Gov. Ron DeSantis is already looking ahead to what could potentially be the biggest college football game in the state of Florida in more than a decade. With the Miami Hurricanes beating the Florida Gators 26-7 and on a bye this week, and Florida State with one more game this week against Virginia, the two in-state rivals could be on a crash course for a huge matchup in primetime.
"If @FSUFootball takes care of business in Charlottesville on Friday night, the October 4th showdown in Tallahassee between the undefeated Canes and the undefeated Noles will be the biggest game we’ve had in the state in quite some time," DeSantis shared on X. "Doak will be nuts!"
Miami and Florida State are in the top 25 for the first time together since 2016. If the Seminoles take down the Cavaliers on Friday, it will be the first time since 2013 that Florida State and Miami enter their game ranked in the top 10.
The Seminoles won that game 41-14, led by quarterback Jameis Winston. Florida State would go on to win the national championship that year, while Winston won the Heisman Trophy, awarded to the most outstanding player in college football.
Florida State also won the 2016 matchup 20-19. The Seminoles finished 10-3 that year, capped off by a win over Michigan in the Orange Bowl.
The Hurricanes are currently second in the AP Top 25 poll rankings, while the Seminoles are eighth. Miami beat the Seminoles 36-14 in their latest matchup in 2014 after dropping three straight in the series.
DeSantis also called it a "no-brainer" for College Gameday to come to Tallahassee for the game, which is set for 7:30 pm. Gameday was live in Coral Gables for Miami's game against the Gators on Saturday night.
Could both teams be in the top 5 at that point?
DeSantis thinks it's possible. The last time Florida State and Miami were in the top five playing against each other was in 2004, a game the Hurricanes won in overtime 16-10.
Miami would go on to finish 9-3 with a win over Florida in the Peach Bowl. The game marked the end of the Hurricanes' first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) after 13 seasons in the Big East.
Miami leads the all-time series against Florida State 36-33.
