Florida State–Miami football rivalry

Florida State–Miami football rivalry
Florida State Seminoles Miami Hurricanes
Total meetings 59
Series record Miami leads, 31–28
First meeting October 5, 1951
Miami 35, Florida State 13
Last meeting November 15, 2014
Florida State 30, Miami 26
Next meeting October 10, 2015
Largest win Miami, 47–0 (1976)
Florida State, 47–0 (1997)
Longest win streak Florida State, 7 (1963–1972)
Current win streak Florida State, 5 (2010–present)
Trophy Florida Cup

The Florida State–Miami football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Florida State Seminoles football team of Florida State University and Miami Hurricanes football team of the University of Miami.

Miami leads the series 31–28, with Florida State having won the last five.[1] Since the late 1980s, one or both squads have often been highly ranked coming into the game, adding national championship implications to an already heated rivalry. Kicks have played an important role in the series with many wide right, wide left, blocks and other mistakes that would have won the game for the fallen.

The series has consistently drawn very high television ratings with the 2006 game being the most-watched college football game—regular-season or postseason—in ESPN history, and the 2009 and 1994 meetings being the second- and fifth-most watched regular season games, respectively.[2]

Notable games

1963: Seminoles Stun Mira and Gus' Dream Team

In one of the season's biggest shockers, FSU stunned Miami 24–0, in the season opener for both squads. Miami quarterback, George Mira, had been the cover boy for Sports Illustrated's 1963 college football preseason preview. Miami head coach Andy Gustafson, who had been named athletic director in the spring, put off retirement for a year to coach what most pro scouts believed was the best quarterback in all of college football. On this night, however, Steve Tensi and Fred Biletnikoff were the stars and Florida State made its first real appearance on the national stage. This win marked the first of seven straight wins by the Seminoles and the longest winning streak in the series. All of the Seminoles wins came on Miami's home turf, the Orange Bowl.

1987: Going for the win

FSU and Miami played an epic game in 1987. Both teams were ranked in the top 4. FSU jumped out to a 19–3 lead. FSU led until Miami came back in the 4th quarter to take a 26–19 lead. FSU scored a touchdown with 42 seconds left. FSU could tie with the extra point, but Bowden decided to go for the win. The pass was broken up and the Noles lost 26–25 to the Canes. Miami would go on to win the program's second national championship.

1989: FSU Beats the National Champions

Florida State beat Miami 24–10 as Miami was missing their starting QB and was forced to play freshman Gino Toretta (Gino went on to win the National Championship in '91 & Heisman trophy in '92). Miami went on to win the National Championship upon Craig Erickson's return. FSU did not compete for it, as they suffered two losses at the beginning of the season to a Brett Favre led Southern Miss and Clemson.

1991: Wide Right I

Main article: Wide Right I

After being called a "key persona" by Keith Jackson for hitting his third field goal of the game, Florida State kicker Gerry Thomas missed a field goal to the right with less than a minute left, and the top-ranked Seminoles lost in Tallahassee to the second-ranked Hurricanes, 17–16. Miami went on to split the national championship with the University of Washington, and Florida State finished the season 11–2, ending it by winning the Cotton Bowl Classic against Texas A&M University.

1992: Wide Right II

Main article: Wide Right II

Seminole placekicker Dan Mowrey missed a field goal to the right, and the 1992 Seminoles lost to the Hurricanes in Miami, 19–16. Miami took an undefeated record to the Sugar Bowl, but lost the national championship to Alabama Crimson Tide. Florida State did not lose again, and finished the season ranked second, after Alabama, in both major polls.

2000: Wide Right III

Miami took a 27–24 lead after a Ken Dorsey touchdown pass to Jeremy Shockey, but Seminole quarterback and 2000 Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke moved the Seminoles into field goal range during a last minute drive in Miami's Orange Bowl stadium. Florida State kicker Matt Munyon missed a field goal attempt again to the right to seal the Hurricanes' victory. Controversy erupted later in the season when the Seminoles were ranked higher by the BCS and picked to play in the Orange Bowl against Oklahoma for the national championship despite Miami being ranked higher in both the AP Poll and Coaches Poll. The Seminoles lost to the Sooners 13–2, while the Hurricanes defeated Florida 37–20 in the Sugar Bowl. Miami would finish #2 in the polls that year.

2002: Wide Left

The defending champion Hurricanes staged a comeback against the underdog Seminoles to take a 28–27 lead with only minutes remaining in the game in Miami. The Seminoles drove down the field to give kicker Xavier Beitia a chance to win the game with a last second field goal. Beitia missed the kick to the left, giving Miami the victory. FSU went on to win the Atlantic Coast Conference title with a 9–5 overall record, but lost in the Sugar Bowl to Georgia. Miami would finish the regular season undefeated and then lose in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl to Ohio State, in what is considered to be one of the greatest games in college football history.

2004 Orange Bowl: Wide Right IV

Main article: 2004 Orange Bowl

This contest, a rematch of the regular season game won by Miami, took place in the 2004 Orange Bowl. In this contest, Beitia missed a field goal—wide right—that could have given the Seminoles the lead with about 5 minutes left. This game was of lesser importance on a national scale compared to the other Wide Right games, but continued the streak of Florida State losses determined by a single kick. With the win, Miami would finish #5 in the polls that year. It also marked the first time in NCAA History a Quarterback had lost 5 times to the same team, as FSU Quarterback Chris Rix had started and played in all 5 losses going back to 2001. It was the only bowl meeting between the rivals, as Miami's move to the ACC the next season would make the schools intra-conference rivals and reduce the possibility of the teams ever meeting in a bowl game again.

