Virginia Tech wide receiver Stephen Gosnell has publicly called for the ACC to face consequences following a controversial ending to the Hokies’ narrow 38-34 defeat against No. 7 Miami. The game, played Friday night, saw a dramatic final play that initially appeared to hand Virginia Tech a game-winning touchdown. Quarterback Kyron Drones connected with Da’Quan Felton on a 30-yard pass amid heavy defensive pressure, seemingly securing victory as time expired. However, after a lengthy review, officials overturned the touchdown, ruling it incomplete and leaving Virginia Tech with a painful loss.
Gosnell, who led the Hokies with four receptions for 53 yards, took to social media after the game, expressing his frustration. In a since-deleted post, he accused the ACC of mishandling the situation, stating, “ACC knows what they did. I want to see consequences.” The wide receiver also shared footage of another controversial call in the game—a 61-yard touchdown run by the Hokies that was negated due to a questionable holding penalty. This play, too, drew criticism, with ESPN analyst Andre Ware commenting, “That just looks like a good block. Oh my goodness, that looked like a good block.”
Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry was visibly upset in the post-game press conference, emphasizing the emotional toll the overturned touchdown took on the team. “That’s a tough one right there,” Pry stated. “To overturn that call and take it from our kids, our coaches, our fans—I hope they got it right.”
The Hurricanes’ win allowed them to remain undefeated, moving to 5-0 behind a strong performance from Heisman hopeful Cam Ward, who threw for 343 yards and scored five touchdowns. Despite Miami’s mistakes, including three turnovers, Virginia Tech couldn’t capitalize, dropping to 2-3 on the season. They now look ahead to their upcoming matchup against Stanford.
The controversial finish has sparked heated debate about officiating, with Gosnell’s public call for accountability adding to the growing frustration among fans and players alike. The ACC may need to respond as pressure builds around the handling of the game’s crucial moments.