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Frost graduate student Anabella Torres Alvarado kicks off family weekend at Patio Jams

Miguel Escobar
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Frost graduate student Anabella Torres Alvarado kicks off family weekend at Patio Jams

Anabella Torres Alvarado brought a unique blend of musical styles to Patio Jams on Friday, Sep. 12 during family weekend. The University of Miami Frost School of Music graduate student has delved into various genres of music throughout her artistic career such as: funk, soul, reggae, and R&B. She brought a mix of all these to her performance.

Raised in Honduras, Torres always knew she wanted to pursue higher education in the United States, and especially in Miami, but limitations led her to Utah where she completed her undergraduate studies. Now, six years later, she’s in the 305.

“Through the live entertainment management program I have had to change my perspective from an artist’s point of view to a venue’s point of view,” Alvarado said. “Which has only helped me grow in my own artistry.” 

She discovered her love for music thanks to her parents and later developed her passion through her involvement in her high school’s dance, theater and band programs. Music quickly became a way for Torres to express herself and tell her story. 

“I have come to realize that when we open to those we love about the struggle of life in general, we are able to walk with each other as we figure out life,” Alvarado said. “I want to use my music as a reflection of that vulnerability and honesty that brings people together”

Torres promises her Friday show willbe like the soundtrack to her artistic journey.  Songs featured in the show included those by artists such as the Bee Gees, Whitney Houston, and Shania Twain. 

Once she graduates Anabella hopes to use her degree as a means for meaningful change. She dreams of opening up a venue for local artists in Honduras to showcase their talent. 

“There are so many incredible musicians and great songwriters back home but there is no place for them to showcase it,” Alvarado said. 

Torres’s performance was an amazing way to start family weekend 2025. She got parents and students singing along to cult classics such as ABBA’s “Mamma Mia” and Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’” as well as originals like “Tu Palabra” and “Retrovisorz.” 
Want more Annabella Torres Alvarado? Check out her social media profiles and music on Spotify.

‘Wednesday’ returns for a wonderfully woeful second season

Marissa Levinson
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‘Wednesday’ returns for a wonderfully woeful second season

TikTok’s favorite goth girl is back. Jenna Ortega returned as Wednesday Addams in “Wednesday” season two. 

The Netflix original series took the world by storm in Nov. 2022. Its dance scene went viral on TikTok, making everyone want to channel their inner Wednesday Addams on Halloween. Finishing the season was dreadful because no one knew when the next one was coming.

Now, three years and a writers strike later, “Wednesday” second season has finally arrived, opening the can of worms of newfound mysteries and prophecies. Split into two parts, consisting of four episodes each, this season debuted on Aug. 6th and Sept. 3rd respectively.

It’s the perfect watch for a family movie night. “Wednesday” may be a series, but it possesses the cinematic qualities of a thriller film, never losing the attention of an audience ranging from children to teenagers to adults.

It’s evident that Tim Burton is the man sitting in the director’s chair. Without his cynical, artistic and symmetrical eye, there would be room for boredom. 

He recognizes that every second serves a purpose and progresses the plot, pivoting it into new directions. 

The camera work also adds to the perfection of the series, with balanced composition and seamless pans. What could simply be a scene of Wednesday playing the cello becomes one that serves as the score for another suspenseful scene cross-cut with it.

Jenna Ortega truly embodies Wednesday. She brings the lines to life, but in the lifeless manner that suits the quick-witted, dark character with monotonous delivery and an impressive lack of blinking. It’s all about body language and microexpressions. 

She’s not one to show fear, or confusion with gasps or a dropped jaw, instead with a slightly furrowed eyebrow or wide eye. Though Wednesday is the quirkiest of them all, the other outcasts still have their own unconventional qualities. 

The new addition to their dynamic, a ginger-braided Agnes (Evie Templeton) finds herself in the middle of Wednesday and Enid, a symbol for her place in the show. 

Other returning characters include Marlyn Thornhill (Christina Ricci), the ‘90s’ Wednesday, Bianca (Joy Sunday), a siren, and Tyler (Hunter Doohan), a hyde – one of the main villains of the series. Xavier did not return this season following actor Percy Hynes White’s scandal following season one. 

