Miami vs. Virginia Tech score: No. 7 Canes survive as controversial Hail Mary call thwarts Hokies' upset bid

The No. 7 Hurricanes survived a serious scare from 17.5-point underdog Virginia Tech

No. 7 Miami overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit and got help from a controversial last-second call to pick up a 38-34 win over Virginia Tech at Hard Rock Stadium on Friday. The Hurricanes had to sweat out a late scare after Virginia Tech quarterback Kyron Drones threw what appeared to be a 30-yard touchdown pass on the game's final play to receiver  Da'Quan Felton. However, after further review the play was overturned, giving the Hurricanes the victory. 

The ACC further clarified the controversial ruling in a statement to ESPN, claiming the play was blown dead because a Miami player touched the ball while out of bounds.

'During the review process of the last play of the Virginia Tech at Miami game, 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.'

Hurricanes quarterback Cameron Ward accounted for five total touchdowns and led a late touchdown drive with less than two minutes left to give the Hurricanes their first lead since the first quarter.

Ward, considered one of the early favorites to win the Heisman Trophy after transferring in from Washington State this offseason, finished 24 of 38 for 343 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 57 yards and another score on the ground.

Miami had to overcome some early struggles to win its first ACC conference opener in four years. The Hurricanes turned the ball over on their first offensive possession and had an opportunity to extend their early lead to double digits before Ward threw an interception deep into Virginia Tech territory.

Keep it locked here as CBS Sports provides you with live updates, highlights and analysis as Miami battles Virginia Tech on Friday night. 

[Sep 28, 2024 at 12:04 am ET · Cameron Salerno]

Virginia Tech's (unsuccessful) fake field goal helped Miami

One of the biggest plays came in the third quarter when Virginia Tech elected to try a fake field goal on a fourth-and-3 from the Miami 10-yard line. The trick play failed, squandering a chance to go up by 13 points. 

Not only did it give Miami some much-needed momentum at the time, it wiped three potential points off the board. Virginia Tech kicker John Love was nails all night, hitting a pair of 50-plus-yard field goals, including a 57-yarder right before halftime. 

Those three points would have put the Hokies down by just one in the game's final two minutes. The Hokies drove down to the Miami 30-yard line on their final drive, which would have been well in range for Love to attempt what could have been a walk-off field goal for the win. 

Obviously, neither of those kicks would have been a sure thing, and there are plenty of other reasons the Hokies fell short in this game, but those three points will loom large in the minds of Virginia Tech fans as their heads hit the pillow tonight. 

[Sep 27, 2024 at 11:57 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Miami's has an inside track to the CFP 

Miami had lost its last three ACC openers before this thrilling victory over Virginia Tech. The Hurricanes are 5-0 for the first time since 2017 and remain the favorite to win the ACC and earn the automatic bid to the 12-team College Football Playoff. 

A lot can change between now and December, this win improves the chances of reaching the CFP with or without the automatic bid. Miami travels Cal next weekend before a bye week. On Oct. 19, the Canes are on the road at Louisville. As of today, that's the last ranked team remaining on the schedule. Miami should be favored in every game for the rest of the season.

[Sep 27, 2024 at 11:52 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Miami, Ward stepped up when it mattered

This game featured too many momentum swings to list here, but the biggest moment for Miami came on its final offensive drive. Facing fourth-and-3 at midfield, Hurricanes receiver Xavier Restrepo made an acrobatic catch on his back to move the chains. 

On a first-down play from the 27-yard line Virginia Tech looked to have Ward wrapped up for a sack, but Ward fired off a last-ditch two-handed shovel pass to Isaiah Horton. Horton raced around the left side of the Hokies defense down to the 1-yard line. One play later Ward hit Horton again for the go-ahead score with 1:57 to go in the game. Ward finished with five total touchdowns, and that final drive could be one of his Heisman moments in a couple of months.

[Sep 27, 2024 at 11:47 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Controversial Hail Mary call will be the biggest storyline

The final play of this game will be remembered for the touchdown that wasn't. At first glance, it appeared that Virginia Tech receiver Da'Quan Felton hauled in Drones' Hail Mary heave and the program had secured its first road win over a top-10 opponent since 2014. 

Instead, Virginia Tech will walk out of Hard Rock Stadium with a 2-3 record and a 0-1 start to ACC play. The Hokies opened the 2024 season with high expectations and fell in Week 1 to Vanderbilt on the road and lost to Rutgers last weekend in heartbreaking fashion. This was an opportunity to get back on track and potentially steal an at-large bid to the College Football Playoff. With games on the schedule against Stanford, Georgia Tech and Syracuse, The Hokies will have more chances to bounce back.

[Sep 27, 2024 at 11:32 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Miami survives 

FINAL: No. 7 Miami 38, Virginia Tech 34

No. 7 Miami survived a potential upset bid from Virginia Tech at Hard Rock Stadium on Friday and overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to secure the victory. On the final play of regulation, VT quarterback Kyron Drones threw the ball to a group of defenders in the end zone and Da'Quan Felton came down with it as time expired. The call on the field was ruled a touchdown but video replay overuled it.

