No. 3 Miami is back home after its bye week, and the Hurricanes enter Saturday’s meeting with Florida State sitting at 5-0 overall and 3-0 in ACC play. They’ve put themselves in control at the top of the conference, and Hard Rock Stadium is set to host a rivalry game that arrives with plenty of intrigue and a little edge.
The Seminoles come in needing a statement. Florida State head coach Mike Norvell is firmly in the hot seat, and the start to the season has not gone the way his team wanted. FSU will try to catch Miami a little flat after a week away, but the Hurricanes are aiming to make sure that doesn’t happen.
Miami’s last trip to the field was a dominant 41-13 win over Clemson, one of the program’s best victories in recent memory. Even with injuries in the mix, the Hurricanes controlled that game behind a strong run game and one of the nation’s best defensive lines.
Florida State, meanwhile, is trying to bounce back from a painful road loss to Louisville. The Seminoles had a chance to go up 21-0, but the run game never let them build on the early opportunity.
The latest availability report listed one Miami player as out for the game: WR #3 Joshua Moore.
This matchup also comes with some familiar background. Miami beat Florida State on the road in the last meeting, taking a 28-22 win that was more lopsided than the final score showed. Malachi Toney and the rushing attack drove that result.
Weather could matter here, too. Kickoff is expected to bring temperatures in the mid-to-low 70s with a high chance of thunderstorms.
The exact officiating crew has not been announced, though a standard ACC crew will work the game. ESPN will televise the matchup, with Tom Hart calling play-by-play, Roddy Jones on color and Quint Kessenich reporting from the sideline. Radio coverage is set for 104.3 WQAM, and Spanish radio will be on Radio Libre 790 AM.
Miami’s captain group includes Ahmad Moten Sr., Malachi Toney, Mark Fletcher Jr., Darian Mensah, Matthew McCoy, Ryan Rodriguez, Third Scroggins III, Mohamed Toure, Zechariah Poyser and Chase Smith. Florida State’s captains were unannounced at the time of print.
On paper, Miami appears to hold the upper hand. The Hurricanes’ defensive front should have a clear edge, with Ahmad Moten Sr. expected back near full strength and the unit continuing to look like one of the country’s most disruptive groups. The offensive line has some questions, especially with another injury hitting at a bad time, but Miami still has the talent advantage there as well.
Still, this is a rivalry game, and the source material makes the point plainly: the one thing nobody can measure on a stat sheet is pure, unadulterated hatred. Miami’s best path is to get control early, keep the pressure on, and avoid letting the game turn chaotic.
If the Hurricanes can jump ahead, keep the pace where they want it and stay sharp from the opening snap through the finish, they have a chance to cover the 21.5-point line.
Miami’s expected offensive options include Darian Mensah and Luke Nickel at quarterback, with Mark Fletcher Jr., Girard Pringle Jr. and Jordan Lyle at running back. The receiving group listed includes Cooper Barkate, Vandrevius Jacobs, Malachi Toney, Daylyn Upshaw, Dre Jacobs and Somourian Wingo, while Elija Lofton and Gavin Mueller are at tight end. On the line, Samson Okunlola, Joel Ervin, Jackson Cantwell, Ryan Rodriguez, Ben Congdon, Matthew McCoy, Jaden Wilkerson and others are among the names listed.
Florida State’s offensive personnel group includes Ashton Daniels, Kevin Sperry and Malachi Marshall at quarterback, with Ousmane Kromah, Samuel Singleton Jr. and Quintrevion Wisner at running back. Duce Robinson, Teriq Mallory, Jayvan Boggs, Tae'Shaun Gelsey, Micahi Danzy, Jasen Lopez, Desirrio Riles and Landen Thomas are among the pass catchers, and the line group features Xavier Chaplin, Chastan Brown, André Otto, Paul Bowling, Bradyn Welch-Joiner, Chavez Thompson, Nate Pabst, Sean Poret, Chimdia Nwaiwu and Jonathan Daniels.
