These 4 teams are the closest thing Miami has to a rival in the ACC outside of FSU

The Miami Hurricanes' primary rival in the ACC is Florida State. No matter how bad the Seminoles currently are, that rivalry status won't change. 

But what about some of the other programs in the conference? How many rivalries carried over from the Hurricanes' days in the Big East and what new rivalries have emerged? The ACC is such a widespread conference that it's hard to identify secondary rivals, but here are four programs that Miami fans can at least acknowledge some level of dislike for:

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

The Yellow Jackets have a 15-14 edge in the 29 previous meetings, but the Hurricanes are up 10-9 since they joined the ACC. Every Miami-Georgia Tech game seems like it's going to be a nail-biter. Ten of the 19 games as conference foes have been one-score games and Tech has been on the right side for the past two. The teams haven't played since 2024, but you know the Hurricanes can't wait until the next meeting and an opportunity to average those close losses. 

READ MORE: Miami and Mario Cristobal subtly get called out by Nick Saban on College GameDay

Louisville Cardinals

The Cardinals were actually a regular opponent back in the late 1970s through the mid-1980s when the Hurricanes were an independent. Miami holds a 12-5-1 advantage in the series, but Louisville has a 5-4 edge in the games during the 21st century. But what makes this one a low-key rivalry is the number of players from Miami-Dade and Broward County that have played at Louisville. The Cardinals' top running back, Isaac Brown, played high school football in Homestead and their top receiver, Lawayne McCoy, went to Miami Central. And you better believe those guys are disappointed that Miami isn't on the schedule this year. Maybe the Hurricanes and Cardinals will meet in the ACC Championship. 

READ MORE: Miami's most notable recruiting misses still have fans wondering what might have been

North Carolina Tar Heels

The Hurricanes and Tar Heels had played every season since the Hurricanes joined the conference in 2004 until 2023, and they are the program that's probably given Miami the most trouble in the ACC. Overall, Miami and UNC have played 27 times with the Tar Heels holding a 16-11 advantage, although two of those games were vacated (thank you Butch Davis). North Carolina has won five straight and seven out of the past nine against Miami and some of those losses have been embarrassing. The one that sticks out is 2020, when the Tar Heels rushed for 544 yards (!!) in a 62-26 win at Hard Rock Stadium. Miami has a chance to end their slump against UNC on Halloween in Chapel Hill. 

Virginia Tech Hokies

This was one of the best rivalries in the Big East, especially from the mid-1990s until both teams migrated to the ACC. In the 42 meetings, Miami holds a 27-15 edge. Since 1992, the Hurricanes and Hokies have played every season except for 2023. Over that period, the edge is just 18-15. With Mario Cristobal building a powerhouse in Miami and James Franklin trying to do that same in Blacksburg, the future is bright for this rivalry.

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