TALLAHASSEE — The Miami Hurricanes have played three consecutive in-state, FBS opponents, and they exit the stretch with three wins.
After beating upstart USF and SEC rival Florida, Miami took down its biggest rival, Florida State, in its first road game of the season Saturday night.
The 28-22 score line makes the game appear close, but most of the Seminoles’ points came in the fourth quarter after UM had built an insurmountable 28-3 lead.
Here are five things we learned from the UM win:
State champs — again
For the second consecutive season, Miami beat three in-state FBS opponents. The Hurricanes are 4-0 against the Gators and Seminoles over the past two years (4-2 overall in Mario Cristobal’s tenure).
If you think that does not mean much to UM, explain it to the players dancing with a state champions sign in the locker room after the game.
“(Beating FSU) means everything to me,” defensive end Akheem Mesidor said. “A lot of guys weren’t there for that blowout (loss) at Hard Rock … and then two years ago, when it was a close game and Emory (Williams) broke his arm like he put everything on the line. So being able to come back, being able to win at Hard Rock last year, and come back here and win, it means everything for us because we’ve been through a lot.”
The “Big 3” programs in Florida are in different spots. Florida State is improved but is coming off a dreadful 2-10 season. Florida appeared to hit rock bottom in the Billy Napier tenure after back-to-back losses to USF and UM, but recovered to beat then-No. 9 Texas on Saturday.
While the Seminoles and Gators are trying to figure out what they are, the Hurricanes are one of the best teams in the country. Right now, they run the state.
OUR. STATE. pic.twitter.com/CccUOEXZAJ
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) October 5, 2025
Welcome to ‘Malihassee’
Hurricanes freshman wide receiver Malachi Toney has been getting a lot of attention since he burst onto the scene against Notre Dame in Week 1.
In front of a national, primetime audience on Saturday, he did even better. The American Heritage alum hit the 100-yard mark for the first time, racking up 107 receiving yards. Most of those yards came on 40- and 44-yard touchdown catches. He had an 86.4 receiving grade from Pro Football Focus.
Toney dominated the FSU secondary, making the city “Malihassee,” as his mother called it on social media.
They was so disrespectful to the canes this weekend we renamed their city tonight.
MALIHASEE
— Ms.Toney (@tonichild75) October 5, 2025
Carson Beck got his groove back
Miami starting quarterback Carson Beck scuffled in the win over Florida, and UM needed its run game to take over on offense.
On Saturday, it was Beck’s time to shine. Beck completed 19 of his first 23 passes and tossed four touchdowns. He ended the game 20 for 27 with 241 yards to go with his four scores. Beck had a 77.7 passing grade from Pro Football Focus.
“He was on fire,” Cristobal said. “He did a great job.”
Turnovers prove key
UM forced three turnovers, and the Hurricanes made them count. Miami scored 14 of its 28 points off turnovers.
After freshman Bryce Fitzgerald picked off a pass, UM took a shot downfield on a flea-flicker and went ahead 14-3. Miami’s last score of the night came after FSU quarterback Tommy Castellanos’ second interception, which safety Jakobe Thomas picked off in the end zone.
Hurricanes are a true title contender
Miami is undefeated through its first five games. It picked up ranked wins over Notre Dame, USF and now Florida State. They have played in primetime with the college football world watching.
So far, the Hurricanes have passed every test. Other top teams like Texas, Penn State and Clemson have fallen. UM has not.
Miami will still be ranked highly in the AP poll, and computer models think the Hurricanes have a great shot at not just the College Football Playoff but at a title. The Athletic’s playoff model picks Miami as the No. 1 seed. ESPN’s Football Power Index puts UM ninth but gives it a 29 percent chance to win out, about a 78 percent chance to make the playoffs and a 7.5 percent chance to win the title game.
This could be a special year in Coral Gables.
“I don’t think you deny that you have something special going on,” Cristobal said.
“I just think you spend your time on assessing and analyzing things you can get better at because whatever shows on film that you’re not good at, it’s going to get exposed. I don’t know what the results of some of the games were today, but when we were headed out (of) the hotel, seems like everybody was about to get upset. Because, again, it’s playoff football now. It’s conference games. Everybody’s alive. Everybody knows your warts, your holes, your tics.”
