The Miami–Florida football rivalry is one of the most historic — and overlooked — in college football. The Hurricanes and Gators have only played a handful of times in the last 40 years, but their rivalry is rich in history and bad blood, with hatred for each other running deep. To understand the true magnitude of this historic hatred, we need to peek into the past.
The ’Canes and Gators first faced off back in 1938, before Florida State football existed, with the game ending in a 19-17 Miami victory. With the Seminoles non-existent, these were the two biggest schools in the state. Naturally, the rivalry soon became a staple in South Florida football culture, with annual matchups alternating between Gainesville and Miami.
In 1950, the Seminole War Canoe Trophy was introduced – a lightning-struck, 200-year-old cypress canoe carved by Seminole artisans, awarded to the winner each year. The rivalry was as passionate as any – teams hated each other, fans hated each other, and coaches did too. This led to some incredible games and extremely heated moments.
In 1971, one of the most infamous moments of the rivalry happened in a 45-16 Gators thrashing of Miami. With the win in the bag, UF quarterback John Reaves was 10 yards away from breaking the NCAA career passing record. In order to get him the record, the Gators defense performed what would be dubbed the “Gator Flop”, as members of the team intentionally fell to the ground, allowing Miami to score so Reaves could get the ball back and break the record.
Then-Miami coach Fran Curci was enraged, calling it “the worst thing I have ever seen in football” and refused to shake hands postgame.
In 1979, in what was known as the “Orange Barrage,” Miami players were celebrating a win on their sideline when Gator fans pelted them with orange peels, infuriating both the players and head coach Howard Schnellenberger, as well as prompting the Florida administration to implement fan misconduct rules after the loss.
Just one year later, the ‘Canes were up 28-7 with a win in hand, but coach Schnellenberger decided to call a timeout just before the clock expired. He trotted out his kicker and sank a “kick in your face” field goal to make it 31-7 as time expired.
The teams battled it out perennially for the coveted trophy for almost 40 years, until the Gators canceled the yearly series in 1987. That year, the Hurricanes and Gators played their last game for the war canoe, with Miami winning handily, 31-4, and earning the right to keep the trophy forever.
While the Gators claim they were forced to cancel the yearly series because of SEC expansion, the teams attempted to reignite the series in 1990. But, UF wanted to maintain a yearly SEC home game, avoiding the back-and-forth home-and-home arrangement with Miami. This led Miami fans and media voices alike to call out the Gators for allegedly “ducking” the ‘Canes, who were at the height of their power and looked unstoppable.
With the yearly rivalry canceled, the games came much less frequently, but they still sparked some historic moments.
In 2003, former UF quarterback Brock Berlin had transferred to Miami and was playing for the orange and green. Down by 23, all hope seemed lost until Berlin caught fire, orchestrating a dramatic come-from-behind ‘Canes victory.
In 2008, Florida had a decisive victory of their own, taking down the Hurricanes 26-3. Florida still hadn’t forgotten the 1980 matchup in which the ‘Canes tacked on a late field goal, so they got their revenge 28 years later, opting for a field goal instead of taking a knee. To rub salt in the wound, Gators wide receiver Louis Murphy proclaimed UF as “The New U”, solidifying the game as “The New U” game.
Their last matchup took place in 2024, with “The U” marching into the Swamp in Week 1, the Hurricane debut of quarterback Cam Ward. Ward kickstarted his historic 2024 campaign with a thrashing of the Gators, winning 41-17. It was the worst season-opening loss in 118 Years of Florida football, and snapped its 33 year home opener win streak. Entering 2025, the Hurricanes hold a 30-27 lead over the Gators all time.
The Miami–Florida rivalry is steeped in history, hostility, and unforgettable moments. With its long-awaited revival, the Gators arrive in Miami not just seeking revenge for their 2024 humiliation, but also aiming to derail the Hurricanes’ undefeated season and national title dreams. Miami may be favorite on Saturday, but in a rivalry this heated, records mean nothing.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium, airing on ABC — and the nation will be watching as old grudges reignite under the lights.