Swing Games: 2 matchups that could determine Miami’s season
College football is a small sample-size sport. Teams are only guaranteed 12 games per year, and you never really know when or how the injury bug is going to hit certain teams. For just about every team outside the few elite national championship contenders and those at the bottom of the food chain, close game results usually separate success from failure.
That remains true for Miami football.
For the Hurricanes, Miami needs to not only make a bowl we need to WIN the bowl, but the program must also get back to winning close games in ACC play. Heading into the season, three games stand out above the rest.
Florida (Aug. 31)
Miami’s 2023 campaign ended with a whimper, but let’s not forget about the high point of the season. For the first time in the last two trips, UM went into Kyle Field in 2021 and lost 17-9 against Texas A&M, however, Miami rebuilded the very next year Miami put up a shoot-out against them and won 48-33 at Hard Rock, now Miami will play another SEC team that will be in-state rival the Florida Gator’s to try and knocked off the Gators in The Swamp in front of a juiced-up crowd, and first game of the season.
In the previous matchup the Gators have won the latest game in the series with that game being on Aug. 24, 2019, where the game was at Neutral site and that’s when Miami was still in the Manny Diaz era, and that’s where Miami lost that game 24-20.
Miami is looking to get there get-back on them this year and we already know it is going to be a hyped-up off-season for this game.
Florida State (Oct. 26)
Yes, Miami plays both rivals this year, yes, they are the most important on the schedule (my standpoint). Miami 35, Florida State 33. This series has been this one-sided since 2021, FSU has won 3 in a row. Many people might say Virginia Tech or Louisville to be a game that will determine are season but Miami is returning tons while Louisville is not same as Virginia Tech. Miami should have the edge on both of those opponents. If I had to guess Miami would be underdogs in this game against Florida State
The Seminoles have won three consecutive games in this rivalry. The Hurricanes is hoping that things will change after Tyler Van Dyke era is now gone. And the Cam Ward era is here.
If things go to plan for both programs this season, we could very well get a ranked vs. ranked matchup. This game means a lot for both sides, and Mario should add some fuel to the rivalry fire.
Few college football rivalries have seen the incredible talent, legendary coaches, and classic matchups that the Miami Hurricanes and Florida State Seminoles have produced.
From the likes of prominent coaches like Miami’s Howard Schnellenberger and Florida State’s Bobby Bowden, plus Ken Dorsey of the Hurricanes and Deion Sanders of the Seminoles, this college football rivalry deserves the ultimate respect.
I can’t wait for this game, and you know the Hurricanes will be fired up for this game, and they will have a chip on their shoulder after last year loss.
Trinton is the owner of CanesToday. He writes for all sports, with a focus on football and recruiting, he is a freshman in high school and wants to graduate from the University of Miami
