Miami vs. Florida. Hurricanes vs. Gators. UM vs. UF. What a way to kick off the 2024 college football season.
And it was all ‘Canes. Cam Ward was incredible in his UM debut, throwing for 385 yards and three touchdowns in a 41-17 win. It was the most points the Gators have ever allowed in a home opener, and their 34-game home-opener winning streak is now over.
Miami coach Mario Cristobal gets a week of relief as his Hurricanes looked as good as advertised, even though star pass rusher Rueben Bain Jr. left after the first series with an undisclosed injury. Florida quarterback Graham Mertz was injured, as well, giving way to freshman DJ Lagway in the fourth quarter.
Keep scrolling for highlights and a full recap from The Swamp:
Miami vs Florida score updatesMiami Hurricanes football highlights vs UF
Cam Ward had one more play in him, completing a short pass to Elija Lofton that went for 35 yards. Reese Poffenbarger finally came in after that to run out the clock.
This rivalry wasn’t competitive for long. Cam Ward dazzled in his Miami debut, going 26 of 35 for 385 yards, 3 touchdowns and an interception. Xavier Restrepo led the receivers with 7 catches for 112 yards and a TD, while Damien Martinez ran 15 times for 65 yards.
DJ Lagway was leading another promising Gators drive when Simeon Barrow tipped DJ Lagway’s pass. Jaden Harris was on his back, but he saw the ball fluttering his way and somehow made the pick. Everything keeps going the Canes’ way.
Cam Ward came back out again, though he just handed off twice as it seems Miami is finally ready to run out the clock.
Score: UM 41, UF 17, 2:00 in 4th quarter
Katie George interviewed former Miami star and Pro Football Hall of Famer Devin Hester as Florida tried an onside kick (the Hurricanes recovered). He discussed his game-opening 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against UF in 2003.
Cam Ward has not left the game, adding another 29 yards on a strike to Elijah Arroyo. The Hurricanes got a 26-yard field goal from Andres Borregales.
Score: UM 41, UF 17, 4:00 in 4th quarter
Cam Ward remained in the game, and he took a sack on third down. Mario Cristobal’s decision-making has been criticized in the past (remember Georgia Tech?), and keeping his star QB in for too much longer is going to bring even more. The Gators have given up the most points in a home opener ever.
Florida got the ball back at the 42-yard line. DJ Lagway got his first college completion on an 11-yard slant to Eugene Wilson III, then got his second on another one for 16. Jakobi Jackson had a nice 11-yard run, and Lagway scrambled for 16 on 3rd-and-12. The freshman QB nearly got his first collegiate TD, but Arlis Boardingham was shoved out at the 1-yard line. Trey Webb spun through a tackle to give UF another score.
Score: UM 38, UF 17, 7:14 in 4th quarter
Quarterback DJ Lagway enters for Florida
Miami is just having fun now. Xavier Restrepo nearly had a touchdown pass, but Sam Brown dropped it. Andres Borregales missed a 45-yard field goal, giving Florida the ball at the 35-yard line.
With Graham Mertz in the locker room, DJ Lagway, the 2023 Gatorade national player of the year, made his college debut for Florida. His second play was an option keeper that ended in a 4-yard loss, and his first pass attempt was overthrown on a rollout left deep down the sideline. Miami takes over again at the 24-yard line after a punt.
Score: UM 38, UF 10, 13:21 in 4th quarter
Florida put together its first good drive of the half, but it still ended with Miami celebrating. Graham Mertz got sacked by Tyler Baron but bounced back with two straight 12-yard completions to Isaiah Badger, the last on 4th-and-8. A 10-yard scramble seemed to put the Gators in prime position to finally answer, but then Mertz threw an interception over the middle to Mishael Powell, who ran it all the way back to the Florida 28.
Mertz was hit hard on the play, and he was down in pain for a while afterward. He walked to the locker room with a trainer beside him.
Score: UM 38, UF 10, 0:38 in 3rd quarter
Florida’s next drive started well with a 13-yard completion from Graham Mertz to Kahleil Jackson, but a fumbled snap stopped momentum from building in the Gators’ favor. A tandem sack by Jaden Harris and Elijah Alston led to another UF punt.
Cam Ward started the next drive where he left off, firing a 23-yard catch-and-run to Elijah Arroyo. There was a brief scare when officials ruled Sam Brown fumbled the ball, but the call was changed to an incompletion. Ward then found Isaiah Horton for another big gain, and then he made maybe the best play of the game, spinning away from a pass rusher and throwing across his body while running left to find Jacolby George on a tightrope in the back of the end zone. Ward is over 300 yards passing with three touchdowns. Is The U back?
Score: UM 38, UF 10, 6:08 in 3rd quarter
WQAM reported Rueben Bain Jr., Miami’s All-ACC pass rusher, was not expected to return after exiting after the first series of the game. It’s just about the only thing that’s gone wrong for the Hurricanes today.