2005: The Miami Muff

Miami was ranked No. 9 and FSU No. 14 in what proved to be a defensive struggle. Trailing 10–7, and with one last chance to tie the score to extend it into overtime, the Hurricanes drove down the field to set up a game-tying field goal with 2:16 left. When the ball was snapped, it was mishandled by holder Brian Monroe and the ball never reached the kicker's foot. It would be the Hurricanes' turn to suffer a defeat at the hands of a kicking team mistake. The Seminoles kept the ball for remaining two minutes and finally ended their six-game losing streak against the Hurricanes and gained their first victory in the rivalry since 1999.

2009: Miami 38, FSU 34

The unranked Hurricanes came to Tallahassee to face the 18th ranked Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium in what proved to be an instant classic. Both teams exchanged scores throughout the game as Jacory Harris racked up 386 passing yards to bring the Hurricanes an improbable victory at Doak. With the score at 34–31 in the 4th quarter, the Hurricanes marched down the field behind the arm of Harris and scored a touchdown to gain a 38–34 lead with 1:53 left in the 4th. However, on the final drive, the Seminoles also marched down the field and reached Miami 4 yard line with 23 seconds left. After stopping the Noles for two plays, the Hurricanes were called for pass-interference on 3rd down and the Noles were offered a fresh set of downs at the 2 yard line with 17 seconds left. In a climactic ending however, the Hurricanes' defense stood its ground and denied the 'Noles victory as Christian Ponder's final pass was dropped by Jarmon Fortson in the endzone - sealing the Miami victory.

2010-present: The Jimbo Fisher Era

Florida State is undefeated against Miami under Jimbo Fisher, winning the five games by a margin of 172 to 96.

Game results

Florida State victories are shaded ██ garnet. Miami victories are shaded ██ green.

Date Location Winner Score
October 5, 1951 Miami, FL Miami 35–13
September 25, 1953 Miami, FL Miami 27–0
September 30, 1955 Miami, FL Miami 34–0
November 11, 1956 Miami, FL Miami 20–7
November 8, 1957 Tallahassee, FL Miami 40–13
November 7, 1958 Miami, FL Florida State 17–6
October 3, 1959 Tallahassee, FL Miami 7–6
November 4, 1960 Miami, FL Miami 25–7
October 5, 1962 Miami, FL Miami 7–6
September 20, 1963 Miami, FL Florida State 24–0
September 19, 1964 Miami, FL Florida State 14–0
September 24, 1966 Miami, FL Florida State 23–20
September 26, 1969 Miami, FL Florida State 16–14
October 30, 1970 Miami, FL Florida State 27–3
September 18, 1971 Miami, FL Florida State 20–17
September 16, 1972 Miami, FL Florida State 37–14
September 29, 1973 Tallahassee, FL Miami 14–10
November 8, 1974 Miami, FL Florida State 34–8
November 15, 1975 Tallahassee, FL Miami 24–22
September 19, 1976 Miami, FL Miami 47–0
September 24, 1977 Tallahassee, FL Miami 23–17
September 23, 1978 Miami, FL Florida State 31–21
September 22, 1979 Tallahassee, FL Florida State 40–23
September 27, 1980 Miami, FL Miami 10–9
November 7, 1981 Tallahassee, FL Miami 27–19
October 30, 1982 Miami, FL Florida State 24–7
November 12, 1983 Tallahassee, FL Miami 17–16
September 22, 1984 Miami, FL Florida State 38–3
November 2, 1985 Tallahassee, FL Miami 35–27
October 1, 1986 Miami, FL Miami 41–23
Date Location Winner Score
October 3, 1987 Tallahassee, FL Miami 26–25
September 3, 1988 Miami, FL Miami 31–0
October 28, 1989 Tallahassee, FL Florida State 24–10
October 6, 1990 Miami, FL Miami 31–22
November 16, 1991 Tallahassee, FL Miami 17–16
October 3, 1992 Miami, FL Miami 19–16
October 9, 1993 Tallahassee, FL Florida State 28–10
October 8, 1994 Miami, FL Miami 34–20
October 7, 1995 Tallahassee, FL Florida State 41–17
October 12, 1996 Miami, FL Florida State 34–16
October 4, 1997 Tallahassee, FL Florida State 47–0
October 10, 1998 Miami, FL Florida State 26–14
October 9, 1999 Tallahassee, FL Florida State 31–21
October 7, 2000 Miami, FL Miami 27–24
October 13, 2001 Tallahassee, FL Miami 49–27
October 12, 2002 Miami, FL Miami 28–27
October 11, 2003 Tallahassee, FL Miami 22–14
January 1, 2004 Miami Gardens, FL Miami 16–14
September 10, 2004 Miami, FL Miami 16–10
September 5, 2005 Tallahassee, FL Florida State 10–7
September 4, 2006 Miami, FL Florida State 13–10
October 20, 2007 Tallahassee, FL Miami 37–29
October 4, 2008 Miami Gardens, FL Florida State 41–39
September 7, 2009 Tallahassee, FL Miami 38–34
October 9, 2010 Miami Gardens, FL Florida State 45–17
November 12, 2011 Tallahassee, FL Florida State 23–19
October 20, 2012 Miami Gardens, FL Florida State 33–20
November 2, 2013 Tallahassee, FL Florida State 41–14
November 15, 2014 Miami Gardens, FL Florida State 30–26

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/29425/final-florida-state-45-miami-17
  2. ↑ Miller Degnan, Susan (2009-09-10). "ESPN viewers flocked to Miami Hurricanes–FSU matchup". The Miami Herald. Retrieved 2009-09-12.