Zach Blaine
Editorial staff
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2023
- Messages
- 2
We’re already counting the days (442 to be exact) until Miami plays the Gators again. But the Canes won’t be the only in-state school the Gators play that season, as they will also take on FSU and UCF. And the Gators will compete against USF the following year.
This begs the question, which in-state rivalry would Canes fans like to see going forward as an annual showdown?
Florida
The Canes/Gators rivalry dates back to 1938, and the two in-state powers played every year until 1987. The Canes lead the all-time series 29-27.
From 1938-1987, Miami would play the Gators early in the season and would play Florida State either in the middle of the season or at the end. Could this kind of arrangement work for Miami going forward? Any Miami fan alive in 2003 remembers Brock Berlin leading Miami back from a 33-10 deficit to beat the Gators. Those moments resonate in a way an ACC or Texas A&M game never could.
UCF
The first meeting between Miami and UCF occurred in 2008 in Miami Gardens, when the Canes played in Dolphin Stadium and UCF was still called the Golden Knights. Miami was in the midst of a quarterback battle between two freshmen, Jacory Harris and Robert Marve. The Canes needed to rely on their stout defense to win 20-14 in a lackluster game. The following year, Miami traveled to Orlando and cruised to a 27-7 win.
A lot has changed for both programs since then. In 2017, the Knights had an undefeated season and famously crowned themselves national championships. It would have been something special to see that UCF team against the ’17 Canes, who were the best Miami team in recent memory. UCF recently beat the Florida Gators in the 2021 Gasparilla Bowl and continue to close the gap with the traditional in-state powers. While there is no history, perhaps this could be a new rivalry for the next generation of Canes fans.
USF
A Miami/USF series lacks the sizzle of the other two, but it may give fans across the state a convenient option to attend a Canes game. Miami has played South Florida three times in the series' history, and the Canes lead 3-1. The Bulls did come to South Florida and upset the Canes 23-20, which marked the end of the Randy Shannon era. The next meeting between the Canes and Bulls was a 40-9 blowout win in Raymond James Stadium over the Bulls. It would be the last meeting between the Hurricanes and Bulls.
The Canes do play one instate nonconference opponent this season in Bethune-Cookman, who will make the trip down I95 from Daytona Beach on September 14th. But as we see so much conference reshuffling, this might be the right time to add a more consistent Florida flavor to Miami’s non-conference schedule.
This begs the question, which in-state rivalry would Canes fans like to see going forward as an annual showdown?
Florida
The Canes/Gators rivalry dates back to 1938, and the two in-state powers played every year until 1987. The Canes lead the all-time series 29-27.
From 1938-1987, Miami would play the Gators early in the season and would play Florida State either in the middle of the season or at the end. Could this kind of arrangement work for Miami going forward? Any Miami fan alive in 2003 remembers Brock Berlin leading Miami back from a 33-10 deficit to beat the Gators. Those moments resonate in a way an ACC or Texas A&M game never could.
UCF
The first meeting between Miami and UCF occurred in 2008 in Miami Gardens, when the Canes played in Dolphin Stadium and UCF was still called the Golden Knights. Miami was in the midst of a quarterback battle between two freshmen, Jacory Harris and Robert Marve. The Canes needed to rely on their stout defense to win 20-14 in a lackluster game. The following year, Miami traveled to Orlando and cruised to a 27-7 win.
A lot has changed for both programs since then. In 2017, the Knights had an undefeated season and famously crowned themselves national championships. It would have been something special to see that UCF team against the ’17 Canes, who were the best Miami team in recent memory. UCF recently beat the Florida Gators in the 2021 Gasparilla Bowl and continue to close the gap with the traditional in-state powers. While there is no history, perhaps this could be a new rivalry for the next generation of Canes fans.
USF
A Miami/USF series lacks the sizzle of the other two, but it may give fans across the state a convenient option to attend a Canes game. Miami has played South Florida three times in the series' history, and the Canes lead 3-1. The Bulls did come to South Florida and upset the Canes 23-20, which marked the end of the Randy Shannon era. The next meeting between the Canes and Bulls was a 40-9 blowout win in Raymond James Stadium over the Bulls. It would be the last meeting between the Hurricanes and Bulls.
The Canes do play one instate nonconference opponent this season in Bethune-Cookman, who will make the trip down I95 from Daytona Beach on September 14th. But as we see so much conference reshuffling, this might be the right time to add a more consistent Florida flavor to Miami’s non-conference schedule.