No. 7 Miami narrowly escaped with a 38-34 victory over Virginia Tech in their ACC opener after a controversial call on the final play of the game. Virginia Tech’s apparent game-winning touchdown was ruled an incomplete pass after a lengthy review, much to the disappointment of the Hokies who had already begun celebrating on the field. Miami head coach Mario Cristobal maintained that he saw an incomplete pass, while Virginia Tech coach Brent Pry expressed his hope that the call was made correctly.
Miami quarterback Cam Ward threw for 343 yards and four touchdowns, including a 1-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Horton with under two minutes left, which ultimately secured the win for the Hurricanes. Virginia Tech’s Kyron Drones threw two touchdown passes and Bhayshul Tuten rushed for 141 yards and a score in a valiant effort. Virginia Tech has struggled in close games, falling to 1-10 since the start of 2022 in games decided by seven points or less.
John Love made field goals of 52 and 57 yards for Virginia Tech, while Miami’s Andy Borregales connected on a career-best 56-yard field goal at the end of the first half to keep the Hurricanes within striking distance. Miami faced adversity throughout the game, trailing by double digits on three occasions, but managed to rally and secure the victory in the closing minutes of the game.
Miami’s final drive featured clutch plays, including a fourth-and-3 conversion by Xavier Restrepo, who managed to catch the ball after slipping on the turf. Quarterback Cam Ward also evaded a near sack and found Riley Williams for a 26-yard gain that set up the winning touchdown. Despite Virginia Tech’s strong performance, Miami’s resilience and some fortunate breaks on the final play ultimately sealed the win for the Hurricanes.
The result of the game will likely impact the AP Top 25 rankings, with Miami narrowly avoiding what could have been a significant upset. Miami is expected to remain in the Top 10 in the upcoming poll. Looking ahead, Virginia Tech will face Stanford, while Miami will travel to Cal in their next matchups. The game highlighted the competitiveness and unpredictability of college football, underscoring the importance of every play and call in determining the outcome.
