Eric Boggs 
Georgia Tech upsets Miami again.
In a dramatic matchup, the No. 4 Miami Hurricanes’ undefeated season came to an end as they fell to Georgia Tech 28-23. Despite a history of resilient second-half comebacks, Miami couldn’t overcome a late deficit, as a final turnover in the game’s closing moments sealed their fate. Georgia Tech’s defense pressured Miami quarterback Cam Ward into a fumble with just 1:36 left on the clock. Romero Height chased down Ward from behind, forcing the fumble, which Jordan Van Den Burg recovered for Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets then ran out the clock, ending Miami’s hopes of an undefeated season.
Miami entered the game as the nation’s top-scoring team, averaging 47.4 points per game and an impressive 556.9 yards of offense. The Hurricanes were 9-0, thanks in part to a remarkable ability to come back from substantial second-half deficits, as they did in previous wins over Virginia Tech, Cal, and Duke. However, their comeback magic ran out on Saturday, as Georgia Tech managed to hold Miami to a season-low 23 points.
The game began explosively, with Georgia Tech’s Jamal Haynes breaking loose for a 65-yard run that set up a 16-yard touchdown on the game’s opening drive. Miami responded immediately with a 74-yard touchdown pass from Ward to Elijah Arroyo, leveling the score. Miami took a brief 10-7 lead after a field goal, but Georgia Tech reclaimed the lead, making it 14-10 with a five-yard touchdown pass from Haynes King to Malik Rutherford, capping a marathon 17-play, 75-yard drive.
In the third quarter, Georgia Tech extended its lead to 21-10 with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Aaron Philo to Chase Lane. Miami countered as Isaiah Horton caught an eight-yard touchdown, but their attempt to cut the deficit further fell short when Ward was sacked on a two-point conversion attempt, leaving the score at 21-16.
The Hurricanes had multiple opportunities to claw their way back. Early in the fourth quarter, a penalty erased a potential Miami touchdown, and a failed fourth-down attempt left the Hurricanes without points. Georgia Tech maintained its 28-16 lead until Ward found Xavier Restrepo for a 38-yard touchdown, pulling Miami within five points at 28-23.
Miami’s defense stepped up, forcing Georgia Tech to punt late in the game, giving Ward and the Hurricanes one final chance at a comeback. But on the second play of the drive, Ward was sacked, and Georgia Tech recovered his fumble, securing the upset victory. With this loss, Miami (9-1, 5-1 ACC) slipped into a tie for second place in the ACC with Clemson, while SMU claimed sole possession of the top spot in the conference standings.
Georgia Tech’s disciplined defense and Miami’s missed opportunities combined to bring a stunning end to the Hurricanes’ perfect season.
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