Miami started its final drive of regulation (other than the late kneel down) with a 20-17 lead on its own 25-yard line with 4:15 remaining. The Hurricanes drove 25 yards in eight plays over 2:09 before SMU forced a punt. Dylan Joyce had a 40-yard punt that Yamir Knight made a fair catch at the SMU 10-yard line for the Mustangs.
With possession and four minutes remaining, you have to be able to get first downs to win the game. There were many questionable calls throughout the game. On third and eight from the 50-yard line, Carson Beck threw incomplete down the left sideline to Keelan Marion.
Marion and the SMU defender were bumping each other. It could have been called interference either way. If that had occurred, third down would have been replayed. Miami was called for holding and the play was declined by SMU to force the punt.
With SMU starting the drive at its own 10, Miami had the Mustangs backed up. SMU 69 yards in 11 plays in 1:44 that culminated with a 38 yard Sam Keltner field goal to tie the game with 25 seconds remaining. The decisive play for SMU came on fourth and nine at its own 48 yard line.
Miami has 1 timeout with 25 seconds left how do you not even try to get in position?
— Black Fettuccine (@The_General5) November 1, 2025
Miami sacked SMU quarterback Kevin Jennings on second down to put the Mustangs into third and 19. Jennings completed a pass to T.J. Harden for 10 yards to the Mustangs' 48-yard line. Before fourth down, the referees blew the whistle and Marquise Lightfoot was called for unnecessary roughness.
The whistle came because Mario Cristobal called a timeout. Lighfoot pulled up when the whistle was called and ran into Jennings. That was followed by the unnecessary roughness flag. SMU gained an automatic first down with the penalty call.
Following the penalty, SMU went 22 yards in six plays over 34 seconds to set up the Kelter field goal. On the play before the field goal, Jennings had an 11-yard completion to the Miami 21 yardline. That was significant as the field goal would have been 49 yards before the completion.
Miami had multiple opportunities to put the game away on offense and defense over the final 4:15. As has been the case far too often over the years, Miami did not make the plays it had to make to earn the win. Miami falls to 6-2 overall and 2-2 in the ACC.