Miami Gardens, FL. – The day began early as thousands of Miami Hurricanes supporters gathered on the university’s Coral Gables campus, creating an electric atmosphere for college football fans.
Later that evening, the scene shifted to Hard Rock Stadium, where a large and enthusiastic crowd was treated to an impressive display of team performance.
“This game means a lot to us. It means a lot to our alumni, the fan base and certainty we always thought they were a very talented team,” Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal said. “They have a lot of really good players and they were always a play or two away from being really, really good. Our guys kept their composure when we started getting in a rut a little bit there with the offense. The defense played off the charts football, again.”
The Miami Hurricanes delivered a dominant defensive effort throughout the game, securing a 26-7 victory over the Florida Gators before a sold-out crowd of 66,713. The fourth-ranked Hurricanes improved their record to 4-0, while Florida’s record fell to 1-3.
Miami’s defense limited Florida to just 141 total yards, recording four sacks and seven tackles for loss. The Gators faced 13 third-down opportunities and were unable to convert any. Linebacker Mohamed Toure led the defensive efforts with 10 tackles and a sack, while Wesley Bissainthe contributed eight tackles, and Reuben Bain registered seven tackles and half a sack.
Offensively, Miami accumulated 344 total yards across 76 plays. Running back Mark Fletcher rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown, with Marty Brown adding 80 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Carson Beck completed 17 of 30 passes for 160 yards and one interception. Four players on the team each recorded four receptions, tying for the team lead.
For Florida, quarterback DJ Lagway completed 12 of 23 passes for 61 yards. Running back Jadan Baugh contributed 46 rushing yards and the team’s only touchdown. Defensive back Jordan Castell led Florida with 10 tackles.
The game commenced with Florida receiving the opening kickoff, but Miami’s defense quickly forced a three-and-out. The Hurricanes’ opening drive featured a 13-yard run by Fletcher, followed by a 13-yard catch from Beck to Malachi Toney, advancing to the Florida 43-yard line.
Beck’s screen pass to Marty Brown resulted in a 22-yard gain, setting up a first and goal at the six-yard line. Two plays later, Brown scored on a two-yard run, giving Miami an early 7-0 lead.
Florida was unable to advance on their next possession, and Miami regained possession at their own 28. Beck connected with wide receiver CJ Daniels and tight end Elija Lofton for consecutive first downs, moving the ball into Florida territory. Brown then gained 12 yards on a rush, and Beck converted a third-and-long with an eight-yard pass to Toney.
“Honestly, I didn’t even realize we held them to 0-for-13 on third down until after the game,” Hurricanes defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr. said. “That’s just playing football, communicating, fixing little things, and trusting each other. We had a hiccup or two, but after that drive, we came back, got our communication right, and shut them down.”
A sack by Jayden Woods temporarily halted the drive, but Carter Davis kicked a 53-yard field goal, extending the Hurricanes’ lead to 10 points. Through two drives, Miami had accumulated 108 yards, while Florida had only five.
Florida’s first significant offensive play was a 27-yard rush by Jadan Baugh, the longest of the game for UF. The Gators then drove down to Miami’s 15-yard line. On fourth-and-two, Lagway’s run to the right resulted in a first down. Two plays later, Baugh scored a seven-yard touchdown run, bringing Florida within six points.
Miami responded with an interception when Beck was picked off by Cormani McClain at the UF 48. Three plays later, Florida faced fourth-and-three but succeeded with a five-yard pass from Lagway to J. Michael Sturdivant to maintain the drive.
Defensive efforts by Toure, who sacked Lagway for a nine-yard loss, and a stop on another fourth-and-short attempt by Marquise Lightfoot, kept Florida from gaining further momentum. Miami took possession at their 31-yard line. Despite a quick three-and-out by Florida, Miami’s offense resumed at their 18, where safety Jakobe Thomas and defensive tackle David Blayston stopped Baugh on third down.
“Yeah, I think in particular in the first half, we had some bust in protection. I do think there’s opportunities there, when you look at it, the big picture wise, we got to make some plays. We’ve got to give Miami some credit, too,” Gators head coach Billy Napier said. “They pressured us, they affected the quarterback, and it wasn’t good enough. So, I think in the first half in particular was a game that was about third down. They stayed on the field. They got us.”
Miami then embarked on an 80-yard, 13-play drive lasting over 7 minutes, featuring efficient runs by Brown and key completions by Beck, ultimately culminating in a one-yard touchdown run by Brown to push the lead to two scores.
Florida attempted a rally, but Lagway’s pass was deflected and intercepted by Bain, who returned it to the Gators’ 22. Miami sealed the game with four rushing attempts by Fletcher to run out the clock.
The Hurricanes will have a bye next Saturday before traveling to Tallahassee for their Atlantic Coast Conference opener against No. 7 Florida State on October 4. The kickoff time is to be determined.
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