1989 – Dexter Carter 37 yard TD just 23 seconds into the game

Florida State had lost 4 straight to the Hurricanes including one heart breaker and one embarrassment.  In 1989, Dexter Carter made sure that the game would get off to a good start. After an interception on Miami’s first play from scrimmage, Peter Tom Willis pitched out left to Dexter Carter who raced around the left side and down the sideline for a quick 7-0 lead only 23 seconds into the game.  The Noles would force 6 Miami turnovers on the day and win the game 24-10.

1993 – Matt Frier 72 yards TD catch from Charlie Ward

For two consecutive years, Miami had put a crushing end to the Nole’s National Championship dreams.  If Florida State was going to contend in ’93, it had to get over the Miami hump.  Sean Jackson had started the day off well with a 69 yard touchdown run, but Miami had answered back and seemed to be grasping early momentum.  Charlie Ward and the Noles faced a crucial early 3rd down and 10.  Feeling pressure, Ward scrambled to his right and found Matt Frier behind the secondary along the sideline and he sprinted the rest of the way for a 72 yard touchdown that sent Doak Campbell Stadium into a frenzy and the Noles on their way to a 28-10 victory and their first National Championship.

2005 – Miami Muff

Florida State had lost 6 consecutive games to their arch rival.  Two more games were lost due to miss kicks.  In an ugly performance between two Top 15 teams, Florida State’s defense kept the Noles in the ball game all night with 9 sacks.  Despite a dreadful offensive performance that saw the Noles muster only 170 total yards, they had managed a 10 point first quarter lead thanks to turnovers.  That lead had held with Miami lining up for a short field goal to tie the game with only 2:30 left on the clock.  Finally, however, kicking game woes would benefit the Noles as a low snap bounced off the holder’s knee and the FSU recovered going on to win the game.  It set off a wild celebration that was almost as much relief as it was joy.

2010 – Chris Thompson 90 yard TD run.

The 2010 game was a big win for Florida State.  With the game all but over, Chris Thompson put an exclamation point on the victory with a 90 yard TD run.  It was particularly momentous because the just seconds earlier, Thomspon had scampered 80 yards for a touchdown only to have it called back due to holding.  In almost identical, fashion, Thompson again burst through the line and raced down the right sideline for a touchdown that put the icing on the cake for the mostly Florida State crowd at Dolphin Stadium (or whatever it was called that week).

1996 – Warrick Dunn 80 yard TD run.

Florida State had jumped out to a quick 10-0 lead thanks to a field goal and a defensive score. Though the Canes would fall on hard times in the late 90s, this Miami team was the 6th ranked team in the land and very capable of making it a game.  The previous play, Warrick Dunn had thrown a halfback pass that was almost picked off.  The next play, Dunn took the more normal route through the middle of the line, made a jaw dropping cut in the secondary and raced 80 yards to the endzone.  In an unfamiliar move, Dunn even gave a bit of taunting to the Miami crowd holding up his hand to the ear hole of helmet as the Orange Bowl crowd fell silent.

Honorable Mention (No video)

1958 – Joe Majors INT return for TD

The Florida State Seminoles had been winless in their first 5 attempts going against the Miami Hurricanes.  Joe Majors, a do everything man for the Noles, made sure that the 1958 contest got started right for FSU.  Moments after throwing an interception himself, Majors stepped in front of a Miami pass picking it off and scooting 42 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter.  Despite being out gained by a wide margin, the Noles would never relinquish the lead and came away with the school’s first ever victory over Miami 17-6.