While many aspects of the show impress me, an element that falls short is the editing, which often feels dated. The cartoonish look of the hydes momentarily causes me to detach from the immersion, as everything else feels up to par.

In part one of season two, I found myself bewildered as to why the rest of the Addams had so much screen time. Nothing against them, but as a show titling only one of the Addams, I thought only she would be in the spotlight, like in season one. 

It started to make more sense in part two, as it became clear that one of the themes is the importance of family. The mother-daughter relationship between Wednesday and Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) is a central focus, highlighting the complications that come with Morticia’s desire to protect her daughter, and Wednesday’s unwillingness to open herself up to a protector outside of herself. 

Part of growing up is opening up to trusting and loving your family and community, something Wednesday comes to realize throughout the season. Episode six also emphasizes this through the friendship between Wednesday and Enid, as they are put in each others’ shoes. 

That episode also features the range of Ortega and Myers’ acting, as they find themselves playing characters they don’t usually play, and telling stories that aren’t normally theirs to tell. Their deliveries were seamless and entertaining. 

The most captivating episodes of the season are seven and eight, when we get to the climax. It all comes down to the final two episodes. Everything that leads up to them proves to be worth it through a satisfying ending.

As an orchestrated rendition of “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” by Eurythmics enchants the closing scenes, laying the path for the next season. Plots are opened, some stories are left unresolved and it’s safe to say audiences will be eagerly coming back for more in “Wednesday” season three.

Rating: 4/5

What University of Miami students should watch this spooky season

Ava Liber
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What University of Miami students should watch this spooky season

As midterms wind down and Halloween draws near, University of Miami students are craving chills, and these upcoming horror releases deliver. From psychological thrillers to supernatural scares, here’s why each of these titles deserves a spot in your late night watchlist.

Him (Sep. 19)

This Jordan Peele produced supernatural horror film blends athletic ambition with creeping dread. Set amid intense mentorship and blood chilling secrets, it’s a unique fusion of psychological terror and the competitive energy familiar to college life. Plus, Marlon Wayans’s presence mixes dark humor with genuine fright. It’s perfect for a dorm room scare session.

The Strangers: Chapter 2 (Sep. 26)

A sequel to the cult home invasion thriller, this film elevates tension with stylish execution from veteran genre filmmaker Renny Harlin. A road trip gone wrong, masked strangers and small town isolation amplify the dread of being hunted with no safe place to turn.

The Long Walk (Sep. 12)

From the director of “The Hunger Games” comes this dystopian survival thriller based on Stephen King’s novel. It probes endurance, peer pressure and the will to survive. Plus, Mark Hamill’s menacing performance offers a reminder of how quickly authority can turn oppressive. 

The story follows a group of teenage boys forced to compete in a brutal walking contest where stopping means death, a chilling metaphor for conformity and sacrifice under authoritarian rule. With rising young actors, the film balances star power with raw, emotional intensity, making it both a harrowing endurance test and a character driven drama.

V/H/S/Halloween (Oct. 3)

The cult anthology series returns just in time for spooking season, with seven directions offering a mix of twisted vision shot in the found footage style. This installment leans heavily into Halloween themes. 

Expect cursed tapes, haunted houses and creepy urban legends brought to life with handheld immediacy. This film delivers quick, intense jots that make it ideal for post study breaks or Halloween parties, while its varied direction styles range from psychological shocks to campy gore. 

It’s also perfect for group viewing, with plenty of debate over which segment is the scariest, funniest, or most disturbing.

Black Phone 2 (Oct. 17)

A sequel to the hit horror “The Black Phone,” this installment escalates the supernatural terror with a more amplified evil. Scott Derrickson’s visceral style and Ethan Hawke’s return as the chilling Grabber make this ideal viewing for fans of the original and anyone seeking dread. 

Frankenstein (Oct. 17)

A stunning, gothic reimagining of Mary Shelley’s classic by master filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. Its lush visual, moral complexity, and monster as sympathetic soul narrative transcend typical horror tropes. 

A great pick for film buffs, literature lovers, or anyone intrigued by what horror can achieve through artistry. No worries if you miss its theatrical release, you can watch it on Nov. 7 through Netflix.

