Miami residents have a fresh reason to celebrate as the Hurricanes vaulted to the top of the Associated Press Top 25 this week, securing the No. 1 spot for the first time since the 2002 season. The jump follows a thrilling double‑overtime victory over in‑state rival Florida State, a win that keeps Miami unbeaten and positions the program as a national contender.
According to NBC Miami, the Hurricanes captured 40 of the 70 first‑place votes from the media panel, finishing 22 points ahead of second‑place BYU, which earned 20 first‑place votes. Ohio State trailed in third with nine first‑place votes, while Notre Dame and Georgia rounded out the top five. The poll marks Miami as the first Atlantic Coast Conference team to hold the No. 1 ranking since Clemson in 2020 and the first ACC team at the summit since Florida State’s 2014 season.
The win over the Seminoles, reported by Newsweek, was marked by high drama. Florida State quarterback Ashton Daniels appeared to connect on a 36‑yard touchdown pass to Micahi Danzy, but a holding penalty on Xavier Chaplin erased the score and moved the Seminoles back ten yards. On the subsequent two‑point attempt, Daniels threw a Hail Mary that was intercepted in the end zone, though video review suggested the ball may have crossed the plane before being knocked loose.
Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell expressed his frustration, telling reporters, “You have the holding call, which was an absolute joke.” He said he contacted Gary Patterson, the ACC’s head of officiating, to discuss the calls and has yet to receive a final response. Norvell added that the missed opportunities were “disappointing” and that the officiating crew’s decisions cost his team a potential upset over a top‑five opponent.
Looking ahead, Miami will host unranked Pittsburgh on Saturday, offering the Hurricanes a chance to extend their unbeaten streak and solidify their No. 1 standing. Florida State will seek redemption in its next matchup, hoping to bounce back from the contentious loss.
Sources: nbcmiami.com, newsweek.com
