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Miami will try to prevent South Florida from matching their 1987 standard

Miami will attempt to prevent South Florida from becoming the first team since the 1987 Hurricanes to begin the season with three consecutive wins versus ranked teams.
ByAlan Rubenstein|
Sep 21, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal greets South Florida Bulls head coach Alex Goulash after a game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
Sep 21, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal greets South Florida Bulls head coach Alex Goulash after a game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Miami began the 1987 season with wins over number 20 Florida, number 10 Arkansas and fourth-ranked Florida State. South Florida has started the 2025 season with wins over 25th-ranked Boise State and number 13/15 Florida.

South Florida can become the first team since Miami in 1987 if they beat the number five/six Hurricanes on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium. South Florida is 18th in the Associated Press Top 25 and 23rd in the USA Today Coaches poll for week two.

Miami is seeking its second win over a top 25 opponent this season after beating Notre Dame 27-24 in the 2025 season opener. The Hurricanes defeated three consecutive ranked opponents to end the 1987 season.

Miami beat number 10 Notre Dame, eighth-ranked South Carolina and number one Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl game to finish the 1987 season 12-0. The 1987 Hurricanes won their second national championship and only one under Jimmy Johnson with the win over the Sooners.

South Florida is attempting to beat three ranked opponents as a Football Bowl Subdivision program for the first time in its history. The Bulls won consecutive games versus ranked FBS opponents for the first time in program history. South Florida last beat two ranked teams in the same season in 2009.

South Florida won 17-7 at number 18 Florida State in their fourth of five consecutive wins to begin the 2009 season. After losses at number eight Cincinnati and 20th-ranked Pittsburgh, South Florida won 30-19 over 20th-ranked West Virginia. Number 19 Miami beat South Florida 31-10 later in the 2009 season.

Miami and South Florida will play for the first time with both teams ranked on Saturday. Miami has been ranked in four of the seven previous games against USF. South Florida won 23-20 in overtime in 2010 for their only win over Miami in the series. Miami leads the overall series.

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