Malik Rosier didn't leave it to the kicker this time.
In a rivalry that so many times has come down to one kick, No. 13 Miami instead broke a seven-game losing streak to in-state rival Florida State in a 24-20 victory on Saturday with one perfect back-shoulder throw.
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Rosier had an all-or-nothing performance after finishing 19 of 44 for 254 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. But he came up big when it mattered most.
Rosier didn't leave a foot to chance. Receiver Darrell Langham scored an incredible 23-yard touchdown by just that much. The replay confirmed how much. The Hurricanes (4-0, 1-0) dropped the Seminoles (1-3, 1-2) out of the College Football Playoff hunt in the process, and opened the door for larger conversations later — and a few statements we can make right now.
Miami has the best quarterback among the Big Three in the state for now. We know that can change when Deondre Francois returns.
Miami is now the only one of those three with a legitimate shot at the College Football Playoff. The Seminoles and Gators have a combined for losses.
Miami isn't a finished product, but second-year coach Mark Richt clearly has this thing pointed in the right direction.
"The U" might not be back how you want it to be, but with Richt and Rosier, the Hurricanes have a combination that's good enough to put them in position to play for an ACC championship.
Rosier took a major step in development with a huge victory on the road, especially in the second half. He endured a miserable start by going 4 of 16 for 34 yards. But he wasn't the only quarterback in the state to struggle.
State of Florida QBs
— Bill Bender (@BillBender92) October 7, 2017
Rosier (U-M): 4/16, 34 yards
Blackman (FSU): 7/13, 52 yards
Franks (Fla): 5/8, 67 yards
Total: 16/37, 153 yards
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That changed in the second half. Rosier connected with Ahmmon Richards on a 33-yard sideline route, and a few plays later Richards decked A.J. Westbrook on a scramble with one of those big hits that used to be the norm in this rivalry. Rosier turned it up from there. He hit 4 of 5 passes on third down in the third quarter, along with a 21-yard touchdown pass to Braxton Berrios with 6:57 in the third.
Rosier and FSU quarterback James Blackman dueled in the fourth quarter in classic fashion. Blackman hit Ryan Izzo for a touchdown then led a field goal drive to put the Seminoles up 13-10. Rosier answered with another touchdown to Berrios in the back of the end zone. Blackman hit Auden Tate for a touchdown pass with 1:24 remaining. Then, Rosier led the game-winning drive. Nine plays, 75 yards and just three completions. That included two third-down conversions to Berrios, and one, more memorable, throw to Langham.
When the second-half show was over, Miami picked up the victory. Considering the first half of the season, which was interrupted in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, Miami has found a way to get to mid-October with undefeated record and a decent look at the ACC Coastal Division. Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and Notre Dame all come to Miami, and those are games we can take seriously now.
We can take the Hurricanes seriously, too. Rosier changed all with one throw that could change the trajectory of this rivalry again. This one is known for decisive one-sided swings and those one-sided kicks. But it's always best to have a quarterback who can lead the game-winning drive now.
Miami has that now, too. We can't wait for the rest of the conversation.
