Another year, another controversial loss to the Miami Hurricanes for Florida State in the eyes of coach Mike Norvell. The coach took the stand shortly after Florida State's 43-35 overtime loss to Miami, and briefly spoke about the sequence of events that ended the game.
Florida State was backed up after multiple incompletions and needed to throw the ball deep with 21 yards between the line of scrimmage and the first-down marker. Quarterback Ashton Daniels threw a pass to his receiver, which was caught for a touchdown, but the play was later called back due to a holding penalty on left tackle Xavier Chaplin.
Mike Norvell says this is the second straight year FSU has lost a game on a late call with this officiating crew.
— Warchant.com (@Warchant) October 18, 2026
Said he thought the Duce pass should have been a TD because of simultaneous possession.
Also didn’t like the holding call on play before:
“Go watch the film.”
The Seminoles had another chance after receiving the 10-yard penalty, and the result was another controversial play. Norvell stated he felt the holding call was poor and advised everyone to "go watch the film", but the coach was truly upset with the final call on the second touchdown pass Daniels had which was ultimately ruled an interception.
REFS CALLED BACK FSU’S MIRACULOUS TOUCHDOWN FOR HOLDING 😭 pic.twitter.com/2yI0dAhAkf
— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) October 18, 2026
Florida State's miracle fourth-down touchdown erased with a wildly controversial holding call
The Seminoles were nearly able to make the impossible happen once again with a huge touchdown reception from Micahi Danzy on a desperation throw from Daniels. However, the holding call not only erased the touchdown for Florida State, but it also erased the chances the team had to come back and defeat Miami. The touchdown was an incredible accomplishment to begin with, and the Seminoles had no real chance of repeating those heroics on the very next play from even farther out.
In the video that followed the play, Chaplin can clearly be seen with both of his hands extended in front of him as the defender falls. Chaplin was not actively engaged as the defender went down, and it is clear the defender slipped and was not pulled to the ground by the left tackle.
The worst part about the call for Florida State is that it offers the worst possible ending to such a great performance. The Seminoles were truly playing one of their best games of the season, and to lose a chance to come back and winning due to penalties is deflating. Florida State was able to avoid controversy on the field, only to suffer a controversial fate at the hands of the referees.
While the holding call might draw the most angry crowd following the loss, the call that truly offended Norvell involved the decision to rule a potential toss-up touchdown an interception. Duce Robinson had the position advantage on Bryce Fitzgerald and appeared to have both his hands on the football before going to the ground. The referees ruled that Fitzgerald had primary possession of the football and had tucked the ball into his stomach upon hitting the ground.
Norvell argues that due to simultaneous possession, Robinson should have been awarded the touchdown. When both players hit the ground, it is impossible to tell if Fitzgerald has sole possession of the football, and therefore the touchdown should have been granted. Norvell has every right to be upset, as a special performance from Florida State will only be looked at as a controversial loss moving forward.
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