Eric Boggs 
Miami defeated Virginia Tech following a controversial overturning of the last play of the game.
In one of the wildest college football finishes in recent memory, No. 7 Miami edged out Virginia Tech 38-34 on Friday night, but the victory came under a cloud of controversy that will be debated for years to come.
Virginia Tech led by 10 points in the fourth quarter, but Miami quarterback Cameron Ward orchestrated a furious comeback, capped by a go-ahead touchdown with just 1:57 left in the game. The Hurricanes took a 38-34 lead and seemed poised for victory. However, Virginia Tech wasn’t done. Hokies quarterback Kyron Drones led his team down to Miami’s 30-yard line, setting up a dramatic final play.
With just seconds remaining, Drones launched a 30-yard Hail Mary toward the end zone. Wide receiver Da’Quan Felton appeared to come down with the ball, and Virginia Tech players erupted in celebration. On the field, officials initially ruled it a touchdown, giving the Hokies an apparent last-second upset.
But the celebration was short-lived. ACC officials immediately called for a review, and after a lengthy six-minute deliberation, the call was overturned. The ruling? The ball had been touched by a Miami player while he was out of bounds, making it an incomplete pass and sealing the win for the Hurricanes. Miami fans cheered as the Hokies stood in stunned disbelief, feeling the victory had been snatched from their grasp.
Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry expressed his frustration postgame. “I hope they got that call right,” Pry said. “To take it from our kids, our coaches, our fans… I hope they got it right.”
The ACC later released a statement explaining the decision: “During the review process, it was determined that the loose ball was touched by a Miami player while he was out of bounds, which makes it an incomplete pass and immediately ends the play.” Despite the explanation, many, including ESPN commentators and social media fans, felt there wasn’t enough evidence to overturn the original touchdown ruling.
Before the controversy unfolded, it was a hard-fought game with four lead changes. Virginia Tech struck first, capitalizing on a Miami fumble to go up 7-0 after a 25-yard touchdown pass from Drones to Benji Gosnell. Ward responded with two quick scoring drives to give Miami a 14-7 lead, but Virginia Tech clawed back, intercepting Ward and riding a 55-yard run by Bhayshul Tuten to tie the game at 14-14. The Hokies added another touchdown and a field goal before Miami managed a 56-yard field goal just before halftime, cutting the deficit to 24-17.
The back-and-forth battle continued in the second half. Virginia Tech added a field goal to extend their lead, while Ward scored his lone rushing touchdown, bringing Miami within three points at 27-24. Virginia Tech seemed to seize control early in the fourth quarter when Drones found Ayden Greene for a touchdown, making it 34-24.
But Ward wasn’t finished. He led Miami down the field and threw a touchdown pass to close the gap to 34-31, then delivered a one-yard strike to Isaiah Horton with less than two minutes left, giving Miami its first lead since the first quarter at 38-34.
With one final chance, Virginia Tech almost completed the upset, but the controversial overturn of Felton’s touchdown crushed their hopes. Ward finished the game with 343 passing yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions. Running back Damien Martinez led Miami’s rushing attack with 60 yards on 14 carries. Virginia Tech’s wide receiver Stephen Gosnell vented his frustrations on social media after the game, tweeting, “ACC knows what they did. I wanna see consequences.”
Though Miami came away with the win, the Hokies left Hard Rock Stadium feeling robbed. The game will undoubtedly be remembered for its thrilling action—and the controversial ending that overshadowed it all.
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