The Woman in Cabin 10 (Oct. 10)

A mystery thriller in a claustrophobic cruise ship setting, starring Keira Knightley as a journalist no one believes. 

Perfect for campus watch groups or solo nights: paranoia, isolation and unraveling secrets all in one locked in location speak to the anxiety of being trapped whether physically or by other’s doubts. 

Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (Dec. 10)

While technically releasing after Halloween, this sequel continues the popular video game turned film saga with returning fan favorites and new scares. 

Ideal for haunted house enthusiasts and those who enjoy serialized horror continuity, plus its December release encourages a sequel watch party once finals are over.

Good Dog (Sep. 5)

This indie horror gem twists the idea of “man’s best friend” into something far more sinister. When a college couple adopts a stray dog, they quickly discover the animal has terrifying ties to an urban legend. 

Mixing slow-burn dread with shocking bursts of violence, this film is perfect for students who like their horror both clever and unsettling. 

Diés Iraé (Oct. 31)

This Malayalam language horror film from Indian director Rahul Sadasivan (“Bhoothakaalam,” “Bramayugam”) premieres globally on Halloween night. “Diés Iraé,” Latin for “Day of Wrath,” blends psychological dread with supernatural elements, anchored by Pranav Mohanlal’s genre debut. 

With much of the creative team behind “Bramayugam” returning, including cinematographer Shehnad Jalal and composer Christo Xavier, the film promises an atmosphere, high style horror experience. 

The story follows a man drawn into a cursed community where folklore, faith and fear collide, forcing him to confront the darkness that binds the living and the dead.

Halloween is creeping up and the next two months have plenty of scares both on and off campus. For fans of cult classics and buzzy new releases, there are horror titles to queue up this September and October.

Eladio Carrión and friends turn up Kaseya Center for his Don Kbrn Tour

Gabriel Mena
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Eladio Carrión and friends turn up Kaseya Center for his Don Kbrn Tour

Miami showed up loud and proud for Eladio Carrión on Sept. 13th, when the Puerto Rican rapper brought his Don Kbrn Tour to the Kaseya Center. From the moment the lights dropped, the energy was undeniable. 

Eladio opened with a rapid-fire run of tracks that included bangers like: “Vetements”, “H.I.M”, “THUNDER Y LIGHTING” and “Kemba Walker”, instantly setting the tone for a night where the crowd stayed hyped through every beat and bar.

The production was spectacular — a layered stage setup with LED screens stretched across different depths, creating a futuristic backdrop that reflected a more mature Eladio that’s now a father. He brought an elevated stage presence without losing the raw edge that made him a staple of Latin trap.

The production matched the different vibes Eladio brought. On smoother, urban tracks like “Coco Chanel” and “Hey Lil Mama,” the visuals felt fluid and cinematic. But when he switched to trap anthems like “Heavyweight” and “TATA,” the stage exploded with strobes and heavy bass, daring the crowd to lose control.

The Miami crowd, mostly young and all-in, treated every song like an anthem. He brought out a lineup of special guests — Corina Smith for “Todo o Nada”, Yandel for “Sigo Enamorau”, Omar Courtz for “Primer Lugar”, Jon Z, and Noriel for “Rápido” and “Cheque.” 

Eladio also allowed his guests to perform some of their songs. The crowd went wild when Noriel and Jon Z performed the legendary trap track “0 Sentimientos.”

What struck me most was the love bouncing back and forth between Eladio and his fans. He didn’t just perform at them — he performed with them. The chemistry was obvious, and it turned the Kaseya Center into something more like a church for trap music than a concert venue.

One of the coolest things about this show was how Eladio wasn’t afraid to let the music breathe. He gave the fans room to chant back at him, jump in on hooks or just scream the bars that hit hardest. 

The night closed on a perfect high note with his classic “Mbappe.” Eladio ran it twice — first asking fans to turn their phones off to live in the moment, and then letting them record the encore. It was a powerful reminder of why his shows feel different: they’re about connection, not just performance.

In Miami, Eladio Carrión proved he’s not just riding the Latin trap wave — he’s steering it. And after the Don Kbrn Tour, there’s no doubt the love between him and his fans is only growing stronger.

