Did Miami’s comeback to beat FSU hinge on a bad call against the Noles?

No. 17 Miami stormed back from a 20-point third-quarter deficit to beat Florida State on Saturday in Miami Gardens, 28-27. The Noles did plenty to let the Canes back into it. Most importantly, they committed turnovers deep in their own territory on back-to-back offensive series, leading to two Miami touchdowns in 42 seconds.

But the officials might have made their own pivotal contribution. When FSU led by 6 following that spurt of Miami points, the Noles appeared to extend their lead to 13 on a trick play. Deondre Francois through what looked like a screen pass to D.J. Matthews, who started upfield, slowed down, and threw a deep ball to Keith Gavin for a touchdown.

But the officials took that touchdown off the board. They ruled that Francois’ pass to Matthews was, in fact, a forward pass, making the next throw illegal. You can be the judge, but I have to squint really hard to see how the pass wasn’t directly lateral at most. Another look, which doesn’t say anything definitively but also doesn’t say “forward pass:”

Or:

The Noles still managed to convert a third-and-long after that, but their drive ended with a missed field goal. The Canes scored to go ahead for the first time, and for good, on the ensuing possession.

Anyway, I don’t mean to spare the Noles blame. They used turnovers more than anything else to blow a 20-point lead against a rival, and that’s on them.

Miami 28, FSU 27

Miami’s Bubba Baxa missed a 28-yard field goal wide right. The Noles have the ball at their own 20, down a point with 5:39 to play.

Miami 28, FSU 27

The Hurricanes lead for the first time. N’Koski Perry threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Brevin Jordan. They’ve scored 21 unanswered points.

FSU 27, Miami 21

FSU’s Ricky Aguayo shanked a 43-yard field goal far to the left, and Miami took the ball at its own 27, down 6 with 12:42 to play. Right before that, the Noles appeared to score a game-breaking touchdown on a screen pass-turned-deep bomb, but the officials ruled that the setup pass from Deondre Francois to D.J. Matthews went forward. It was really close:

Looked like a lateral to me. Anyway, that’s 7 points FSU didn’t get.

FSU 27, Miami 21

This is escalating quickly. Deondre Francois threw an interception to Michael Pinckney on the second play of FSU’s drive following a Miami touchdown — the second turnover in three offensive plays by Florida State. Jeff Thomas was in the end zone one play later. The Canes have scored 14 points in 42 seconds, on drives that totaled six plays and 37 yards.

FSU 27, Miami 14

N’Kosi Perry threw up a fade to Lawrence Cager on a fourth-and-goal from the Seminoles’ 3 after a fumble recovery, and Cager came down with it with 4:53 left in the third quarter. Both of the Hurricanes’ scores in this game have come on fourth downs.

FSU 27, Miami 7

Florida State’s D.J. Matthews just picked up a punt off a bounce and darted 74 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown. Here is the best summation of the game’s status:

This game was chippy before it even started ...

... and has continued to be chippy as it’s gone on:

FSU 20, Miami 7

Ricky Aguayo flushed a career-long 53-yard field goal for the Noles right at the buzzer, after Miami failed on a fourth-and-3 just inside midfield. The teams chirped at each other a little bit on their way to the locker room. They use the same tunnel to exit the field.

FSU 17, Miami 7

Deondre Francois’ second touchdown pass of the game is a 17-yarder to Tamorrion Terry, who found some space down the seam. It’s Terry’s fifth TD catch of the year. The redshirt freshman’s been a real bright spot. Miami’s offense needs to get going shortly.

1:32 to play in the first half.

FSU 10, Miami 7

The Seminoles went back in front with a 42-yard Ricky Aguayo field goal.

FSU 7, Miami 7

N’Kosi Perry threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Lawrence Cager to tie the game. That was one hell of a Hurricanes drive: 14 plays, 83 yards, 7:49 of clock time.

FSU 7, Miami 0

Deondre Francois’ 17-yard touchdown pass to Keith Gavin opened the scoring. FSU went 58 yards in eight plays on a leisurely but productive drive.