fan bases. Fueled by the nostalgia of those tremendous showdowns in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when both programs skyrocketed to national relevance, fans have ramped up the trash-talking on social media. 

From 'Wide Right' to social media spats: Florida State vs. Miami takes on new life as bitter rivalry reignites

Brandon Marcello

It begs the question: Do the current players truly understand the importance of this rivalry in a new era of the transfer portal, NIL contracts, revenue sharing and constant roster movement? We spoke with legendary FSU and Miami players — and the prominent trash talkers on social media — to frame the evolution of one of the greatest rivalries in college athletics.