Miami football at Florida named top 5 2024 must-watch non-conference game
The Miami football game at Florida to begin the season is fourth in the "Ranking college football's 10 must-watch non-conference games of 2024" by Brad Crawford of 247Sports. Miami is playing Florida for the first time since 2019 and in Gainesville for the first time since 2008.
Miami leads the all-time series with Florida 29-27. The Hurricanes last beat the Gators 21-16 at Hard Rock Stadium in 2013. The last win for Miami in Gainesville was 41-16 in 2002. Miami had a streak of 11 wins in 14 games versus Florida dating to 1978 before the Gators won two of the last three meetings.
Miami at Florida will be one of the marquee games during week one of the college football season. The Hurricanes and Gators have a 3:30 PM kickoff in Gainesville. One of the top ABC announcing teams will likely be calling the game. Miami at Florida is the highest ranked of four season-opening games by Crawford.
The other three season-opening games in Crawford's top 10 are West Virginia at Penn State, Notre Dame at Texas A&M and Clemson versus Georgia in Atlanta. ESPN College Gameday will be in College Station to begin the Mike Elko era for Texas A&M.
THE COUNTDOWN TO WEEK 1 IS ON 🤩 pic.twitter.com/WDy4Xrxv4O
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) May 14, 2024
"4. MIAMI AT FLORIDA (AUG. 31)
- Brad Crawford, 247Sports
There's a chance neither of these teams will be ranked when they open the season in Gainesville. However, that's not going to alter the stakes here, whatsoever. Pressure rises for the coach who loses this one given Billy Napier's consecutive losing seasons and Mario Cristobal failing to meet expectations at Miami. These two have split the last four meetings, but have played only once in the past decade."
Napier is 12-13 and Cristobal is 13-12 in their first two seasons in their current positions. A win for Miami would be significant for beginning a season that has a favorable schedule. Miami's two toughest games are at Louisville on October 19 and versus Florida on October 26.
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Miami will finish its non-conference schedule by hosting Florida A&M on September 7 and Ball State on September 14 before traveling to South Florida on September 21. Miami concludes its first month of the season entirely in Florida by hosting Virginia Tech on Friday, September 27.