After Miami’s overwhelming 41-17 victory over Florida on Saturday, the Gators have dropped to the bottom 25 of the national rankings, according to CBS Sports. Florida State is also in the bottom 25 of the CBS Sports and ESPN rankings. Miami’s dominating performance, which included a 529-261 yard advantage and a 25-17 lead in first downs, has set the tone for a successful season. The Hurricanes limited Florida to 122 passing yards, with Miami converting five of ten third downs and Florida’s offense completing only one of nine.
Miami fans have had a great start to college football season. While Mario Cristobal’s team has obviously taken the lead, both Florida and Florida State have had poor debuts. Cristobal, looking to return from a disappointing 2023 season, now has Miami as the leading contender for the ACC championship, with a 26.2 percent chance of winning, according to current odds. Louisville is a close second at 25.1 percent, with Clemson trailing at 12.9. After starting the season 0-2, Florida State’s prospects of winning the ACC have dropped to 0.5 percent.
Billy Napier’s seat is quickly heating up at Florida, with their 41-17 loss to Miami adding to the strain. Despite Florida State’s own troubles and being placed 19th in the bottom 25, they are currently in a better position than the Gators. The Seminoles, who are now humorously referred to as holding 17th place in the ACC, have a hard climb following their recent losses.
According to FanDuel, Miami is now a 12.5-point favorite over Florida State. While Miami fans have reason to be cautiously optimistic, given their 4-0 start last season that eventually fizzled, the squad must remain focused for the remainder of the season. Miami’s performance against Florida State on October 26 will be critical in maintaining momentum and demonstrating their standing as ACC frontrunners.