‘The Long Walk’ delivers Stephen King’s dystopia with relentless tension

Ava Liber
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‘The Long Walk’ delivers Stephen King’s dystopia with relentless tension

Francis Lawernce’s “The Long Walk,” adapted from Stephen King’s novel, is less a traditional horror film and more a slow burn of psychological dread. Released Sept. 12, the film follows 100 teenage boys forced to walk without stopping. If they do, they’ll meet the barrel of a gun.

Leading the cast, Cooper Hoffman, from “Licorice Pizza,” balances vulnerability with quiet resolve, while David Jonsson and Garret Wareing bring intensity to the march. Mark Hamill and Judy Greer add gravitas, embodying the adult forces orchestrating the ordeal. 

The film’s power comes from its simplicity: a never ending road, the threat of collapse and the looming presence of authority. Lawrence, best known for directing “The Hunger Games” film trilogy, leans on long tracking shots and stark landscapes to emphasize monotony and despair. The result is hypnotic, something’s punishing in its pacing.

“The Long Walk” is more than a genre exercise, it’s a meditation on competition and conformity. Its tension comes not from monsters or gore, but from the quiet horror of watching how far people will go to outlast one another.

Matthew Tkachuk Announced as College GameDay Guest Picker

Brendan Cafferty
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Matthew Tkachuk Announced as College GameDay Guest Picker

From back-to-back Stanley Cup wins to appearing on College GameDay.

Matthew Tkachuk, a Winger and Assistant Captain for the Florida Panthers, has been chosen as UM’s guest picker for College GameDay on Saturday.

The Arizona native is excited for this opportunity, as he prepares for the mass of UM fans surrounding him this weekend.

“It’s an honor,” Tkachuk said, “ever since coming down here to South Florida, I’ve been more into college football.” 

Tkachuk spoke on the importance of this role to him, and hockey players alike.

“I’ve been a college football fan for a little while,” he said, “but being the first NHL player to be given this honor of being on this grand stage and for the country to see my picks is going to be good.”

Since being traded to the Panthers in the 2022 offseason, Tkachuk has cemented himself as a star in Florida. Tkachuk was named All Star MVP in his home arena in 2023, tied the record for postseason points in 2024, and returned from injury in 2025 to bring the Panthers another cup.

With UM’s storied past of GameDay pickers, from Michael Irvin to Alex Rodriguez, and even Uncle Luke, former frontman of the rap group “2 Live Crew,” Tkachuk is excited to join this list of South Florida celebrities this weekend. 

He shared a bit of nervousness as well.

“Hopefully my picks hit,” he said, regarding his prediction of who will win on Saturday.

College GameDay will be broadcast live from the Lakeside Patio starting at 9 a.m. and ending at 12 p.m.

HHS moves to ‘decertify’ Miller School’s organ recovery agency 

Katie Karlson and Daniella Krasney
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HHS moves to ‘decertify’ Miller School’s organ recovery agency 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is moving to “decertify” the Life Alliance Organ Recovery Agency, a division at UM’s Miller School of Medicine, as of Thursday, Sept. 18.   

This move comes after an HHS investigation revealed “years of poor training, chronic underperformance, understaffing and paperwork errors.” The HHS cited a 2024 case of a surgeon mistakenly declining a donated heart for a transplant patient.

LAORA, a division of the Daughtry Family Department of Surgery at Miller, is one of the U.S.’s 55 organ procurement organizations. These organizations are regulated by HHS through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. 

Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s initiative to reform the organ transplant system was launched in July and prompted the current investigation. His initiative came after the Health Resources and Services Administration “revealed disturbing practices” by an unidentified large organ procurement organization. 

“Our findings show that hospitals allowed the organ procurement process to begin when patients showed signs of life, and this is horrifying,” said Kennedy. “The entire system must be fixed to ensure that every potential donor’s life is treated with the sanctity it deserves.”

The HHS investigation found that at least 28 patients nationally may not have been deceased when organ procurement was initiated. 

“The top priority of the Life Alliance Organ Recovery Agency (LAORA) has always been safe, respectful, and compliant organ donation practices. We are aware of the decision issued today by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and of the agency’s investigations into organ procurement practices across the country,” LAORA said in a statement to The Hurricane. “We will cooperate fully with HHS to ensure a smooth transition and will not appeal. We hope that other OPOs follow suit in putting patients first. Our focus remains on protecting the dignity of donors, supporting their families, and advancing the life-saving mission of organ transplantation.”

