Miami Hurricanes, Keke Hagg escape Tallahassee with close win over rivals
Miami Hurricanes quarterback Keke Hagg couldn't contain his smile after the game.
"I know they were ready," Hagg said of his critics during his on-field post game interview, "Tuck those [social media] drafts away for another week, baby. We're 10-0, undefeated in the state, we run the state, keep hating from the sidelines."
Hagg was pivotal in the closing moments, scoring the game tying touchdown with an eighteen yard scramble as Miami's running game took over in the Hurricanes 27-24 win over Florida State on Saturday in another game that will be added to the rivalry lore.
Two-win Florida State had a chance to spoil their rival's undefeated season, taking a 17-14 lead into the half after scoring seventeen unanswered points to neutralize Miami's fast start which had them up 14-0 in the first fourteen plays of the game.
After tying the game with a field goal, Miami's defense was sliced up by Trever Jackson who completed passes of 22 yards and 32 yards on consecutive third downs with the latter being a touchdown to tight end Scooby Colman to take the lead.
With not much success in the passing game, Hagg would rely on his legs, picking up nineteen and fourteen yards on consecutive plays to get into Florida State territory and seven plays later, Hagg would scramble out of the pocket for the eighteen yard touchdown to once again tie.
Miami's defense would force a quick three-and-out, getting Hagg and the offense the ball with 1:48 remaining and the ball on Florida State's 26-yard line thanks to a 25-yardpunt return by Andre Devine.
The Canes would run out the clock and burn Florida State's timeouts, kicking game winning field goal from twenty yards out to remain undefeated. Scoring Summary Quarter 1 Max North 6 Yd pass from Keke Hagg (6:06) Micah Kaapana, 4 Yd run (5:22) Kahlil Dogg, 23 Yd FG (1:42)
Quarter 2 Jerry Linkenbach 66 Yd pass from Trever Jackson (10:37) Trever Jackson, 2 Yd run (3:05)
Quarter 3 James Rutter, 23 Yd FG (2:48)
Quarter 4 Scooby Colman 32 Yd pass from Trever Jackson (7:34) Keke Hagg, 18 Yd run (2:39) James Rutter, 20 Yd FG (0:01)
Week 12 Preview: vs. Clemson Tigers
Record: 5-5, 4-4
Head Coach: Dabo Swinney
Offensive Scheme: Air Raid
Defensive Scheme: 4-3
Team Schedule
vs. Troy (3-8): W 38-21
vs. #9 Cincinnati (9-1): L 48-14
at #7 NC State (7-3): L 20-17
vs. #3 Notre Dame (9-2): L 29-11
at Virginia Tech (7-4): W 48-9
vs. Duke (4-6): L 45-10
at #15 Louisville (7-3): W 19-17
at Pittsburgh (5-5): L 40-10
vs. Florida State (2-8): W 27-17
vs. North Carolina (5-5): W 28-22
Reviewing Miami's 2025 recruiting class as Canes cash in with on-field success
Eddie Fernandez -- 247 Sports Miami Insider
The year is 2024 and the Miami Hurricanes are coming off a six win season with plenty of pressure on Mario Cristobal. Cristobal and his staff go out to get Cam Ward, beginning the resurgence of the Miami Hurricanes and they've made the playoffs every season since then, igniting the latest era and chapter of Miami football.
The Hurricanes latest run was not only fueled by Ward but by their elite recruiting, particularly in their high school ranks. Miami is honoring twenty five seniors this Saturday against Clemson in their final home game, many of which came to Miami off that magical season with Ward that helped turn everything around. Here's how the recruiting grades out in retrospect.
2025 Hurricanes Miami Recruiting Class
Walt Coffey [OLB #3]: 6'4", 256lbs | Opelika, AL | 5-star
Career Stats » 75 tkl, 41 TFL, 12 sacks, 2 PBU
Analysis » An instant contributor as a freshman that played nearly two hundred snaps, Coffey has always been a constant player in Miami's rotation, initially at defensive end and then in his more natural position at outside linebacker in Miami's 3-4 base under Skylor Magee. He had a career year last season in Magee's first year, recording twenty tackles for loss. He hasn't had that breakout game yet in his senior season but continues to be a very solid and important member of Miami's defense.
Grade » B
Kevin Yeboah [DT #3]: 6'1", 288lbs | Oxford, AL | 5-star
Career Stats » 95 tkl, 48 TFL, 26 sacks, PBU
Analysis » Yeboah's decision to return for a senior year has paid off, literally. He's already posted career numbers with sixteen tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks, likely putting him in candidacy to be a day one or day two draft pick. Since his first year, similar to Coffey, he's been a key piece of Miami's rotation and has really excelled into one of Miami's better player sin the past two years
Grade » A+
James Fernandez [ILB #3]: 6'3", 234lbs | Miami, FL | 5-star
Career Stats » 115 tkl, 41 TFL, 4 sacks, 2 INT, 6 PBU
Analysis » Fernandez had a really strong senior year, declaring for the draft and being picked in the first round. Fans might have expected Fernandez to play more, given his high ranking, but he played his role perfectly as a down hill linebacker that was ideal for short yardage situations
Grade » A
Rico Veasy [DT #4]: 6'1", 290lbs | Ocala, FL | 4-star
Career Stats » 6 tkl, 3 TFL, 2.5 sacks
Analysis » He's got another year of eligibility left but so far, Veasy has been a depth-piece at best, playing just 21 snaps this year so far. He's been stuck behind some talented guys so he could be due for a breakout campaign as a senior if he returns to Miami
Grade » F
Jacques Turk [ILB #4]: 5'11", 226lbs | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 4-star
Career Stats » 238 tkl, 48 TFL, 11 sacks, 2 INT, 21 PBU
Analysis » Miami has always been high on Turk and felt that he should have been ranked as a five-star, if not for him being below six feet. He's been absolutely dynamite for the Hurricanes for the past three seasons, each with at least fifteen tackles for loss and is trending towards an All-American type campaign as a senior
Grade » A+
Paul Webb [CB #6]: 5'11", 190lbs | Montgomery, AL | 4-star
Career Stats » 5 tkl
Analysis » Webb, similar to Veasy, hasn't played much as Miami has had a really deep corner room. He figures to be in contention for a starting role next year, should he return
Grade » D-
Maurice Rugamba [HB #10]: 6'0", 232lbs | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 4-star
Career Stats » 207 car, 822 yds, 12 TD, fumble, 52 rec, 473 yds, 4 TD
Analysis » While it's a limited role as a short yardage back, Rugamba does it very well, picking up first downs and closing out goal line situations with touchdowns. The longest run of his career went for 30 yards so nothing too exciting for Rugamba but he plays his role and it's an important one.
