FSU fan here, but I believe Miami got robbed of a touchdown.
Under NCAA Rule 2-4-3(a), a receiver must secure possession, establish himself inbounds, and maintain control long enough to perform an act common to the game. He doesn’t actually have to perform that act.
The NCAA’s own instant replay guidance specifically identifies additional steps as evidence of transitioning from a receiver to a runner.
Miami’s receiver secured the football, established BOTH feet inbounds, remained upright, and took another step out of bounds before the ball was dislodged.
Rule 2-4-3(b) governs receivers going to the ground during the catch. That’s not what happened here. He remained upright.
If those actions established a completed catch before he stepped out, Rule 8-2-1(b) makes it a touchdown immediately. There can be no subsequent fumble because the play is already dead.
You can’t argue that his next step would establish possession in the field of play while automatically dismissing that same evidence in the end zone.
The standard for a completed catch doesn’t change simply because the receiver is standing in the end zone.
By that interpretation, Miami scored. And I’m saying that as an FSU fan.
1st half was abysmal but honestly without Toney the canes did what they could on the road in South Bend plus some truly questionable calls down the line I still got some hope for the season
@skeedos1 The score isn’t even that bad I’ve seen Miami come back from way worse the problem is the offense is completely inept without Toney and ND is just walking down the field
I was so wrong about Hetherman as great as Bain and Mesidor was I thought Hetherman could still coach the defense to be solid without them but I couldn’t of been more wrong