UM medical and transplant efforts have faced other investigations in the past.

The Miami Transplant Institute, which is a collaboration between UHealth and the Jackson Health System, was suspended from performing adult heart transplants in 2023. The institute voluntarily agreed to suspend the program while anonymous complaints were investigated. 

In a separate case largely related to the Miami Transplant Institute, a press release on the DOJ website says that UM agreed to pay $22 million in 2021 to “resolve allegations” that it violated the False Claims Act. The press release says UM ordered “medically unnecessary” laboratory tests for patients who received kidney transplants and submitted “inflated claims for reimbursement” for pre-transplant testing. 

Dr. Mehmet Oz, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator, highlighted that addressing the current state of the system will improve patient outcomes.

“For too long, patients and families have suffered from systemic failures,” Oz said. “We are enforcing rigorous standards and modernizing the system with better data, stronger oversight and innovative tools to make organ procurement safer, fairer and more effective for every American awaiting a transplant.”

The Miami Hurricane reached out to the University of Miami and the UM Miller and UHealth media relations team for comment. The Hurricane has not yet received a response. 

 This article was updated at 12:26 a.m. on Sept. 19 to include LAORA’s comment.

The 10 Commandments you need to follow to survive gameday

Nyema Davilmar
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On today’s sports-themed episode of Eye of the Hurricane, Nyema walks us through the 10 Commandments of gameday survival you need. With the UF game coming up this Saturday, it’s time to learn from past mistakes to maximize the fun!

Want more advice? Read our latest article

Hurricanes Football top 4, volleyball sweep and ESPN gameday in Miami

Pablo Montekio Brunet
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Pablo Montekio breaks down a packed weekend in Miami Hurricanes sports! Our volleyball team is on fire, sweeping a triple-header and looking to repeat the feat this week, with Flormarie Heredia Colon earning ACC Offensive Player of the Week honors. Soccer battles through a brutal schedule against two top-20 opponents, while cross country star Maddie Schier smashes a school record at the Southern Showcase. Plus, Miami football climbs into the Top 4 after dominating USF, and ESPN’s College Gameday is coming to Coral Gables ahead of our sold-out showdown with the Florida Gators.

Want more sports? Read our Sports Section!

Hurricanes vs. Gators student tickets sold out amid website glitches

Gaby Collazo
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Hurricanes vs. Gators student tickets sold out amid website glitches

Student tickets for Saturday’s rivalry game between UM and the Florida Gators sold out in just three hours, setting a new standard for demand. The Hurricanes continue to draw larger crowds amid its football program’s resurgence. 

Many students reported problems with the student tickets website, including error messages and persistent loading screens. Kali’a Victorino-Smith, a freshman at UM, shared how she could not claim tickets.

“I waited on the student ticket app for 45 minutes waiting for it to reload and did not know the whole game was sold out until a friend texted me, we both did not get tickets,” Victorino-Smith said.

Students immediately shared their excitement — and, in some cases, frustration with the ticket website — across social media. One TikTok user, @ddanirose posted a video of the ticket site saying, “pov my 98k tuition goes to a student ticket site that doesn’t work.” One user commented they didn’t get tickets until 1:30 p.m., an hour and a half after tickets were released. Another told UM Athletics “they need to do better.”

Danielle Hills, a sophomore at UM, said that her experience of claiming tickets was no less chaotic.

“It was honestly so frustrating because there was no progress and everyone was frantically trying to figure out what was happening,” Hills said. “It was just an hour of straight frustration and confusion.” 

Student tickets also sold out for the Hurricane’s season opener against Notre Dame. With two sold out games only four weeks into the season, UM fans support and participation is consistently continuing as the Canes climb up in national rankings. 

Even if students could not score tickets, their enthusiasm for the matchup is still high. 

“The game is going to be insane,”  said David Kuper, president of Category 5. “We saw earlier in the season how great it is to have a long-time rival come to town when we went up against Notre Dame, and this one means a little bit more since it is our state rival.”

