Sebastian Font, Co-Sports Editor
The Hurricanes come into this matchup red-hot off a 49-12 win over USF, and hope to take down the Gators for the second year in a row.
But this game is so much more than rivalry bragging rights.
This is a do or die game for the Florida Gators, not only for their season, but for their staff and organization as a whole.
Florida head coach Billy Napier is on the hot seat after his 1-2 start to the year, and the shine of former five-star DJ Lagway is beginning to fade after his rough start to the season. Both will look to turn the narratives around against one of the top teams in the country this Saturday.
The first possession for the Gators could be telling for how this game will unfold. If Florida is able to get a bit of confidence with an opening drive, this could be a typical four quarter rivalry matchup. But if Florida comes out flat, this game could get ugly quickly.
Either way the Hurricanes are too solid for the Gators to complete the upset, and between the two game scripts, expect the latter.
Final Score: Miami 42, Florida 16
Jayden Gonzalez, Co-Sports Editor
Following a 3-0 start, including two wins against top-20 opponents, No. 4 Miami has the full attention of the college football world.
With ESPN’s “College Gameday” coming to Coral Gables and a primetime matchup against an in-state rival, expectations are high for the Hurricanes this weekend.
If Miami wants to enter its bye week undefeated, the defense — led by Rueben Bain Jr. and Ahkeem Mesidor — will need to make Florida quarterback DJ Lagway uncomfortable. Against LSU, the sophomore threw five interceptions in a 20-10 loss.
If the Hurricanes apply similar pressure that the Tigers did, a raucous Hard Rock Stadium could force the Gators into another spiral.
On offense, as long as quarterback Carson Beck stays upright, he should have no trouble running Miami’s attack against a team he has plenty of history with. If the Hurricanes maintain the level of play they’ve shown through the first three weeks, Saturday could turn into a rout.
Final Score: Miami 38, Florida 17
Zach Cohen, Senior Staff Writer
From College GameDay to a primetime Saturday matchup, it doesn’t get any better than this.
A storied rivalry: Miami vs. Florida.
In what is set to be an exciting Saturday, both in Coral Gables and Miami Gardens, the Hurricanes will have the upper hand come gametime.
Florida has struggled, losing to USF, whom Miami crushed. And most recently, UF fell to LSU in a game where DJ Lagway threw five interceptions.
However, the Gators’ defense was poised, only giving up 20 points to the No. 3 team in the country.
Miami’s secondary needs to hold up against Lagway as he likes to throw the ball down the field, looking to flip the script on his poor start to the season,.
But if the Hurricanes offense can come out flying again, a hard-earned victory is in the cards.
Final Score: Miami 38, Florida 23
Brendan Cafferty, Staff Writer
With both Miami and Florida coming into this week four matchup in very different situations, the expectations each team has for themselves are, too, unalike.
As the ’Canes have tallied two ranked wins in just three weeks, they hope to continue their undefeated reign against the 1-2 Gators, notching another Florida school under their belt.
UF, trying to salvage their season, could view this game as an opportunity to climb back into the rankings as well as boost morale for their fanbase by knocking off an impressive rival.
Ultimately, this game will come down to who is more dominant on the defensive side of the ball, and with UM’s impressive D-Line, DJ Lagway’s chances trying to find space and move the ball will be more limited than Carson Beck’s and the Miami offense.
Final Score: Miami 33, Florida 13
Bella Armstrong, Contributing Writer
Going into this weekend, it’s a matchup of two Florida goliaths—and a battle for in-state bragging rights.
UF football has long been coveted as a powerhouse, but its recent fall from the Top 25 courtesy of the South Florida Bulls is a sort-of relegation unbeknownst to the Gators. In short, the team is losing steam—and its confidence is rattled.
The No. 4 Miami Hurricanes will capitalize off of this, as UM continues to dominate. Currently 3-0, the Hurricanes are the only team in college football still undefeated after facing multiple ranked opponents—and they’ve made it look convincing.
Sure, the Gators will want to use their recent losses as fuel for the comeback of the season, but with a team as airtight as the Hurricanes starting lineup, that hope seems more like a fantasy.
With Carson Beck at the helm, Mark Fletcher Jr. bulldozing through enemy lines, and a monstrous defense, Florida will have to fight for every yard and every point. It will be brutal.
Under the lights—and immense pressure—of Hard Rock Stadium, it will be an uphill battle for the Gators from the opening snap.
Miami won’t just clear the Gators, they’ll own football in Florida.
Final Score: Miami 32, Florida 16
Anirudh Kannan, Contributing Writer
This Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium, another chapter will be written in the deeply rooted history of Florida vs Miami football.
The Gators season hasn’t exactly gone as planned with two losses already on the young season, including an ugly 18-16 loss against South Florida. Their offensive has struggled immensely barring a 55 point performance against LIU.
Meanwhile, Miami is red hot, following up an impressive win against Notre Dame with comprehensive victories against Bethune Cookman and USF.
Florida’s defense has the potential to make things interesting this Saturday, only allowing 36 points across their first three games. But right now it feels like Miami’s offense has too many weapons for any team in college football to contain.
Rivalry games can sometimes produce shocking results, but this simply won’t be one of them.
Final Score: Miami 31, Florida 13
Omar Pinto, Contributing Writer
The Hurricanes storm into week four looking like arguably the nation’s best.
At 3-0 with multiple ranked wins and two Heisman contenders in Carson Beck and Rueben Bain Jr., Miami’s offense is averaging over 40 points per game and providing a physical punch on the defensive side.
Florida, meanwhile, limps into Hard Rock Stadium at 1–2, fresh off a road loss to No. 3 LSU where quarterback DJ Lagway threw five interceptions. Their other loss came in a 18-16 upset at home to USF, who Miami easily thrashed 49-12.
Still, the Gators defense has been a bright spot, allowing just 12 points per game thus far. For Florida to have any chance, Lagway must protect the ball and hope the defense can somehow contain Miami’s surgical offensive attack.
Rivalry energy might keep it close early, but the Hurricanes are simply better than the gators in all facets of the game.
Final Score: Miami 42, Florida 20
Olivia Attalla, Contributing Writer
All eyes are on the Miami Hurricanes with College GameDay rolling into town this weekend.
Carson Beck has been a human highlight reel this season with his arm talent, and has flied up the rankings for Heisman hopefuls. And as a whole the Miami Hurricane are one of the top leading teams in the country.
On the other side, UF is coming out of two back to back losses. Their quarterback DJ Lagway is struggling after throwing five interceptions against LSU last week, not to mention their coaching situation isn’t the best.
Based off the Gators current run of form, it won’t be nearly enough to stop Miami unless their defense steps up from the beginning and somehow manages to slow down the Hurricanes high-powered offense.
Miami will take the win convincingly and send the Gators back to the swamp empty handed.
Final Score: Miami 37, Florida 21