The Hurricanes wasted no time in moving the ball again. The third play of the half was a Cam Ward catch-and-run with Xavier Restrepo, who sprinted for a 40-yard gain. Another short pass to Mark Fletcher Jr. went for 22 yards, and then Ward found Sam Brown in a race with Sharif Denson to the left-corner pylon. The refs ruled he was down at the 1-yard line, and the call stood after review. No matter: Fletcher flew over bodies on the next play for his second touchdown of the game.
Asa Turner, who came to Florida from Washington’s team that made the national championship game last season, was injured trying to take down Restrepo. Devin Moore went down in the first half with an apparent shoulder injury.
Score: UM 31, UF 10, 12:25 in 3rd quarter
Cam McCormick age: How old is Miami tight end?
Cam McCormick caught the first touchdown of the game for Miami. The 26-year-old was cleared to play his ninth NCAA season because of injuries throughout his career. The touching story doesn’t stop graphics like these from being very funny.
The second half is underway. Miami starts with the ball.
Total yards: Miami 283, Florida 145Pass yards: Miami 173, Florida 49Run yards: Miami 110, Florida 96Yards per play: Miami 7.4, Florida 6.0Penalties: Miami 1-15 yards, Florida 2-25First downs: Miami 17, Florida 7Third downs: Miami 1/3, Florida 0/5Time of possession: Miami 19:18, Florida 10:42
ESPN’s Booger McFarland said “there is no comparison” in the first half between Cam Ward and Graham Mertz during the halftime show. Ward is 16 of 20 for 173 yards, 2 TDs and an interception, while Mertz is 7 of 14 for 49 yards. Ward also has 36 yards on two scrambles.
Damien Martinez has 11 carries for 56 yards, while Xavier Restrepo has 6 catches for 72 yards and a touchdown. Isaiah Horton and Elijah Arroyo have two receptions apiece.
The only things that have gone wrong for UM early on were Ward’s interception and the Rueben Bain Jr. injury. Defensive back Damari Brown also has not been seen on the field in some time.
Cam Ward throws another Miami touchdown to Xavier Restrepo
Damien Martinez plowed forward for the first down, then Cam Ward found Samuel Brown in the flat for an 8-yard gain. Martinez chugged ahead for another first down, then Ward threw a dart on a slant to Elijah Arroyo to the Gators’ 24. Ward finished it off with a 24-yard touchdown strike to Xavier Restrepo, and just like that, the Hurricanes are back up by two scores.
Ward was 3 of 4 for 60 yards on that drive. He now has two TDs in the game. He has looked cool and collected in and out of the pocket all half, and he’s looked great aside from the interception.
Francisco Mauigoa sacked Graham Mertz on the first play of Florida’s drive, and the Gators let the clock run out. It’s halftime in The Swamp.
Score: UM 24, UF 10, halftime
Miami opened with two runs to Damien Martinez for nine yards, leading to a first for college football fans: the 2-minute timeout. Like the NFL, college games will now have a stoppage of play with 2 minutes left in the second and fourth quarter.
Score: UM 17, UF 10, 2:00 in 2nd quarter
Florida went three and out with Graham Mertz going 1 for 3 on the drive. The Miami defense has been all over him so far, forcing him to a 7-of-14 start for just 49 yards. Miami followed suit with Jordan Lyle coming up short on third down. Chimere Dike split the punt coverage and got a nice 17-yard return to set up Florida at the 29-yard line.
That set up Florida’s first big play of the game: a 71-yard touchdown run by Montrell Johnson Jr. He got around the left end and saw nothing but green grass ahead of him. The Gators doubled their yardage for the game on that play alone.
Score: UM 17, UF 10, 3:21 in 2nd quarter
Florida drove the ball into Miami territory again, but on fourth down, Graham Mertz’s pass was nearly intercepted by a diving Jaden Harris. The ball fell incomplete, and the Hurricanes took over at their 42-yard line. A roughing-the-passer penalty on DJ Douglas put the ball in Gators territory, then Cam Ward found Isaiah Horton for a 30-yard gain. Two plays later, Mark Fletcher Jr. rumbled off the left side for a touchdown.
Ward is 11 of 14 for 107 yards, while the Hurricanes have run for 92 yards so far. Great start for The U.
Score: UM 17, UF 3, 6:41 in 2nd quarter
Defensive end Rueben Bain Jr. was hurt on the first drive, Katie George reported from the sideline. He was back in the locker room getting evaluated. Bain is the leader of the Hurricanes defense, with 7.5 sacks and three forced fumbles last season.
Mario Cristobal told sideline reporter Katie George that Florida was doing a good job mixing up their looks on defense, and a tip lead to Cam Ward’s interception.
