Miami and Bethune-Cookman have met seven times on the football field, all since 2011 and all in Miami Gardens. The Hurricanes lead the series 7–0 and have won each matchup by at least 28 points, outscoring the Wildcats 350–57 (avg. margin +41.9).
How we got here: every meeting at a glance
- Oct. 1, 2011 — Miami 45, Bethune-Cookman 14. The first-ever meeting saw the Hurricanes pull away after halftime with Lamar Miller running for 102 yards and a score.
- Sept. 15, 2012 — Miami 38, Bethune-Cookman 10. Freshman Duke Johnson delivered four touchdowns — two rushing, one receiving and a 95-yard kick return.
- Sept. 5, 2015 — Miami 45, Bethune-Cookman 0. QB Brad Kaaya threw two TDs and Corn Elder housed a 72-yard punt.
- Sept. 2, 2017 — Miami 41, Bethune-Cookman 13. Malik Rosier accounted for three TDs in his first start and Mark Walton rushed for 148 yards with two scores.
- Sept. 14, 2019 — Miami 63, Bethune-Cookman 0. Jarren Williams (254 yards, 3 TDs) helped deliver Manny Diaz’s first win as head coach.
- Sept. 3, 2022 — Miami 70, Bethune-Cookman 13. In Mario Cristobal’s UM debut, the Hurricanes rolled behind Henry Parrish Jr. (108 rush yards) and 586 total yards.
- Sept. 14, 2023 — Miami 48, Bethune-Cookman 7. Tyler Van Dyke went 19-of-23 for 247 yards and 2 TDs. Xavier Restrepo had 120 receiving yards.
Miami has averaged 50 points per game against Bethune-Cookman while allowing 8.1, with the smallest margin 28 points (2012, 2017) and the largest 63 (2019).
A little extra history
- The series has functioned as a September tune-up for UM in multiple coaching regimes with meetings in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022 and 2023.
- Bethune-Cookman moved from the MEAC to the SWAC beginning in 2021; the 2022 and 2023 meetings came after that transition.
Notable performances
- Duke’s day (2012): Johnson scored three different ways in a single afternoon in one of the most versatile performances of UM’s past decade.
- Miami posted a pair of lopsided shutout wins with a 45–0 win in 2015 and a 63–0 win in 2019. The 2019 rout doubled as Diaz’s first victory.
- Cristobal’s launch (2022): The 70–13 opener marked Miami’s highest point total in the series and the start of Cristobal’s tenure.
From the inaugural 2011 meeting to 2023's 48–7 result, Miami has controlled the matchup with seven wins. For Bethune-Cookman, the series has offered a lucrative stage against a Power Four opponent in South Florida but the Wildcats are still seeking their first win in the series.