Miami defends ‘state champs’ label, defeats FSU
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Andrea Adelson
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — After No. 3 Miami hung on to defeat No. 18 Florida State 28-22 on Saturday night, several Hurricanes players paraded around their sideline with white placards that read BACK TO BACK STATE CHAMPS!
Offensive tackle Francis Mauigoa took the Miami flag in the corner of the end zone facing the fans, waved it around and acted like he was planting it, though he quickly lifted it before it pierced the grass. Miami coach Mario Cristobal celebrated too, pointing at the fans close to the visiting team tunnel and flashing the U.
Rivalry games always mean more, especially on this evening, when Miami and Florida State squared off as ranked teams for the first time since 2016. The Hurricanes jumped to a 28-3 lead in the fourth quarter thanks to big-time plays from quarterback Carson Beck and wide receivers Malachi Toney and CJ Daniels, and it was just enough to hold off a furious late-game rally by the Seminoles.
As a result, Miami beat South Florida, Florida and Florida State in consecutive seasons and is 5-0 in consecutive seasons too. The key difference this year is three of the first five wins came against ranked opponents.
Asked about the state champs sign and why calling themselves that is so meaningful, Cristobal said, “I played here, and I know what it means to play in this game, especially up here in Tallahassee, and what a victory means. It lasts an entire year. Being a University of Miami Hurricane means that this game, you find a way to get it done. It’s always been part of the DNA.”
The DNA of this team certainly resembles that of Miami championship teams past: dominance up front with an aggression and physicality that wears down opponents. Through three quarters, anyway, Miami did that on defense. On offense, though, the formula looked a little bit different.
The Hurricanes came into the game having placed a slightly heavier emphasis on their running game. But Beck flipped that script early, delivering one pinpoint pass after another, including a 44-yard touchdown throw to Toney off a flea-flicker in the second quarter following a Florida State interception. That served notice Miami would be aggressive with its playcalling.
Beck finished 20-of-27 for 241 yards with four touchdowns and zero interceptions. Toney and Daniels each had two touchdown catches, while the Miami rushing game combined for 97 yards, its lowest rushing total of the season. Beck said he and offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson talked about taking more shots in the passing game against the Seminoles.
“It was an emphasis of ours to come into the game,” he said, “and try to take a few more shots and give guys chances.”
There was some of the Miami swagger of old that showed up. Daniels mockingly did the Seminoles chant after both his touchdowns but showed some contrition afterward.
“I could have controlled my emotions a little more,” he said. “I let my emotions get the best of me.”
Cristobal, when asked about Daniels doing the chant and comparing it to the Miami teams of the ’80s and ’90s that talked smack and taunted opponents, said, “I don’t encourage that stuff.
“We are moving forward. We’re not going back. We’re taking the principles and values of all those awesome teams, the physicality of those teams, the playmaking ability, the togetherness, the brotherhood of those teams, and going forward and pushing Miami football to modern-day football.”
As he walked out of the room, Cristobal joked that his team would not be wearing fatigues, a reference to the 1980s Hurricanes.
Though there may have been a few moments that evoked those memories, Cristobal has tried to build the team in his image. He knows that this group is far from perfect and will continue to push for improvements heading into another open date. Against Notre Dame, Florida and Florida State, Miami left the door open for its opponents to make it a game after jumping out to double-digit leads.
Miami defensive back Jakobe Thomas said nobody in the locker room was satisfied with the performance. He said that was a sign that this year’s team is built differently.
“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. We’ve got a long ways to go.”
CHICAGO — Defenseman Matt Grzelcyk has made the Chicago Blackhawks, agreeing to a $1 million, one-year contract with the team.
Chicago announced the deal on Sunday. Grzelcyk had been with the team in training camp on a personal tryout agreement.
The Blackhawks visit the Florida Panthers for their season opener Tuesday.
The 31-year-old Grzelcyk had one goal and a career-high 39 assists in 82 games for Pittsburgh last season. He also set a career high with a team-leading 101 blocked shots.
Grzelcyk, a Massachusetts native, was selected by Boston in the third round of the 2012 NHL draft. He had 25 goals and 110 assists in 445 games for the Bruins over eight seasons.
PHILADELPHIA — The Flyers rid themselves of defenseman Ryan Ellis‘ contract in a trade with the Sharks, ending his tenure at four games played in four seasons.
Ellis and a conditional sixth-round draft pick were traded to San Jose on Sunday for forward Carl Grundstrom and defenseman Artem Guryev. The condition on the sixth-round pick is that San Jose shall receive the earlier of two picks Philadelphia currently owns in the 2026 sixth round, its own and Columbus‘.
The Flyers now have five picks in the 2026 draft. They own one pick in each of the first three rounds, one in the sixth and one in the seventh round.
Philadelphia thought it acquired one of the NHL’s best defensemen when it landed Ellis from the Nashville Predators ahead of the 2021 season. Ellis was selected by Nashville with the No. 11 pick in the 2009 draft and helped the Predators win the Stanley Cup in 2017. He had 270 points in 562 career games at the time of the trade.
Ellis played four games in 2021 until he suffered a pelvis injury believed to be career-threatening.
The Sharks likely will place Ellis on long-term injured reserve. He has two seasons left on an eight-year, $50 million contract that carries an annual cap hit of $6.25 million through 2027.
Grundstrom scored nine points in 56 games with San Jose last season.
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