Miami football at Florida named top 10 ACC non-conference game

Grant Hughes of 247Sports named the 2024 season opener for the Miami football team at Florida second in his "Top 10 ACC non-conference games for 2024 college football season in expanded 17-team league." Miami and Florida are playing for the first time since 2019.

Miami leads the all-time series with Florida 29 to 27. Florida won 24 to 20 in 2019 when the Hurricanes and Gators played in the season opener in Orlando. The 2024 season opener is the first time Miami and Florida have played on one of the team's home fields since the Hurricanes won 21-16 at Hard Rock Stadium in 2013.

Florida won 26-3 in the last game the teams played in Gainesville. The win by Florida in 2008 ended a six-game Miami winning streak versus the Gators. The longest winning streak by Florida versus Miami was seven games from 1971 through 1977. Miami has dominated the series since 1978.

The Hurricanes have won 12 of its last 17 games versus the Gators. The series between Miami and Florida has often ebbed and flowed. Miami won nine of 12 games versus Florida from 1945 through 1956. Florida won six out of eight games versus Miami from 1957 through 1964.

"A once-bitter rivalry that's fallen by the wayside renews in 2024 and is among the headliners of a jam-packed Week 1 slate in college football. The two in-state programs have met just twice since 2010, and the Hurricanes haven't won in Gainesville since 2002. Both Mario Cristobal and Billy Napier are entering their third years on the job after underwhelming first and second-year campaigns and are looking to start strong in what should be pivotal years for both."

- Grant Hughes, 247 Sports

Florida and Miami not playing annually adds more significance to the games for each fan base. Florida fans have been able to refer to their 2019 win in the past five years. The difficulties experienced by both teams in the first two seasons under their new leadership have made this season's game even more important.

Whichever team loses on August 31 in the swamp will have greater pressure on its coach. There will be an overreaction no matter what happens in Gainesville. The U will not be back with a win versus Florida and Mario Cristobal will not be a failure with a loss. The Miami season needs to play out in its entirety.