Miami survives Florida State, likely to take over No. 1 ranking

Miami Hurricanes wide receiver Malachi Toney. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Miami survives Florida State, likely to take over No. 1 ranking

By Alan Rubenstein | Last updated Oct 18, 2026 9:14 AM ET

Miami survived with a 43-35 double-overtime win over Florida State on Saturday. Miami's win and losses by No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 1 Georgia should elevate the Hurricanes to the top ranking in college football on Sunday. Miami was third in the week-seven Associated Press Top 25 and AFCA Coaches Polls.

Georgia lost 27-24 to Auburn while Notre Dame fell 28-24 against BYU.

Miami needed a big fourth quarter and a game-tying touchdown in the first overtime to put itself in position to win in the second OT. Florida State had a TD called back on a holding call in the second OT that would have put the Seminoles in position to tie the game with a successful two-point conversion.

Miami was last ranked No. 1 in the 2002 Week 17 poll. That was the final poll of the 2002 regular season. Miami was ranked first throughout the 2002 regular season before losing the 2003 Fiesta Bowl to Ohio State.

The Hurricanes needed a lot of heroics to earn the win over Florida State. Entering the fourth quarter trailing 21-14, Miami scored TDs on its first two possessions to take a 28-21 lead. FSU answered with a 75-yard TD pass from Ashton Daniels to Duce Robinson.

The last time the Canes were ranked number one in the AP Poll was the 2002 season. We all remember that final game and what has happened to Miami football since then. What a long journey back. https://t.co/0tM2DLCrQe
— Will Manso (@WillManso) October 18, 2026

How Miami won in overtime

FSU took a 35-28 lead in the first overtime on a Daniels-to-Robinson 20-yard TD pass. Miami answered with a 25-yard run by Javion Mallory. Miami took a 43-35 lead on a three-yard TD pass from Darian Mensah to Malachi Toney in the second OT. Toney connected with Cooper Barkate on the two-point conversion to give Miami the eight-point lead.

Daniels connected with Machi Danzy for a 36-yard TD in the second OT, which was nullified because of a holding penalty. On fourth and 31, Daniels threw the ball into the end zone, where Robinson and Bryce Fitzgerald contested the last play. Fitzgerald was ruled to have an interception and it was upheld on replay to give Miami the 43-35 win.

Toney had 11 receptions for 154 yards and two TDs, two carries for 31 yards and the two-point conversion completion. Freshman Javion Mallory led Miami with 108 rushing yards on 13 carries and two TDs and Daylyn Upshaw had four receptions for 91 yards. Miami hosts Pittsburgh next Saturday.

Alan Rubenstein

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