Mike Norvell says officials provided no explanation on final play vs Miami

Florida State and Mike Norvell nearly came away with a signature double-overtime win Saturday against No. 3 Miami. Instead, the Seminoles fell short again, perhaps amid some controversy.

The Seminoles appeared to have scored when Ashton Daniels connected with Micahi Danzy for a 31-yard touchdown on 4th-and-21, but the play was wiped out by a holding penalty. Then, facing 4th-and-31 on the ensuing play, Daniels found Duce Robinson for what looked like a 46-yard touchdown, only for the pass to be ruled an interception. The call was upheld after video review, sealing Miami's 43-35 victory.

Norvell told reporters following the game he did not receive explanations from the officiating crew on the ruling of the interception.

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"I didn't get an explanation," Norvell said of the interception that ended the game. "They went to review, it's pretty unique when you have the same crew in back-to-back years in game-ending situations that go down to the last play. You don't get a whole lot of explanation."

On the game-sealing interception, it wasn’t initially clear who came down with the ball, as Robinson was in the middle of a swarm of Hurricane defenders in the end zone. But after the referees pulled players away from each other, it was determined Miami defensive back Bryce Fitzgerald had come up with the interception and the ball.

ESPN college football rules analyst Steve Shaw agreed with the final decision between the ACC's officiating office and officiating crew at Hard Rock Stadium.

"You can see the defender, he clearly had his hands on the ball," Shaw said on the broadcast. "When they go to the ground, eventually you see it in his stomach, right there. It was an interception. Clearly, nothing to overturn it. This was the correct call.”

Former NFL referee and Big East officiating coordinator Terry McAulay posted on X about the play:

"While I don’t see the same thing the Replay officials see with respect to control by the defender in the air and while he is going to the ground, I also don’t see clear and obvious evidence to reverse to a catch by the receiver as the video doesn’t show when or if he gained control.

"His hands are likely on the ball, but the video doesn’t show it."

With the loss, Florida State drops to 3-4 overall on the season and 1-3 in ACC play. The Seminoles are on bye in Week 8 before hosting Clemson on Saturday, Oct. 31 in Tallahassee.