Miami star quarterback Cameron Ward accounted for five total touchdowns and led a late touchdown drive with less than two minutes left to give the Hurricanes their first lead since the first quarter. Ward's 1-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Horton was his fourth passing touchdown of the night and 18th of the season.

Miami had to overcome some early struggles to win its first ACC conference opener in four years. The Hurricanes turned the ball over on their first offensive possession. They had an opportunity to extend their early lead to double digits before Ward threw an interception deep into Virginia Tech territory. 

Ward, considered one of the early favorites to win the Heisman Trophy after transferring in from Washington State this offseason, finished 24 of 38 for 343 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 57 yards and another score on the ground. As for Virginia Tech, the program was seeking its first road win over a top-10 opponent since knocking off Ohio State in 2014.

[Sep 27, 2024 at 11:14 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Miami has the lead back

Late 4Q: No. 7 Miami 38, Virginia Tech 34

Miami has the lead back on a 1-yard touchdown connection from Ward to Isaiah Horton. Ward just tossed his fourth touchdown of the night with 1:57 to play to give the Hurricanes their first lead since the first quarter. Virginia Tech will have one last chance to win the game.

[Sep 27, 2024 at 10:57 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Virginia Tech forced to punt

MID 4Q: Virginia Tech 34, No. 7 Miami 31

Miami dialed up a blitz on third-and-7 and it paid off. The Hurricanes will get the ball back with a chance to take their first lead since the first quarter. Let's see what Ward and the Miami offense can do here.

[Sep 27, 2024 at 10:51 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Miami responds

MID 4Q: Virginia Tech 34, No. 7 Miami 31

After Virginia Tech put together an impressive touchdown drive to extend its lead to 10, Miami answered with a 9-play, 70-yard drive to cut the lead down to three. Ward connected with TE Cam McCormick — one of the oldest players in the FBS — for a 6-yard score.  Ward now has four total touchdowns on the night.

[Sep 27, 2024 at 10:37 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Virginia Tech answers, again 

Early 4Q: Virginia Tech 34, No. 7 Miami 24

Virginia Tech went on a 10-play, 75-yard drive that was capped with a 16-yard touchdown pass from Kyron Drones to Ayden Greene to extend the lead back to 10. Facing third-and-9 from Miami's 17-yard line, Drones rolled right and found an open receiver to answer Miami's score minutes before.

[Sep 27, 2024 at 10:25 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Heading to the fourth quarter

END 3Q: Virginia Tech 27, No. 7 Miami 24

Virginia Tech had a long touchdown run erased because of a holding penalty in the final moments of the third quarter and will head into the final period with a slim lead. Buckle up.

[Sep 27, 2024 at 10:17 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Ward gets in the end zone

LATE 3Q: Virginia Tech 27, No. 7 Miami 24

Miami was able to take advantage of the fake field goal by Virginia Tech and capped a 8-play, 89-yard drive with a 17-yard touchdown run by Ward. The Hurricanes came into this game outscoring opponents 59-6 in the third quarter and that could be the momentum swing they needed to get back into this one.

[Sep 27, 2024 at 10:09 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Virginia Tech gets cute, Miami catches a break

MID 3Q: Virginia Tech 27, No. 7 Miami 17

Virginia Tech tried to pull a fast one on Miami and attempted a fake field goal, but the Hurricanes got the stop. Virginia Tech returned the interception deep into Miami territory but came away with zero points. It would've been a chip shot field goal attempt, instead Miami takes over.

[Sep 27, 2024 at 10:05 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Virginia Tech forces a turnover

MID 3Q: Virginia Tech 27, No. 7 Miami 17

Ward had two interceptions coming into tonight and he just tossed his second of the game while Miami was driving deep into Virginia Tech territory. VT linebacker Kaleb Spencer was the one who picked off Ward and returned it deep into Miami territory.

During that drive, Virginia Tech star edge rusher Antwaun Powell-Ryland went to the locker room. Powell-Ryland came into Friday leading the FBS in sacks.

[Sep 27, 2024 at 9:52 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Miami forces field goal attempt

Early 3Q: Virginia Tech 27, No. 7 Miami 17

Great start to the second half for Virginia Tech, as the Hokies put points on the board after marching down into Miami territory. VT kicker John Love drilled a 52-yard field goal for his second make of the night. Love converted on a 57-yard FG in the final moments of the second quarter to extend the lead to 10.

[Sep 27, 2024 at 9:45 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Third quarter underway 

Virginia Tech will get the ball to start the second half, leading by a touchdown.

[Sep 27, 2024 at 9:29 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Miami trails at halftime

HALF: Virginia Tech 24, No. 7 Miami 17

We have reached halftime from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami and the home team is on upset alert. Miami started the game with a turnover on its first offensive possession and had a chance to extend the lead to double digits before star QB Cam Ward threw a costly interception deep into Virginia Tech territory.

The Hurricanes came in averaging 52.3 points per game and a PPG differential of +42 - the best marks to the start of the season in program history. Miami has lost its last three ACC openers, while Virginia Tech is seeking its first win on the road over a top-10 opponent since 2014.