The Hurricanes started the second quarter with some impressive plays. Damien Martinez burst out for a 17-yard run, followed by three straight catches by Xavier Restrepo for 46 yards. Ward bought some time and found Isaiah Horton for another 12 yards, then chucked a sidearm screen to Elija Lofton to get inside the 10-yard line. Martinez dropped the ball at the 5, but the refs ruled his forward progress had stopped. Pup Howard stopped Martinez from getting a touchdown, and Miami settled for an Andres Borregales 23-yard field goal.
Score: UM 10, UF 3, 9:53 in 2nd quarter
After a bubble screen to Eugene Wilson III, Graham Mertz scrambled for seven yards and a first down, plowing through Jadais Richard on the sideline to get there. Kahleil Jackson and Arlis Boardingham couldn’t fight off the defender for balls near the goal line, leading to a Trey Smack field goal from 41 yards out.
Damien Martinez ran for seven yards to put Miami at their 32-yard line as the first quarter ended. He has 21 yards on five carries.
Score: UM 7, UF 3 after 1st quarter
Cam Ward hit Elijah Arroyo for a first down to escape the shadow of the end zone. But he did a little too much to force a pass against his body past Jacolby George and into the arms of Florida’s Shemar James. The Gators have the ball on the Canes’ 33.
Score: UM 7, UF 0, 2:25 in 1st quarter
Graham Mertz came out firing to start the next Florida drive, finding Chimere Dike and Elijhah Badger back-to-back to get the ball into Miami territory. But the drive stalled there after a missed deep ball to Badger, and Miami took over at the 3-yard line after Dike downed the punt.
Score: UM 7, UF 0, 4:24 in 1st quarter
Cam Ward hits Cam McCormick for Miami touchdown
Graham Mertz started with a quick hit to Eugene Wilson III, then scrambled for a couple yards before sliding, something the TV crew applauded after his season-ending injury last season. Montrell Johnson ran for a couple, but a tap pass to Wilson got snuffed out, forcing a punt. Miami took over after a Ray Ray Joseph fair catch at the 16.
Damien Martinez started with two draws up the middle, dragging tacklers for first down. Cam Ward showed his running ability, taking advantage of an open hole on the right for an easy first down, then Xavier Restrepo made an incredible catch, stopping and diving back to the ball for another first down. Ward gashed Florida up the middle for 24 yards to put the Canes in the red zone. Miami got another chance on a roughing-the-passer call on Justus Boone on third down, then nine-year veteran Cam McCormick caught a floater over the middle for a touchdown. Ward was 3 of 4 for 24 yards with another 36 yards rushing.
Score: UM 7, UF 0, 6:48 in 1st quarter
It’s hot and humid this afternoon in Gainesville. Joe Tessitore said the real feel is 100 degrees. Perfect Florida weather.
Former Miami tight end Greg Olsen is in the house. We are underway.
Miami released its two-deep depth chart shortly before kickoff against Florida.
OFFENSE
QB: Ward, Williams or PoffenbargerRB: Martinez, Fletcher or LyleWR X: Brown or HortonWR slot: Restrepo, JosephWR Z: George, Carr or TrainerTE: Arroyo, Williams or Lofton or McCormickLT: Rivers, BellLG: McCoy or RodriguezC: Carpenter, FrancavillaRG: Cooper, CristobalRT: Mauigoa, Okunlola
DEFENSE
LE: Bain, MesidorDT: Barrow, ClarkDT: Mesidor, MotenRE: Baron, AlstonWill LB: Bissainthe, AldermanMike LB: Mauigoa, AguirreStar: Porter, BrownCB1: Frederique, HillCB2: Brown, RichardCB3: Richard, StaffordS: Harris, PattersonS: Powell, Williams
SPECIAL TEAMS
K: BorregalesP: JoyceKR: Johnson, JosepthPR: Joseph, Restrepo
Kickoff is officially set for 3:45 p.m.
Bad news before the Hurricanes start their 2024 season: Linebacker Elijah Melendez announced on social media that he was decommitting from Miami.
The Kissimmee-Osceola High School star is a four-star recruit in the Class of 2025, according to On3, and No. 92 on Rivals’ Top 100. He had committed to the Hurricanes in December 2023.
It was Lee Corso’s turn to make a prediction for the Miami vs. Florida game on College GameDay, but his chair was surprisingly empty. Don’t worry though: He still whispered his pick to Kirk Herbstreit before he left. Here’s what Scooter, Nick Saban and the rest of the crew predicted on ESPN’s college football preview show.
Meanwhile, those keeping track at home should be aware of the following number changes for Florida’s special teams:
Tailgaters are heading into The Swamp now as we’re an hour away from kickoff. But for anyone staying in the lots outside the stadium or expecting to roam the streets of Gainesville with open beers like in recent years, note that laws have changed. The pandemic-era relaxation of open-container restrictions is now over, so be careful!
