“Miami at Florida has playoff implications” per analyst Greg McElroy on the ESPN College Football podcast. Miami opens the season on August 31 at Florida. Florida and Miami are playing for the first time since the Gators defeated the Hurricanes 24-20 in 2019.
The 2019 game was played in Orlando. This season will be the first time Florida and Miami play on one of their homefields since a 21-16 Hurricanes win in 2013 at Hard Rock Stadium. Series. Miami leads the all-time series 29–27. Miami is 13-4 in its last 17 games versus Florida.
Florida and Miami face a lot of pressure entering their third seasons under Mario Cristobal and Billy Napier. Napier is 11-14 in two seasons at Florida, without a winning season. Cristobal is 12-13 in two seasons at Miami. Cristobal and Napier have failed to win a bowl game in their current positions.
Miami has high expectations entering year three under Cristobal. The Hurricanes have signed consecutive top-10 recruiting classes and have the 10th-ranked 2024 transfer class. Washington State transfer quarterback Cam Ward and former Oregon State running back Damien Martinez have elevated the expectations for Miami.
Miami at Florida will have a lot of implications. We will not find out the playoff implications for the season opener in Gainesville until the end of the season. The winner at the swamp can build momentum for the rest of the season. The losing coach will continue to face scrutiny.
Miami has a much easier 2024 schedule than Florida. At Louisville on October 19 and versus Florida State on October 26 are projected as the toughest games on Miami’s 2024 schedule. Miami does not play Clemson, North Carolina or North Carolina State. A win at Florida would put Miami in excellent position to make the College Football Playoff.
