Ranking the Canes’ top five wins over the Noles
College football fans are spoiled with incredible rivalries. Dating back to 1873 when Yale and Princeton first played in the game’s oldest rivalry, bragging rights get deeper and have more meaning as the years go by .
There’s the Red River Rivalry, formerly the Red River Shootout at the Texas State Fair between Texas and Oklahoma.
We have The Game featuring OSU and Michigan.
Cal and Stanford play in what is known as The Big Game.
The Civil War in the Pacific Northwest is literally that when Oregon State takes on Oregon.
West Virginia and Pitt call their annual showdown the Backyard Brawl.
Oklahoma State and Oklahoma do battle in the Bedlam Series.
It does not get any more straightforward than Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate when Georgia Tech and UGA face off.
Southern comfort is a forgotten theme each time Bama and Auburn line up in the storied Iron Bowl.
And although the Florida-Georgia matchup is no longer dubbed “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party”, the rivalry has not lost its luster one bit over the years.
Every college football rivalry has its place in the sport. Each has its own flare, unique traditions, and deeply rooted intensity that dates back decades. Even though there are dozens of rivalry games not mentioned above, the history of college football cannot be written without mentioning every single rivalry that continues today.
However…
There is one game that needs no nickname, requires no introduction, and is recognized by simply uttering the names of both schools. Nothing else needs to be said when those words are spoken, it’s understood.
Miami, FSU.
Photo by Bob Leverone/Sporting News via Getty Images via Getty Images
No other rivalry at its peak compared with that of the best games between the Canes and Noles. Michigan-OSU and UT-OU are epic rivalries, undoubtedly two of the best in the sport. But as great as those games have been, none could light a candle to any of the best Miami-FSU has to offer.
A series filled with speed, ferocity, passion, emotion, drama, high stakes, bone-jarring hits, and unthinkable moments alternates between the Florida state capital and the Magic City every fall. Even when the two programs are facing a down season as they did in 2007, this game is one to witness. Nobody expected a 37-29 high-scoring affair from two struggling offenses that saw Kirby Freeman replace an injured Kyle Wright and hit Dedrick Epps for the game-winning touchdown with 1:15 to play.
The 2007 installation of this series made for must-see TV, but as unpredictably stunning as that game was, it does not belong in the conversation with the greatest games of this series. Over the years, this rivalry has treated college football fans from near and far to all-time classics that decided national champions and featured future NFL Hall of Famers on both sidelines.
There is no doubt that when both teams are atop the rankings, this is the best rivalry in the nation. No other matchup has had more national titles on the line, boasted more all-Americans, and yielded as many high-caliber NFL talent. The entire country tunes in to watch this game because they know the type of athletes that are on the field.
Miami – FSU: By the Numbers
The Hurricanes and Seminoles have played each other on 68 different occasions. Here are numbers to know:
Series record: Miami leads 35-33
First meeting: Oct. 5, 1951; Miami 35, Florida State 13
Last meeting: Nov. 11, 2023; Florida State 27, Miami 20
Longest win streak: Florida State, 7 (1963-72, 2010-16)
Current win streak: Florida State, 3 (2021-2023)
Longest Miami win streak: 6, (2010-2016, three wins in less than one calendar year)
All-time Miami record: 619-353-12
All-time FSU record: 581-281-17
Win streaks of 3 or more: Miami 7, FSU 4
Heisman winners: Miami 2, FSU 3
Largest margin of victory: Miami and FSU beat each other 47-0
Road wins: Miami 16, FSU 21
- Miami is 3-3 versus #1 ranked FSU teams. FSU has never beaten a #1 ranked Miami team.
- Miami beat FSU three times in one calendar year:
– October 11, 2003, (2) Miami 22 – (5) FSU 14; S. Taylor – 2 INTs, 1 TD
– January 1, 2004, (10) Miami 16 – (9) FSU 14; FedEx Orange Bowl, Jarrett Payton 131 yds
– September 10, 2004 (5) Miami 16 – (4) FSU 10; Frank Gore game-winner in OT
- Miami is the only team to reach 50+ points scored
Miami’s top 5 wins versus FSU
5. September 7, 2009 Miami 38 – (18) FSU 34
Jacory Harris threw for 386 yards and two touchdowns while Graig Cooper caught a touchdown and ran in the game-winner from three yards out in this Labor Day, season opening victory at Doak Campbell Stadium. Miami scored 21, 4th-quarter points and the Hurricanes goal line defense stood tall keeping FSU out of the endzone on seven consecutive plays from inside the five yard line.
Photo by Reid Compton/Icon SMI/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
4. October 12, 2002 (9) FSU 27 – (1) Miami 28
The defending national champion Miami Hurricanes entered the matchup on a 27-game winning streak but had to score 14 fourth-quarter points to win at home. FSU running back Greg Jones led the way for the Noles, bruising his way to 189 rushing yards. But in the final stanza, Willis McGahee took a 68-yard screen pass to the FSU 11 yard line, then Jason Geathers scored the go-ahead touchdown on an 11-yard run up the middle. FSU had one last chance to steal the win but place kicker Xavier Beitia hooked his kick wide left.
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
3. September 3, 1988 (1) FSU 0 – (2) Miami 31
Fresh off of their second national championship in four years, the AP poll ranked the reigning champs #2 behind arch-rival FSU. The game was never in doubt as Miami rolled convincingly. After the game, FSU head coach Bobby Bowden said ‘‘We got whipped every way you can think of.”
Ghosts of the Orange Bowl
2. November 16, 1991 (2) Miami 17 – (1) FSU 16
In one of the most thrilling games in this rivalry, Miami went into enemy territory and won a defensive struggle. Brooklyn native Stephen McGuire pounded the Noles defense for 142 yards, Gino Torretta completed a key fourth pass to Horace Copeland in the red zone to keep the game-winning drive alive, and Larry scored the game-winning touchdown on a third-and-goal from the one yard-line. FSU had a chance to win but FSU kicker Gerry Thomas’ FG attempt sailed wide right. Miami went on to claim its fourth title in program history.
Photo by Jim Gund/Allsport/Getty Images
1. October 7, 2000 (1) FSU 24 – (7) Miami 27
The Canes beat the top-ranked Seminoles in an instant classic as sophomore quarterback Ken Dorsey marched his offense down the field finding tight end Jeremy Shockey for a game-winning touchdown. Moments later, Matt Munyon missed a FG attempt and WIDE RIGHT III was born. Miami went on to win the Nokia Sugar that season versus the Florida Gators.
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Gameday prediction
This is the perfect “get right” game for Miami’s defense as a putrid FSU offense comes to town averaging 15.3 points per contest (season-high 21 versus GT) having scored 11 total touchdowns. The Noles’ defense yields 25 points per game and faces a red-hot Cam Ward who is looking to stay hot amid his Heisman campaign. FSU will have a hard time protecting Brock Glenn and will fall behind without having the offense to fight back. Miami’s best defense will be its offense as FSU will become predictable by halftime and have to play outside the game plan. Ward throws for over 300, the running game explodes, and the Canes play their first complete game of the season.
Miami – 52
FSU – 16