Miami Dominates Rival Florida in Statement Win
The showdown between Miami and Florida turned out to be a one-sided battle that carried plenty of storylines. For the Hurricanes, it was a chance to solidify their spot among the nation’s elite, while for the Gators, it was another painful reminder of how far they’ve slipped. In front of a packed Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, ranked No. 4, imposed its will on both sides of the ball and walked away with a 26–7 victory. The win pushed the Hurricanes to a strong 4–0 start, while Florida stumbled to 1–3 for the first time since 1989.
From the very beginning, Miami’s defense made its presence felt. Florida’s first three plays ended in negative yardage, and that tone carried through much of the first half. By halftime, the Gators had been held to only 32 total yards—an almost unthinkable figure for a program with Florida’s tradition. Miami, meanwhile, controlled possession and moved the ball consistently, though their own mistakes kept the score closer than it could have been. Six pre-snap penalties in the first half stalled drives and forced the Hurricanes to settle for field goals, leaving them with a 13–0 lead at the break.
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When the second half began, Florida showed a little life. A long third-quarter drive that stretched 80 yards finally ended in a touchdown, cutting the deficit to 13–7. That drive chewed up clock and briefly gave the Gators hope, especially after they forced a Miami turnover on the following possession. But when Florida failed on a critical fourth-down attempt deep in Hurricanes territory, momentum shifted back quickly. Miami responded with a bruising, clock-draining drive of more than seven minutes, capped by a touchdown that essentially sealed the game with just over four minutes remaining.
The star of the night was Miami’s rushing attack. Mark Fletcher and CharMar Brown combined for 190 yards on the ground and scored three touchdowns. Brown also added over 50 yards receiving, giving the Gators headaches every time he touched the ball. Quarterback Carson Beck had an uneven performance—throwing for 160 yards with an interception—but the Hurricanes didn’t need him to be perfect. Their defense and run game carried the load. On the other side, Florida quarterback DJ Lagway endured a nightmare outing. Averaging fewer than three yards per attempt, Lagway completed just 61 yards through the air. Florida’s offense as a whole finished with only 139 yards and went a staggering 0-for-13 on third downs.
The loss leaves Florida in crisis. At 1–3, with two of those defeats coming outside the SEC, head coach Billy Napier faces intense scrutiny. The bye week comes at a critical time, but patience in Gainesville appears to be running thin. Meanwhile, Miami continues its surge. The Hurricanes extended their home winning streak to 11 games, their longest since 2018, and improved to an astounding 78–3 at home when ranked inside the AP Top 5. For Miami, this rivalry win was another step toward proving they belong among the nation’s best. For Florida, it was another chapter in a frustrating season that could soon bring major changes.
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