Miami officially announced on Friday that they will play defending national champion Florida on November 16 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville. The game time and television networks for Florida versus Miami will be announced at a later date. Florida and Miami are playing for the first time since 2019.
Florida leads the all-time series versus Miami 47-24. The Gators have won all three games versus the Hurricanes on neutral courts. Florida beat Miami 78-58 in the 2019 Charleston Classic in the last meeting between the in-state rivals.
Florida finished 36-4 during the 2024-25 season, second in the Southeastern Conference during the regular season and won the postseason tournament. Florida was the number one seed in the NCAA Tournament West Region on their way to the National Championship.
Miami is getting an entirely new start in 2025-26 with new head coach Jai Lucas and a completely new roster. Lucas signed six freshmen and six transfers to its 2025-26 roster. Four of the five projected Miami starters are incoming transfers.
A Sunshine State showdown ☀️
— Canes Men’s Basketball (@CanesHoops) July 11, 2025
The Canes renew the rivalry 🆚 Florida on Nov. 16 in Jacksonville 🙌 pic.twitter.com/gVYMEAtMEa
ESPN resident bracketologist Joe Lunardi projects Florida as the top seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Miami is projected as one of the last four teams in the 2026 NCAA Tournament and as a 10 seed, playing in the first four in Dayton by Lunardi.
Miami has lost the last two games versus Florida. The Hurricanes last win over the Gators was a 66-55 victory in 2015 in Coral Gables. The 2015 game was the second of a home-and-home. Miami won 69-67 at number seven/eight Florida in 2014.
Florida State, who leads Miami 56-37 in their all-time series, is the only team the Hurricanes have played more often than Florida. Florida and Miami have played only eight times previously since 2000. Miami won the first game versus Florida 40-39 in 1928 but then lost the next six.