For the better part of 25 years, there was a college football truth you could mark on your calendar every year. Florida State and Miami would face off in either South Florida or Tallahassee, and the game would have massive stakes.
From 1981 to 2006, the Hurricanes and Seminoles faced each other 27 times (including a postseason Orange Bowl matchup). In 23 of those games, both teams were ranked — in fact, all 23 times, both teams were in the top 20.
In the last 18 matchups since then, both teams have been ranked just three times. Only once, in 2013, were both teams in the top 20.
But on Saturday, fans across the state will get a taste of the old days as No. 3 Miami (4-0) travels north to play No. 18 Florida State (3-1, 0-1 ACC) at Doak Campbell Stadium — the site of many classic matchups — at 7:30 p.m. It is UM’s first road game of the season.
“We always knew this as the best rivalry in college football,” said Mario Cristobal, who went 3-1 against FSU as a Miami player and is 1-2 against the Seminoles as UM’s coach. “Coming up as a player, that was always a reason why players chose to go to one of the two respective schools.”
The top-20 showdown is a bit anticlimactic after it appeared this game could have been a top-10 matchup. But Florida State lost its first game of the year to Virginia on the road last week. Nevertheless, that does not mean the Hurricanes are underestimating their opponent.
“They’re a very great team,” cornerback OJ Frederique Jr. said. “They have a good passing scheme, but we know we’ve to bring our A-game against them.”
Florida State features mobile quarterback Tommy Castellanos, who helped lead the Seminoles to an upset win over Alabama in Week 1. He leads an offense that is No. 1 in the nation in yards and points per game. FSU has been primarily beating teams on the ground, ranking second in the nation with about 336 rushing yards per game.
“Our guys have to be really detailed with their eyes,” defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman said. “Our alignments are huge this week. Our eye discipline, our communication, understanding what the final picture is. Our guys just need to make sure we’re communicating and able to see the same picture the same way, whoever it is that’s working together in every set play. And that’s going to be the No. 1 thing: We can’t be peeking in the backfield. We can’t be looking at the wrong things. We’ve got to be detailed on where our eyes were and where our fits are every single play.”
For some Hurricanes, this is their second visit to Doak Campbell Stadium after losing there in 2023. For others, like quarterback Carson Beck — a Jacksonville native – it’s their first.
“Obviously, the rivalry that this game is and what it means to not only the players, but also the fan bases — I’m sure that the stadium is going to be packed,” Beck said. “I’m sure it’s going to be rocking. So again, I’m really excited for that opportunity. … I’m sure it’s going to be loud. We’re working through that and practicing through that with crowd noise and those type of things during practice. But I’m sure it’s going to be an electric environment.”
Miami, which has already beaten two in-state rivals in USF and Florida, is looking to complete the trilogy of wins over Florida FBS opponents on Saturday.
“It’s always exciting,” linebacker Wesley Bissainthe said. “The environment is definitely crazy. And I’m just glad I got another opportunity to go out there and play the game I love, And just growing up a Miami kid, I’ve been seeing the rivalry games, and like I said, just a blessing to be part of it.”
