If you haven’t heard the Miami Hurricanes will begin the 2019 season against the Florida Gators at Camping World Stadium in Orlando. It will be the only game being played during the 7 PM ET window.
The Miami Hurricanes game against the Florida Gators is one of the most highly anticipated games of 2019. It is the first meeting between the two oldest Division I football programs in Florida since 2013. The Hurricanes enter Saturday night in Manny Diaz’s inaugural game as head coach. Miami was 7-6 in 2018.
Florida is coming off a renaissance season in Dan Mullen’s inaugural season in Gainesville. The Gators went 10-3 after finishing 4-7 in 2017. Mullen spent the previous nine seasons at Mississippi State where he was 79-49. Diaz was Mullen’s defensive coordinator in Starkville in 2010 and ’15.
The Bulldogs went 9-4 in both campaigns with Diaz. Mullen’s teams have been exceptional in big games. He has a 7-2 record in bowl games in ten seasons as a head coach. Mullen did not coach Mississippi State in 2017 Tax Slayer Bowl. The Bulldogs were victorious over Miami’s ACC rival Louisville.
.@CFB150 starts with a thunderclap. Week 0. Miami vs. Florida.
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) August 23, 2019
This is how it SHOULD be. pic.twitter.com/g5AUAjeKh6
Florida dominated everything but the scoreboard the last time the Hurricanes and Gators met. Florida outgained Miami 413-212 but their five turnovers to Miami’s one was the difference in a 21-16 Hurricanes win. Two Stephen Morris touchdown passes and 71 total yards by Duke Johnson led the Miami Hurricanes in the victory.
Both programs have changed a lot in the six years since that game. Florida and Miami have had their coaching staffs turn over twice in the six years since they last played. Jim McIlwain and Mark Richt and their staffs have come and gone in Gainesville and Coral Gables. Mullen and Diaz have created a lot of excitement.