Florida, Miami reportedly discussing home-and-home football series

Football

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For those excited to get a taste of the old Florida Gators vs. Miami Hurricanes rivalry on Saturday, Aug. 24, you may not have to wait too long to see another showdown between the two in-state rivals. Florida and Miami are reportedly discussing “and may soon announce a home-and-home series” between the programs, according to the Orlando Sentinel‘s Edgar Thompson and Mike Bianchi.

The series would “begin in the near future,” per the report, though the Gators’ football schedule is relatively full over the next three seasons with two games of significance scheduled through 2022.

Florida has a second major slot open in 2023-24, 2026-27 and 2032 onward. Miami seemingly has openings in 2023-24, 2026-27 and 2031 onward. In other words, their schedules match up quite well.

In addition to a two-for-one series UF has coming up with South Florida (2021-22, 2025), it has recently announced home-and-homes with Colorado (2028-29) and Texas (2030-31). Florida also has its annual rivalry game with Florida State scheduled every season.

Scheduling nonconference opponents is especially difficult for the Gators because the team gives up a home game every other year to play the Florida-Georgia neutral-site game in Jacksonville, Florida.

UF and UM used to play annually but have not done so since 1987, the last time they played a non-bowl game at a neutral site. The Gators and Canes will square off for the seventh time over the last 18 years next Saturday, their fifth regular-season meeting in that span. Miami is 29-26 all-time against Florida, but the Canes have won seven of the last eight meetings dating back to 1986.