In a quirky and wild ending, the No. 7 Miami Hurricanes escaped a midweek scare and defeated Virginia Tech 38-34. Despite the seemingly ordinary score, the path we took to get there was completely different.
At one point, Virginia Tech led 34-24, but Miami fought back late and took the lead thanks to transfer QB Cameron Ward. Ward had a Heisman moment, nearly getting sacked, but completed a chest pass to move the chains.
After Miami scores and takes the lead, Virginia Tech moves the ball into Hail Mary territory. Virginia Tech QB Kyron Drones put the ball in the end zone and it looked like the Hokies had a Hail Mary to win the game. Miami players run onto the field, lights flashing, celebrating the victory.
However, the referee ruled that the Virginia Tech receiver lost and awarded the Hokies a TD. The wild scenes take fans from elation to depression in a matter of seconds.
But wait, there's more! After it's ruled a touchdown, they go into a 5-minute review of the play. After review, they determine the pass is incomplete. Miami wins, let's all go home.
To be completely honest, I don't really have a strong opinion on whether this should have been ruled a TD or not. The way they dominated it on the field was strange and took quite a while at the time. But even if they ruled it a touchdown, there was no telling if they would find incontrovertible evidence to overturn it. Even if they ruled it incomplete, I wasn't sure they had enough incontrovertible evidence to rule it TD. A whole weird, quirky play, that's why we love college football.
Either way, I don't envy tonight's referee. Or ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips.
