Miami defends 'state champs' label, defeats FSU

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- After No. 3 Miami hung connected to decision No. 18 Florida State 28-22 connected Saturday night, respective Hurricanes players paraded astir their sideline with achromatic placards that work BACK TO BACK STATE CHAMPS!

Offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa took the Miami emblem successful the country of the extremity portion facing their fans, waved it astir and acted similar helium was planting it, though helium rapidly lifted it earlier it pierced the grass. Miami manager Mario Cristobal celebrated, too, pointing astatine the fans adjacent to the visiting squad tunnel, flashing the U.

Rivalry games ever mean more, particularly connected this evening, erstwhile Miami and Florida State squared disconnected arsenic ranked teams for the archetypal clip since 2016. The Hurricanes jumped retired to a 28-3 fourth-quarter pb acknowledgment to big-time plays from backmost Carson Beck and receivers Malachi Toney and CJ Daniels, and it was conscionable capable to clasp disconnected a furious Florida State late-game rally.

As a result, Miami bushed USF, Florida and Florida State successful consecutive seasons and is present 5-0 for consecutive seasons, too. The cardinal quality this year, is 3 of the archetypal 5 wins came against ranked opponents. Asked astir the authorities champs motion and wherefore calling themselves that is truthful meaningful, Miami manager Mario Cristobal said, "It's specified a large deal.

"I played here, and I cognize what it means to play successful this game, particularly up present successful Tallahassee, and what a triumph means. It lasts an full year. Being a University of Miami Hurricane means that this game, you find a mode to get it done. It's ever been portion of the DNA."

The DNA of this squad surely resembles those of Miami title teams past -- dominance up beforehand with an aggression and physicality that wears down opponents. Through 3 quarters, anyway, Miami did that connected defense. On offense, though, the look looked a small spot different.

The Hurricanes came into the crippled having placed a somewhat heavier accent connected their moving game. But Beck flipped that publication aboriginal successful the crippled -- delivering 1 pinpoint walk aft different -- including a 44-yard touchdown propulsion to Toney disconnected a flea-flicker successful the 2nd 4th disconnected an interception that served announcement Miami would beryllium assertive with its play calling, but successful the passing crippled instead.

Beck finished 20-of-27 for 241 yards with 4 touchdowns and nary interceptions. Toney and Daniels each had 2 touchdowns, portion the Miami moving backs combined for 97 full yards -- their lowest rushing full of the season. Beck said helium and violative coordinator Shannon Dawson talked astir taking much shots successful the passing crippled against the Seminoles.

"It was an accent of ours to travel into the game," helium said, "and effort to instrumentality a fewer much shots and springiness guys chances."

There was immoderate of the Miami swag of aged that showed up. Daniels mockingly did the Seminole chant aft some his touchdown passes but showed immoderate contrition afterward.

"I could person controlled my emotions a small more," helium said. "I fto my emotions get the champion of me."

Cristobal, erstwhile asked astir Daniels doing the chant and comparing it to the Miami teams of the 80s and 90s that talked smack and taunted opponents said, "I don't promote that stuff.

"We are moving forward. We're not going back. We're taking the principles and values of each those awesome teams, the physicality of those teams, the play making ability, the togetherness, the brotherhood of those teams, and going guardant and pushing Miami shot to modern time football."

As helium walked retired of the room, Cristobal joked his squad would not beryllium wearing fatigues, a notation to the 1980s Hurricanes.

Though determination whitethorn person been a fewer moments that evoked those memories, Cristobal has tried to physique the...