Frantic, fun finish adds juice to Orange
Renegade, the horse that serves as Florida State's mascot, took a tumble while prancing on the field before kickoff. The horse was just fine.
Hours later, Florida State collapsed — and like Renegade, recovered with a flourish.
Deondre Francois' 12-yard touchdown pass to Nyquan Murray with 36 seconds left put No. 11 Florida State ahead for good, and the Seminoles topped No. 6 Michigan 33-32 in a frantic Orange Bowl on Friday night in Miami Gardens, Fla.
It capped a wild final few minutes of a game that Florida State controlled most of the way before needing a rally in the final moments.
“The character on this team,” Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said. “I'm as proud of this team as any I've coached.”
Dalvin Cook rushed for 145 yards and a touchdown for Florida State (10-3), which led 20-6 early — and was up by 12 midway through the fourth quarter before falling behind.
Chris Evans had a 30-yard touchdown run and Khalid Hill an 8-yard scoring catch in the final minutes for Michigan (10-3), which also got a defensive conversion when Josh Metellus ran a blocked extra point back after the second Francois-Murray TD.
But Michigan turned the ball over on its final possession, and the Seminoles held on after the teams combined for 23 points and two lead changes in the final 5:22.
“Love these guys,” Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said. “Great group of competitors, great group of workers and a great group that finds a way.”
Well, almost.
The Wolverines played without Heisman Trophy finalist Jabrill Peppers, their do-everything guy who couldn't go because of a bad left hamstring, and lost standout tight end Jake Butt to a knee injury in the second quarter. ESPN reported Saturday that Butt tore his ACL and will need to undergo surgery.
Wilton Speight was 21-for-38 passing for 163 yards for Michigan, which got a 14-yard pick-six from Mike McCray.
Florida State was in control, but the game turned midway through the fourth when Trey Marshall was ejected for targeting on a punt return — giving Michigan a short field on which to start its comeback. Marshall missed an amazing finish.
“Best game of my life,” said Cook, a junior who Saturday announced he will enter the NFL draft. Cook leaves as Florida State's all-time leading rusher with 4,464 yards.
Hill's scoring grab was Michigan's first offensive TD, and Evans' run with 1:57 left gave the Wolverines their first lead. It lasted 81 seconds.
Keith Gavin swung momentum back to Florida State with a 66-yard kickoff return, setting up the winning drive.
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