The No. 7 Miami Hurricanes enforced a rarely used clause to shorten the fourth quarter by five minutes during their 77-7 thrashing of Florida A&M on Friday night at Hard Rock Stadium. The decision to reduce playing time came amid a lopsided score that saw Miami leading 77-0 entering the final quarter.
NCAA rules permit the playing time of any remaining period to be shortened by mutual agreement between the opposing head coaches and the referee. Miami head coach Mario Cristobal and Florida A&M coach Quinn Fordham Gray Jr. agreed to the modification. This move allowed Miami fans an extended period to celebrate the decisive win.
The game was anticipated to be a mismatch, with Miami heavily favored. The Hurricanes established an early lead, going up 21-0 after the first quarter and extending their advantage to 49-0 by halftime. Despite the score, Florida A&M managed to avoid a shutout with a 72-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Miami’s offensive performance was historic, setting new program records. The team amassed 856 total yards, a new school record, and their 77 points matched a program high. They also set an ACC record with 42 first downs. Quarterback Darian Mesnah completed 14 of 15 passes for 252 yards and three touchdowns.
Cristobal utilized the game as an opportunity to play and evaluate a significant number of players, stating, "You have to play guys you really can’t look at the clock or the scoreboard. You just have to continue developing your roster, and we attempted to do that tonight." The Hurricanes have now outscored their opponents 122-13 through their first two games.
Shortening game quarters is an infrequent occurrence in college football. In a similar instance earlier in the season, Arizona State and Morgan State agreed to shorten the fourth quarter of their game on September 5. Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham noted he had never been part of such a game before and learned it was legal.