ESPN’s College GameDay pregame show is coming to Coral Gables for Saturday’s match up versus the Gators, marking the second time that the show has been on UM’s campus since 2017. The announcement sent waves of excitement through the Hurricanes’ fan base. 

The University of Miami has won five national championships during its “decade of dominance” in 1983,1987,1989, 1991 and 2001. The program thrived, winning consistently and developing future NFL players. Miami was gradually building a football empire. with challenges in location, recruitment, and coaching, losses began to pile up, extending a streak of disappointing results. Things turned around with Mario Cristobal, a former UM football player who has been coaching the Hurricanes since 2021, created a turning point in the football program’s revival. 

The Hurricanes are now ranked fourth in the AP Top-25 Poll with a 3-0 record. Miami will face Florida in a highly anticipated match-up on Saturday at 7:30pm.  

 

Miami Vs. Florida: A rivalry recharged

Omar Pinto
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Miami Vs. Florida: A rivalry recharged

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.

Redshirt senior defensive back, Mishael Powell, intercepts a pass from the University of Florida quarterback at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on August 31, 2024.

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.

University of Miami mascot, Sebasatian the Ibis, performs the C-A-N-E-S chant at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on August 31, 2024. Photo via Emily Rice

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.

Leonardo DiCaprio fights ‘One Battle After Another’

Samantha Rodriguez
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Leonardo DiCaprio fights ‘One Battle After Another’

Paul Thomas Anderson returns to the big screen with bullets, bombs and Leonardo DiCaprio. In “One Battle After Another,” their first film together, DiCaprio plays an aging revolutionary named Bob. 

DiCaprio suits up in slippers and a beanie to save his kidnapped daughter and reunite with the explosions and car-chases he left behind. 

It’s a film about freedom, fight and, most importantly to DiCaprio, family.

“He’s a disaster of a father, and then all of a sudden he’s put into this wild circumstance to try to save her,” DiCaprio said. “It’s just a beautiful bit of writing.”

You’ve seen The Dude from “The Big Lebowski,” but could you imagine him jumping out of a moving car while “hiding” a sniper rifle in a backpack? Now, you don’t have to. 

DiCaprio read about Bob’s self-deprecation and sabotage in the script and knew the character would take him on a fun ride.

“I think it’s a complete setup for a sort of traditional trope that maybe we’ve seen a multitude of times before,” DiCaprio said. “But the character evolved as the movie went on.”

Bob’s biological and chosen family, and inadvertently the SWAT team that was glued to him, helped him evolve. Someone needed to remind him how military bases are as hard to entering your house drunk. 

Enter Benicio del Toro’s Sergio St. Carlos. The sensei never leaves his nunchucks and words of wisdom at the dojo. He brings calm to Bob’s stoned chaos.

“Leo brings tons of energy, so I just danced with it and stayed,” del Toro said. “I was the anchor in some ways, even though the scenes were packed with movement.”

More of DiCaprio’s notable anchors include Regina King, Teyana Taylor, Sean Penn, and Chase Infiniti. Infiniti’s character, Willa, is an anchor and Bob’s purpose.

He gets off the couch to save her from Penn’s Steven J. Lockjaw’s military brigade. Bob’s ability to remember secret passwords was definitely in question. But his love for Willa was never like Infiniti’s dedication to getting in Willa’s skin.

“More than anything, what I wanted to do was hone in on her feeling of not fully knowing a bit of her story,” Infiniti said. “Regardless of any relationship that she has with a character, any storyline thing, I think that that really helped me drop into her.”

Early critics felt Infiniti, a 25-year-old making her feature debut with DiCaprio, was an outlier in a film with an Oscar-nominated cast and crew. Yet, to her co-stars, they are surprised this is her debut.

Infiniti commands fight scenes with Penn and emotional arguments with DiCaprio. Maybe she even outwits del Toro. There’s only one way to find out.

Head to an early screening of “One Battle After Another” at the Bill Cosford Cinema on Sep. 22 at 7p.m. Click here to reserve your ticket. Get ready for feels, laughs and thrilling action that has a deeper message below the surface.

“He can find humor in the absurdity in things, which he did in this,” King said. “It’s about love. It is about family. Connection, commitment, revolution.”

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