It had been just over 10 years since Miami claimed victory over the Florida Gators, a team that has historically shared a rich and storied rivalry with the Hurricanes.
After a disappointing 2023-24 season, the Hurricanes finished with a record of 7-6 and ranked No. 19. Now, Miami and third-year head coach Mario Cristobal set out to prove that the team on the field is its best in recent memory. There wasn’t a better opportunity to do so than by a statement 41-17 win at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Florida.
Miami’s performance showed a litany of promise and progress on the offensive side of the ball especially, along with a young but capable defense helmed by defensive coordinator Lance Guidry.
The ’Canes open the season in the win column and now look ahead to Florida A&M at Hard Rock Stadium for their home opener next week. Here are three key takeaways from Saturday afternoon’s big win.
Cam Ward – arriving as advertised
It is no secret why Cam Ward was considered one of the best quarterbacks in the transfer portal following the 2023 season. After his exit from Washington State, Ward found his way to Coral Gables, where his presence promised to elevate Miami to levels not seen in years. So far, he’s done just that.
The 2024 ACC Preseason Player of the Year made his mark right away, cruising past Florida with 26 of 35 passes completed, 385 passing yards and three passing touchdowns. Ward also rushed for 33 yards on three carries.
As the new captain of Miami’s offense, Ward is everything he was promised to be for the Hurricanes, which only means good things for Cristobal and the UM faithful.
Xavier Restrepo remains the man
Since his first full season in 2021 for the ’Canes, Restrepo has been a mainstay and a front-and-center name in Miami’s offense. And it’s without question that he reinforced that notion with his outing in the Swamp on Saturday.
Restrepo burned Florida’s defense with 112 receiving yards and a touchdown catch from Ward, recording seven total catches. His performance included a 40-yard play after a pass from Ward, where Restrepo showed his shiftiness by breaking a few Gator defenders to extend the play.
It’s fair to say that Restrepo will continue to be a linchpin in the Miami offense, and based on his showing on Saturday, he looks set to have a season for the books.
Though young, the defense is more than capable
Miami’s largest question mark going into this new season was the defense. After losing key pieces like Kamren Kinchens and James Williams to the NFL Draft, Guidry was left to keep the momentum going on Miami’s elevated defense since his arrival.
The ’Canes held Florida to less than half (261) of their total yards (529) on offense, while also gaining a significant advantage on the line of scrimmage, registering three sacks on Florida quarterback Graham Mertz and eight tackles for loss on the offense.
The passing game for the Gators did not see much light under Miami’s hard-nosed defense either, forcing two turnovers via interceptions from Mishael Powell and Jaden Harris.
Starting the first game of the year off with a performance like this one spells good fortune for the Hurricanes in the coming weeks, so long as their defensive momentum can continue.
Miami now looks to next Saturday, Sept. 7, for its home opener at Hard Rock Stadium against the Florida A&M Rattlers. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. on ACC Network.