Defensively, Miami’s listed front and back seven include Armondo Blount, Herbert Scroggins III, Justin Scott, Keona Davis, Jarquez Carter, Damon Wilson, Marquise Lightfoot, Chase Smith, Bobby Pruitt, Mo Toure, Kamal Bonner, Ethan O'Connor, Camdin Portis, Damari Brown, Ryan Mack, Bryce Fitzgerald, Omar Thornton, Zechariah Poyser and JJ Dunnigan.
Florida State’s defensive names include Darryl Desir, Deamontae Diggs, Daniel Lyons, Kevin Wynn, Jordan Sanders, Desir Mandrell, Deante McCray, Rylan Kennedy, Jalen Anderson, Omar Graham Jr., Mikai Gbayor, Chris Jones, Izayia Williams, Blake Nichelson, Caleb LaVallee, Ja'Bril Rawls, Charles Lester III, Ashlynd Barker, Jordan Crutchfield, Donny Hiebert, CJ Richard Jr., K.J. Kirkland, Quindarrius Jones, Nehemiah Chandler, Ma'Khi Jones and Ricky Knight III.
Special teams for Miami list Dylan Joyce at punter, Jake Olsen at kicker and Jake Weinberg on kickoffs, with Malachi Toney and Girard Pringle Jr. handling return work. Florida State’s special teams group includes Daniel Hughes and Ethan Post at punter, Gabe Panikowski and Conor McAneney at kicker, and Samuel Singleton Jr., Jasen Lopez, Jayvan Boggs and Micahi Danzy as return options.
In Other News...
Miami Faces One Huge O-Line Decision Before Florida State
Miamis offensive line has a major vacancy to sort out, and the timing is about as delicate as it gets with Florida State coming up. Max Buchanan, the Hurricanes starting right guard, is out for an extended stretch after surgery, leaving Mario Cristobal and his staff to reshuffle a group that has to be ready for one of the biggest games on the schedule.
Seuseu Alofaituli, Jackson Cantwell and Jamal Meriweather are all in the mix to handle the job, with each bringing a different level of experience and fit to the competition. Miami still has time to settle on its next starter, but the decision will be made before the rivalry matchup, and the choice could shape how stable the offense feels going into that week. [Read more 🡒]
Miami Must Be Ready For FSU QB's Most Dangerous Trait
Florida States offense has taken on a very different shape with Ashton Daniels at quarterback, and Miami will have to account for more than just his arm when the rivalry game arrives. The fifth-year senior has brought a lot of experience with him from Stanford and Auburn, and he has become a major part of the Seminoles rushing attack while also setting a school record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.
The passing numbers tell the other part of the story. Daniels has thrown eight touchdown passes, but he has also been intercepted seven times, a sign that Florida State has lived with some inconsistency through the air. For Miami, the challenge is obvious: keep Daniels from turning broken plays into explosive runs, because his ability to damage defenses on the ground has become the trait that changes the entire game plan. [Read more 🡒]
Miami FSU Showdown Just Became A Massive Recruiting Stage
Saturdays meeting with Florida State is already one of the biggest dates on Miamis schedule, and it is also turning into a major recruiting showcase. The Hurricanes are set to host a loaded group of prospects for the home game, with several highly touted 2028 visitors expected on campus for the showdown. For a program that has made recruiting a central part of its push, the timing could hardly be better.
Among the names expected to be in Coral Gables are five-star wide receiver Brysen Wright, safety Casey Barner, offensive linemen Maui Tonata and Jamarios Canton, edge rusher Asher Ghioto, defensive tackle Prince Che, receiver Jaylen Addai, cornerback Nasir Richardson and athlete-tight end Grant Bowen. A game like this gives Miami a chance to sell more than just the atmosphere, and the stakes on the trail make this weekend feel especially important for the Hurricanes. [Read more 🡒]