Who Miami football non-conference opponents play week before Hurricanes
The Miami football team opens the 2024 season at Florida on August 31. Games versus Florida A&M, Ball State and at South Florida conclude the non-conference schedule for Miami. Ball State, FAMU and South Florida have varying challenges on their schedules before they play Miami.
The 11-14 start in two seasons under Billy Napier with Florida and 12-13 for Mario Cristobal at Miami has been frequently discussed throughout the offseason. The game between Miami and Florida will be over analyzed. Pressure on the losing team will increase and the winning team will have an overemphasis placed on their victory.
Miami has added consecutive top-10 classes and signed the 10th-best 2024 transfer class. Florida signed the 13th-best 2024 class and the fifth-best transfer class. Florida and Miami will each have several key transfers contributing when the teams open the season at the swamp.
Florida A&M will have played two games before they come to Hard Rock Stadium for the Miami home opener on September 7. The Rattlers open the season in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge versus Norfolk State in Atlanta on August 24. A week later Florida A&M hosts South Carolina State in their home opener.
2419. September 7, 2024. Last Meeting: Miami 70-3 24-20 2016. 12-1. ACC Network Extra. Florida A&M at Miami. 7-6. 2306. 6:00 PM ET
FAMU finished the 2023 season 12-1. That included a 30-26 win in the Celebration Bowl over Howard. FAMU was the 2023 HBCU National Champion. FAMU was named the top-ranked team in the 2023 HBCU preseason poll. FAMU lost 38-24 to South Florida in its only game versus an FBS team in 2023.
4-8. 2246. Ball State at Miami . First meeting. ACC Network. Saturday, September 14. 7-6. 2306. 3:30 PM ET
Ball State doesn't open its season until September 7 versus Missouri State. The Cardinals finished 4-8 in 2023. Ball State lost its 2023 season opener 48-14 at Kentucky and was blown out again a week later in a 45-3 loss at Georgia in their only two games versus Power Five opponents in 2023.
Ball State beat Indiana State 45-7 in its only game versus an FCS opponent in 2023. Central Michigan, Northern Illinois and Kent State were the other three wins for Ball State in 2023. Ball State should be rested and ready for Miami with only one game versus an FCS opponent before they play the Hurricanes.
. Saturday, September 21. Miami at South Florida . 7-6. 7-6. 2306. 477. Last Meeting: Miami 49-21 2013. TBA
South Florida has a difficult three game stretch before playing Miami. The Bulls host Bethune-Cookman in their season opener, followed by games at Alabama and Southern Mississippi before returning home versus Miami. South Florida lost to Alabama 17-3 in Tampa in 2023.
Next. Mario Cristobal says Miami focused on training camp before Florida Gators. Mario Cristobal says Miami focused on training camp before Florida Gators. dark
Miami's four non-conference opponents have different paths before they play Miami. The Miami season opener at Florida has been the media focus for both teams. FAMU could be one of Miami's toughest FCS tests in recent years and USF will be well-tested for the Hurricanes on September 21.