Florida State football coach Mike Norvell blasted the holding call that prevented the Seminoles from pulling off an upset win over now-No. 1-ranked Miami in double-overtime.
In the second overtime and down by eight points, Florida State faced 4th-and-21 as quarterback Ashton Daniels heaved the ball into the end zone. It was caught by receiver Micahi Danzy for what would have been a touchdown.
However, a holding penalty was called on offensive lineman Xavier Chaplin that took the touchdown off the scoreboard. It was controversial as it didn’t appear Chaplin committed a penalty.
The Seminoles ended
up not scoring and lost 43-35.
“The holding call was an absolute joke,” Norvell said on Monday, Oct. 19. “I called and talked to Gary Patterson, (ACC) head of officials. I’ve not heard his final review from it.
“In that moment, that play, it’s a shame. It really is," he added.
Florida State converted a miraculous Hail Mary in Double OT, but it was called back due to holding on the Left Tackle: pic.twitter.com/pkWYJU8JDZ
— Buckeye HQ (@RealisticBuck) October 18, 2026
The penalty was highly scrutinized on social media, with rules analyst and former refereeTerry McAulay posting it was not a foul.
Norvell said while it wouldn't have meant Florida State would have won since it needed to convert the 2-point attempt to tie the score, but not being able to "finish the game on the field in that moment, it's really disappointing."
"It’s a lot of judgment calls on all things, but that was bad. I haven’t gotten the final response from them, but if it’s anything less than what I said, then it tells me everything I need to know.”
The controversy from the game didn't end there. On the ensuing 4th-and-31 play, Daniels again threw a deep ball and it looked like Duce Robinson was about to catch another miracle touchdown, but it went down in the sea of bodies in the area. When the officials convened where the ball was at, they determined Miami's Bryce Fitzgerald intercepted the pass to end the game.
The play went to replay review, and the call stood.
YOU BE THE REFEREE AND MAKE THE CALL:
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) October 18, 2026
WAS THIS A TOUCHDOWN BY FLORIDA STATE OR AN INTERCEPTION BY MIAMI?
🧐🧐🧐 pic.twitter.com/qoLpgFnAuh
Norvell also commented on the game-ending play, noting he was told simultaneous possession "never even came up in the conversation of review."
"You got two guys going up for a catch, and they both come to the ground. That has to be a part of the discussion," he said.
The loss dropped Florida State to 3-4 on the season and 1-3 in the ACC. Meanwhile, Miami moved to 6-0 and is No. 1 in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mike Norvell blasts ‘absolute joke’ penalty in FSU’s loss to Miami
