ACC representative explains controversial non-safety call in Miami vs. Florida State

During Saturday’s game between Miami and Florida State, it appeared as if Jordan Travis was tackled in the end zone — therefore, resulting in a safety. But the officials didn’t see it that way and, after review, determined it was not a safety.

The play quickly went viral as fans wondered how it didn’t result in two points and the ball for Miami. An ACC representative told the Miami Herald’s Susan Miller Degnan the officials followed the rule because Travis got hit, initially, in the field of play.

“The rule is where the ball is when initial contact is made by the defender,” the representative said.

The call occurred on a 14-yard sack of Travis by Wesley Bissainthe when FSU held a 10-7 lead over Miami. Ultimately, the drive ended with a punt, and the Hurricanes got a last-second field goal to tie things up at 10-10 heading into the break.

Miami then came out of the second half with another field goal to take a 13-10 lead.

At halftime, ABC’s Molly McGrath spoke with Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal about the no-call and she said she got a passionate, NSFW response.

“I asked Mario Cristobal about that non-call on the apparent safety at the end of the half. He immediately started yelling expletives,” McGrath said on the broadcast. “He was very emotional saying there were two calls in the first half that felt unfair to him. But he said … the key to success for them was running the ball well.”

Florida State went on to gut out a 27-20 victory over Miami after Tyler Van Dyke threw an interception on the final play of the game. The Seminoles are now 10-0 and through the conference portion of their schedule, with two non-conference games coming up ahead of the ACC Championship.

It also marked Mike Norvell’s third win over the Hurricanes, but he made sure to give credit to the players during his postgame interview.

“Just so proud of our players, the work they put in — they sacrifice so much and we challenge them in every area on the field, off the field — and all that they do to prepare for times like this. Back-to-back 10-plus win seasons, you obviously — winning the last three against that opponent is big for us and just so grateful for these players that I get to coach,” Norvell said.

On3’s Wade Peery and Andrew Graham contributed to this report.