Officials ruled that what would have been a game-winning touchdown by Virginia Tech was an incomplete pass after a long review of the final play, allowing No. 7 Miami to secure a 38-34 victory in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener for both teams on Friday night.
The last play began at the Miami 30-yard line with just 3 seconds left. Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones dropped back 11 yards and threw the ball toward the left corner of the end zone. At least seven players were waiting for it, with five players fighting for the catch.
Initially, officials decided that Da’Quan Felton made the catch, and Virginia Tech celebrated on the field. After the lengthy review, referee Jerry Magallanes—who had previously officiated the Miami-Duke game in 2015 where he and others were suspended for mistakes—announced that the call had been overturned.
“I saw an incomplete pass,” Miami coach Mario Cristobal said. “That’s all I can say.” The perspective from Virginia Tech’s side was understandably different.
“That’s a tough one right there. The way that game ended, I hope they got that call right,” Virginia Tech coach Brent Pry said. “To take that, to overturn it, take it from our kids, our coaches, our fans, I hope they got it right.”
In a statement, the ACC explained that the pass was ruled incomplete because a Miami player touched the ball while out of bounds.
“During the review process of the last play of the Virginia Tech at Miami game, it was determined that the loose ball was touched by a Miami player while he was out of bounds which makes it an incomplete pass and immediately ends the play,” the statement said.
Cam Ward connected with Isaiah Horton for a 1-yard touchdown pass with 1:57 left, marking the winning score for the Hurricanes (5-0, 1-0). Ward passed for 343 yards and four touchdowns, while Miami faced double-digit deficits three times, the last being when the Hokies led 34-24 with 12:05 remaining.
Virginia Tech’s Kyron Drones threw two touchdown passes, and Bhayshul Tuten rushed for 141 yards and another score for the Hokies (2-3, 0-1). The Hokies have now lost 10 out of 11 games since early 2022 that were decided by seven points or less.
John Love kicked field goals of 52 and 57 yards for Virginia Tech. The Hokies capitalized on three Miami turnovers, turning them into 14 points, and were close to defeating a team ranked 7th or higher in the AP Top 25 for the first time since October 2, 2004, when they beat then-No. 6 West Virginia 19-13.
During the drive that led to the winning touchdown, Miami had a couple of close calls. Xavier Restrepo fell down on a fourth-and-3 play as the ball was coming to him but managed to catch it while on the ground, keeping the drive alive.
“I slipped. Things happen. Cam gave me a chance,” Restrepo said. Ward commented, “That’s a routine play for him.”
Then, on first down a few minutes later, Ward was almost tackled by Virginia Tech’s Keyshawn Burgos in what seemed like a sure sack.
However, Ward broke free from that tackle, dodged another one, and passed the ball to Riley Williams for a 26-yard gain to the 1-yard line, a play that even got praise from Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Miami scored a play later, and the final call went their way.
“I didn’t think there was enough evidence to overturn it,” Pry said. “Like I said, I hope they got it right.”
