Miami's Cristobal admits not kneeling was 'wrong call'

Miami head coach Mario Cristobal admitted it was a mistake to call a run play instead of taking a knee late in Saturday's fourth quarter against Georgia Tech.

"I made the wrong call," Cristobal said Monday, according to Andrea Adelson of ESPN. "I take full ownership in not taking a knee and giving them the opportunity to have a couple extra plays and preventing us from sealing the win."

The Hurricanes led 20-17 with 34 seconds left and decided to call a run instead of taking a knee, which would have all but ended the contest. Running back Don Chaney fumbled the ball, and the Yellow Jackets took over at their 26-yard line.

Georgia Tech went 76 yards to pull off the miraculous comeback after quarterback Haynes King rolled to his right and threw a beautiful ball to a wide-open receiver.

The loss dropped Miami to 4-1, costing the Hurricanes their chance at an undefeated season. The 53-year-old Cristobal believes the team has responded well and is ready to bounce back against North Carolina on Saturday.

"We expected a good response today, and that's what we got," Cristobal said of Monday's practice. "There's a lot of conviction in our preparation and processes. The guys are very eager to get back to work and prepare for this weekend's opportunity."

Miami signed Cristobal to a 10-year, $80-million contract after naming him the program's head boss in 2021. He has a 9-8 record with the Hurricanes.