Darian Mensah completed 326 yards passing and three touchdowns, including a decisive three-yard strike to Malachi Toney in the second overtime, as Miami edged Florida State 43-35 in a closely contested game Saturday night. The victory propelled Miami to the No. 1 spot in the top 25 rankings released Sunday, marking the program’s first time at the summit since 2002.

The matchup featured several standout performances, with Toney leading Miami’s offense by catching 11 passes for 154 yards and scoring twice. Additionally, Toney showcased versatility by throwing a two-point conversion pass to Cooper Barkate following his overtime touchdown. Early in the game, Florida State’s Bryce Fitzgerald left with an injury but returned to make a critical interception in the end zone on the final play, securing the win for the Hurricanes amid Florida State’s protests that the catch should have resulted in a touchdown.

On the Florida State side, running back Ousmane Kromah was held to 44 yards on 14 carries, a noticeable dip after consistently surpassing 80 rushing yards in the team’s previous six games. The Seminoles announced on Sunday that Kromah will miss the remainder of the season following leg surgery.

Mensah reflected on the team’s ability to persevere, stating, “This is what great teams do, find a way to win.” The closely fought contest underscored the intense rivalry between the two programs and Miami’s resurgence atop college football’s rankings.