The Miami Hurricanes surged to an emphatic 36-14 victory over the Florida State Seminoles on Saturday night at a packed Hard Rock Stadium, delighting a sellout crowd of over 66,200 fans and capturing the title of state champions with an unbeaten record of 8-0. This impressive win marked Miami’s first 8-0 start in program since 2017, a milestone victory that could prove critical as the Hurricanes continue their march through the ACC.
The timing couldn’t have been better for head coach Mario Cristobal’s squad. With more than 100 recruits, including over 80 elite blue-chip prospects, watching from the stands, Miami’s win against a bitter rival who had won the past three meetings, provided clear evidence of the program’s upward trajectory in stark contrast to an FSU team that dropped to 1-7 on the season. After the game, Cristobal underscored the significance of the win for Miami’s future.
“It feels good because it’s good for the team,” Cristobal said. “We knew this was a monumental task when we got here. It’s a great example of rebuilds if you believe in what you are rebuilding. Critically important to go out there and beat this program and to be undefeated in the state of Florida. I think it sends a strong message. I think all recruits can now clearly see the trajectory of this program vs. the trajectory of the other programs.”
The Hurricanes leaned on a balanced approach, with the run game setting the tone early. Damien Martinez led Miami’s ground attack, racking up 148 rushing yards on 15 carries with two touchdowns, averaging an impressive 9.9 yards per carry. His effort included a career-best performance at Miami, only rivaled by his freshman breakout game at Oregon State, where he posted 178 yards. The ground game established a 17-7 lead by halftime, with additional contributions from Mark Fletcher and a 20-yard field goal from kicker Andres Borregales.
Quarterback Cam Ward, typically the focal point of Miami’s offense, experienced a rare subpar outing, completing 22 of 34 passes for 208 yards with no touchdowns. Despite a clean, turnover-free performance, Ward was sacked four times and struggled to establish his usual rhythm. However, he showed his versatility by catching a 7-yard touchdown pass from tight end Elijah Arroyo to give Miami a comfortable 29-7 lead in the fourth quarter.
“We were not good on offense tonight. We don’t settle for field goals,” Ward noted post-game. “We settle for touchdowns. We should have put up more points.”
Miami’s defense also rose to the occasion, smothering FSU’s offensive efforts and allowing only 248 total yards. The Seminoles’ lone offensive highlight before a late fourth-quarter touchdown came on a 12-play, 78-yard drive capped by a 1-yard rush from Caziah Holmes in the second quarter, which trimmed Miami’s lead to 14-7. The Hurricanes’ defense held FSU to just 14 points, a season low for the Seminoles, while forcing them into several three-and-out situations.
Special teams were also a pivotal factor, with Borregales nailing two more field goals from 42 and 45 yards, stretching Miami’s lead to 23-7 before Ward’s unconventional touchdown catch effectively sealed the game.
The win reinforces Miami’s claim as an elite program in the state and also sends a powerful message to potential recruits. With one of the biggest recruiting weekends in Miami’s history now in the books, the Hurricanes appear poised to add even more talent to their roster, potentially bolstering their long-term success under Cristobal’s guidance.
“It’s good to earn the title of state champions,” Cristobal reflected. “It was a very hard-fought game. It took us a while to put them away.”
The Hurricanes will aim to maintain their unblemished record next Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium against Duke in a showdown versus their former coach Manny Diaz.
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