MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Darian Mensah threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns, the last of them a 3-yarder to Malachi Toney in the second additional time, and No. 3 Miami held on to beat archrival Florida State 43-35 in a back-and-forth basic on Saturday night time.
Toney had 11 catches for 154 yards and two scores, plus threw a 2-point conversion go to Cooper Barkate after his OT rating for Miami (6-0, 4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference). Bryce Fitzgerald sealed the win with an interception for the Hurricanes on the ultimate play.
Mensah accomplished 23 of 34 passes for Miami, which has now won seven of its last 10 video games against the Seminoles. Javian Mallory rushed for 108 yards and two touchdowns, including one in the first OT and Mark Fletcher Jr. added a speeding rating for the Hurricanes.
Hurricanes working back Javian Mallory celebrates after scoring a landing during Miami’s 43-35 double OT win over rival Florida State on Oct. 17, 2026 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“That was something else,” Mensah said in the televised on-field interview. “Credit to my defense to closing that out. What a finish.”
Ashton Daniels threw for 298 yards and 4 touchdowns for Florida State (3-4, 1-3). Duce Robinson had a pair of TD catches late, including a 75-yarder that tied the sport with 2:49 left in regulation and a 20-yard rating to open the first additional time.
The Seminoles, who host Clemson on Oct. 31 after their bye week, lost high rusher Ousmane Kromah late in the first half with a left leg damage. Florida State appeared to give itself a probability when Daniels linked on a fourth-and-21, 36-yard heave that would have made it 43-41 — only to have the play called back by holding.
The next play was a heave into a maze of our bodies in the finish zone, called an interception before going to evaluate.
Fitzgerald was dominated to have come down with the ball, and the Hurricanes stormed the discipline in celebration.
Seminoles defensive position Rylan Kennedy celebrates after a sack during the second quarter of Florida State’s double OT loss to rival Miami. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
That lead lasted 10 seconds.
Daniels discovered Duce Robinson for what grew to become a 75-yard Florida State rating one play later, knotting the sport once again. Miami couldn’t rating on the ensuing drive, and OT awaited.
Miami, who hosts Pitt next Saturday, had leads of 7-0 and 14-7; FSU tied the sport both occasions. FSU went up 21-14; Miami answered to tie that time. The Hurricanes went back on high; FSU answered. FSU scored first in additional time; Miami answered.
Hurricanes extensive receiver Malachi Toney scores a landing previous defensive back Ja’bril Rawls during the second additional time of Miami’s win over rival Florida State. AP Photo/Lynne Sladky
In the finish, Florida State ran out of solutions.
“Florida State does an awesome job of coming out fast,” Mensah said. “We did an awesome job of just rallying.”
The takeaway
Florida State: Starting with the 2023 Orange Bowl debacle against Georgia, the Seminoles have now lost 14 consecutive video games away from Tallahassee and are 0-13 since 2016 in true highway video games against ranked groups.
Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell seems to be on during the first quarter of Florida State’s double OT loss to Miami IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
The most current highway win over a ranked opponent — a 20-19 thriller at Miami on Oct. 8, 2016.
Miami: Mensah had gone 153 passes to begin his Miami profession with out throwing an interception, a streak that ended when he tried to pressure one to Barkate in the finish zone during the third quarter. Ashlynd Barker made the interception for Florida State, preserving what was then a 14-14 tie.
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