Back in the day this interstate rivalry game was always a marquee matchup, but it hasn't been that for quite a while. Both schools have been up and down on an ongoing basis, and for a good stretch Florida had a serious edge even thought it was competing in the SEC.
Now, though, the shoe's on the other foot. Miami comes into this one ranked at #19, while the Gators enter the season sporting a five-game losing streak from last year that included four SEC losses and a season that ended unusually early in late November with a loss to arch rival Florida State.
Game Details
Fixture: Miami Hurricanes vs. Florida Gators
Date and Time: August 31, 2024 @ 3:30 PM EST
Location: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville FL
Miami Hurricanes Team Review
The Hurricanes had a strange year last year. They beat Clemson, but Miami also lost four of its last five games, including a loss to Rutgers in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium. The result was a mediocre season that continued the 'Canes trend toward roller coaster performances.
This year is supposed to be different, largely due to the buzz surrounding quarterback Cam Ward. Miami's line is rated best in the ACC, and Xavier Restropo will be a genuine weapon at wide receiver. Ward threw for over 3700 yards last year with 25 TDs and just 7 picks, so the Hurricane's offense has the ability to be one of most powerful scoring machines in college football.
Will it be enough to keep up with Clemson and Florida State and break into the top 12? That's the big question going into the season, and the advantage is that Miami not only doesn't have to play Clemson in the regular season, they don't get FSU until late October. Add in the fact that Florida State's playoff hopes were hugely damaged in their opening loss to Georgia Tech in Ireland, and there's a path into the postseason playoffs for Miami.
Florida Gators
No one expected Florida to be where they are now. In the not-so-distant past, the typical Gators' season was a winning affair, albeit one punctuated by occasional failures in the meat-grinder competition of the SEC. But they lost their last five and ended up 5-7 last year, and they've been under .500 for three straight seasons. They clearly have some work to do to put themselves back on the map as a formidable SEC opponent.
Florida has two big problems going into this year--the offensive line, and the defense as a whole. Injuries were a problem, and the Gators addressed their left tackle problem through the transfer portal by adding Brandon Dickson-Crensaw from San Diego State. Quarterback Graham Wertz has shown he can be effective spreading the ball around, but the line needs to hold up its end to make that happen.
The defense is a different story altogether. They collapsed down the stretch, but the good news is there's talent there that should be better this year. Most prognosticators have Florida winning 5-6 games, which is probably accurate given the high level of competition in the SEC.
Who to Watch
Miami Hurricanes
We'll make it all about the quarterbacks in this section. Cam Ward is a dynamic, riveting playmaker, so the Florida defense will have its hand full slowing him down, even in the friendly confines of "The Swamp." Miami would love to turn this game into a track meet and force the Gators offense to keep up, and if they manage to do that it could be a long day for Florida.
Florida Gators
Graham Wentz is the token player to watch here, but keep your eyes on the Florida offensive line. If the Gators can't get the run game going and keep the pressure off Wentz, Florida will start this season in a hole with a loss. Given the road ahead in the SEC, that means a long day here that could easily turn into a long year.