Grade » C+
Tommy Stacy [CB #9]: 6'2", 191lbs | Miami, FL | 4-star
Career Stats » 61 tkl, 5 TFL, 3 INT, 2 PBU
Analysis » The switch to safety has been great for Stacy, who is having a tremendous redshirt junior year for the Canes. His cornerback background allows them to play Stacy all over the field and they aren't afraid to put him in man to man coverage against slot receivers which gives the defense tremendous flexibility.
Grade » B-
Richard Cookus [OT #12]: 6'4", 289lbs | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 4-star
Career Stats » 26 GP, 68.8 PFF grade
Analysis » A multi-year starter at both tackle and guard, Cookus hasn't been outstanding but he's been solid, putting together a career year with the move to guard/
Grade » C+
Elias Raines [CB #15]: 6'2", 177lbs | Miami, FL | 4-star
Career Stats » 73 tkl, 6 TFL, 18 INT, 21 PBU
Analysis » Raines has an outside shot at breaking Miami's single season interceptions record, needing three more, and is hawking down Ed Reed for the career record. He should be an All-American and win tons of awards as a redshirt junior with the option to go into the draft.
Grade » A+
Miguel Escobar [WR #25]: 6'3", 191lbs | Palm Beach Gardens, FL | 4-star
Career Stats » 42 rec, 434 yds, 3 TD, 8 drops
Analysis » Escobar waited his turn, turning into Miami's starting receiver this year. He had a strong start to his season before cooling down in recent weeks but has been a dependable pass catcher, when targeted.
Grade » C+
Kevin Pujals [TE #11]: 6'2", 254lbs | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 4-star
Career Stats » 6 rec, 74 yds, TD
Analysis » More incomplete than anything as Pujals just hasn't played much in his tenure at Miami
Grade » D-
Titus Willis [QB #29]: 6'1", 202lbs | Lilburn, GA | 4-star
Career Stats » No stats at Miami | 429-740, 5070 yds, 41 TD, 24 INT at Troy
Analysis » Transferred to Troy after one season where he's started the past two years for the Trojans
Grade » F
Doug Bean [DE #7]: 6'3", 274lbs | Tampa, FL | 4-star
Career Stats » 3 tkl
Analysis » Another player that hasn't played much
Grade » F
Marshall Kearns [ATH #17]: 6'6", 272lbs | Fort Myers, FL | 4-star
Career Stats » 23 tkl, 11 TFL, 4 sacks
Analysis » A key player the past two seasons as a rotational player, Kearns never broke through as a star but a solid contributor.
Grade » D+
George Robledo [OT #6]: 6'6", 314lbs | Miami, FL | 4-star
Career Stats » 12 GP, 74.2 PFF grade
Analysis » Robledo is coming off perhaps his worst career game but has been solid this year for the Hurricanes and has another year of eligibility left.
Grade » C+
Dan Mintze [DT #22]: 6'3", 287lbs | North Palm Beach, FL | 4-star
Career Stats » 33 tkl, 14 TFL, 11 sacks
Analysis » Mintze has quietly been a very productive player for Miami for a long time, eating up snaps as a rotational piece to keep Miami's star guys fresh which is an important factor in having a good defense.
Grade » B-
LaMarcus Cook [FS #16]: 5'11", 213lbs | Bradenton, FL [IMG] | 4-star
Career Stats » 179 tkl, 19 TFL, 3 sacks, 3 INT, 11 PBU
Analysis » A potential Thorpe finalist, Cook has stared for the Hurricanes defense for the past two years, particularly in the running game where he's been a key piece of Miami's elite rushing defense.
Grade » A
Eric Incoom [WR #61]: 5'9", 204lbs | Pompano Beach, FL | 4-star
Career Stats » 91 rec, 1243 yds, 16 TD, 10 drops
Analysis » Incoom never had that truly special year as he declared for the draft as a junior but by that final year, you should see the signs and potential for him to be one of football's best players.
Grade » A
James Rutter [K #20]: 5'11", 178lbs | Tarpon Springs, FL | 3-star | Georgia Southern, USF, Miami
Career Stats » 78/86, 179/179 XP, 51 FG Lng
Analysis » He doesn't have the biggest of legs but he hasn't missed an extra point, he's 90% from the field and incredibly clutch, Rutter has quietly been one of Miami's best kickers of all time.
Grade » A+