The ‘Canes are in the house. We’re nearing football time.
The ‘Canes will be in all white today in The Swamp.
The Gators will be in their signature orange helmets with blue jerseys and orange pants.
The 2024 Hurricanes boast five preseason All-ACC players, the most of any team. They are led by quarterback Cam Ward, a Washington State transfer and the preseason ACC Player of the Year. The other selections: receiver Xavier Restrepo, defensive end Rueben Bain Jr., linebacker Francisco Mauigoa and kicker Andres Borregales.
The 2024 Gators are led by quarterback Graham Mertz, entering his second season in Florida after transferring from Wisconsin. Florida has four preseason All-SEC players: running back Montrell Johnson Jr. (second team), defensive back Jason Marshall Jr. (second team), punter Jeremy Crawshaw (second team) and kicker Trey Smack (third team).
Miami vs Florida start time todayDate: Saturday, August 31Time: 3:30 p.m. ETLocation: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium (Gainesville, Florida)What channel is Miami vs Florida game on today?TV channel: ABCStreaming: ESPN+ | Fubo (free trial)
The matchup between Miami vs. Florida will broadcast nationally on ABC. Joe Tessitore and Jesse Palmer will call the game from the booth at The Swamp, with Katie George reporting from the sidelines.
Streaming options include ESPN+ ($10.99 per month) and Fubo, which offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Series record: UM leads, 29-27UM’s last win: September 7, 2013 (21-16)UF’s last win: August 24, 2019 (24-20)
Kevin Brockway, Gainesville Sun: UF 28, UM 24
“It won’t be easy, but the crowd and Florida’s defense will rattle Ward and the Miami offense into enough mistakes to squeak out a win and extend UF’s home-opening win streak to 36 straight games. Florida will need to force at least two turnovers to win the game.”
Bill Bender, Sporting News: UF 30, UM 27
“The Gators are in a pivotal season with Billy Napier, and quarterback Graham Mertz played well the back half of last season. This could be the best game of the day. Remember when Florida beat Utah in the 2022 opener at The Swamp? Same situation here.”
Pete Fiutak, College Football News: UF 27, UM 23
“Miami has the pieces in place to finally get going under Mario Cristobal, but it’s about to face the 2023 Week 3 version of Florida. That version rose up and rocked defensively in an energy-charged win over Tennessee, and it’s about to happen again right out of the gate.”
Bruce Feldman, The Athletic: UM 28, UF 17
“This is the most talented team the Canes have had in two decades, but opening in the Swamp will be a real test. I think quarterback Cam Ward and running back Damien Martinez can handle it, but expect some rocky moments in the first half.”
Miami vs Florida betting odds
Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Saturday:
Spread: UM (-3)Over/under: 54 pointsMoney line: UM -145, UF +120Miami vs Florida injury updates
Miami running back Mark Fletcher Jr. is expected to be ready to play after a Lisfranc injury suffered during last season’s Pinstripe Bowl.
Florida running back Montrell Johnson Jr. is expected to start after battling a knee injury during fall camp. Defensive lineman Jamari Lyons is out for the season after getting ankle surgery. Tight end Keon Zipperer (knee) was ruled out, according to Newsday, and wide receivers Andy Jean (wrist) and Ja’Quavion Fraziars (knee) are expected to miss extended time.
Miami vs Florida weather updates
Weather.com predicts 91 degrees with partly cloudy skies at kickoff in Gainesville. Winds are expected to blow out of the east at 5-10 mph. The forecast calls for a 10% chance of rain during the game.
August 31: at Florida, 3:30 p.m.September 7: vs. Florida A&M, 6 p.m.September 14: vs. Ball State, 3:30 p.m.September 21: at USFSeptember 27: vs. Virginia Tech, 7:30 p.m.October 5: at CaliforniaOctober 12: OpenOctober 19: at LouisvilleOctober 26: vs. Florida StateNovember 2: vs. DukeNovember 9: at Georgia TechNovember 16: OpenNovember 23: vs. Wake ForestNovember 30: at SyracuseAugust 31: vs. Miami, 3:30 p.m.September 7: vs. Samford, 7 p.m.September 14: vs. Texas A&M, 3:30 p.m.September 21: at Mississippi State, noonSeptember 28: OpenOctober 5: vs. UCFOctober 12: at TennesseeOctober 19: vs. KentuckyOctober 26: OpenNovember 2: vs. Georgia, 3:30 p.m. in JacksonvilleNovember 9: at Texas, noonNovember 16: vs. LSUNovember 23: vs. Ole Miss, noonNovember 30: at Florida State
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Publish date : 2024-08-31 08:47:00
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