Game Details
- Matchup: 3 Miami Hurricanes vs. 18 Florida State
- Date: Saturday, 10/4/2025
- Time: 7:30 p.m. EST
- Location: Doak S. Campbell Stadium
- TV: ABC National
Recent History
- Last matchup: October 26th, 2024 at Hard Rock Stadium; Miami 36 – Florida State 14
- All-time series record: Miami 36 wins – Florida State 33 wins
- The last time Miami traveled to Florida State was on November 11th, 2023. Florida State 27 – Miami 20
- The Hurricanes’ record in Tallahassee: 16-12
Miami Hurricanes Outlook
Offense: Carson Beck leads the offense as he continues to roll with the Hurricanes. He has completed nearly 73% of his passes for 972 yards and seven touchdowns. Beck has thrown three interceptions (one
of which was tipped by his own wide receiver), but has been a great, poised quarterback who looks extremely comfortable in Shannon Dawson’s offense. In his last game against the Florida Gators, he managed the game well through a bad rainstorm.
The engine that makes the offense great is the offensive line. Against Florida, they wore out the Gators as the game continued. Alex Mirabal is one of the best offensive line coaches in the country and arguably has the best line in the nation. Francis Mauigoa will be a first-round pick in this upcoming draft and sets the tone for the rest of his guys on the line. Anez Cooper has continued to excel with his ferocious style of play, and it was particularly evident against the Gators in their last game. The 6’9 monster in Markel Bell has been holding his own and has been exceptional at left tackle. He is on track to be a future starting tackle in the NFL. Transfer James Brockermeyer has been a consistent presence at center, and Samson Okunlola at left guard has been playing well, too. Their physicality jumps out on tape and really sets the tone for each game they play. They’ll need to continue their outstanding play, as Florida State has a strong run defense. The Seminoles showed some flaws against Virginia, but they will look to prove themselves in a massive rivalry game on prime time.
The playmakers have been consistent. Starting with the wide receivers, LSU transfer CJ Daniels and true freshman star Malachi Toney have been one of the best duos in the country to begin the season, serving as the steady targets for Beck. Between the highlight-reel making plays from Daniels and the explosiveness and consistency Toney brings, they have been phenomenal for this offense. Mark Fletcher Jr. is not being discussed enough, as he had another outstanding game against Florida. He rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown last game and nearly averaged five yards per carry. We’ll see if Jordan Lyle joins Fletcher in the backfield against the Seminoles, as he has battled an injury for the beginning part of the season. Joshisa “JoJo” Trader has been absent from the party, as he has also been battling lingering injuries. Mario Cristobal alluded that we can potentially see both Lyle and Trader versus FSU. Joshua Moore has stepped up in his absence and has shown the flashes we have been hearing from camp earlier in the year. When all the weapons for Miami get healthy, the depth they’ll have will be even deeper and scarier for opposing defenses.
Defense: The Hurricanes’ defense has been one of the best in the country. New defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman has really transformed the defense and has changed the way people view Miami on a national scale. Starting with the defensive line, this unit is the best in the country. Rueben Bain Jr. is an absolute menace on the field and is a game-breaker. Bain has been so dominant that there have been rumblings of him being in the Heisman race three games into the season. Across from him is Akheem Mesidor, who has been just as good. They will have to face their biggest challenge of the season with the Florida State offensive line and what Gus Malzahn does in scheming up runs.
The second level for the Canes will need to have a big game, and that starts with Wesley Bissainthe and Mohamed Toure. This duo has been great for Miami. They play fast and physical, which has been the main thing Hetherman has been preaching all offseason. The Seminoles will likely have at least 40 rushing attempts during the game, and this linebackers room will need to execute and do their job consistently on Saturday night.
The secondary has improved significantly due to the effective communication they have had through three games, but they will be asked to do the dirty stuff more in this matchup. The Noles are not a threat in the passing game, yet they have a 6’6 “wide receiver in Duce Robinson who possesses incredible ball skills. Miami’s corners really haven’t been tested through four games and will potentially not be tested in this game due to FSU wanting to run the ball, but when they do pass, they’ll have a challenging task in containing the big catch radius of Robinson. The secondary has been swarming to the ball and has been physical. They’ll need to continue that trend against FSU’s rushing attack and help out in the run defense.
Florida State Outlook
Florida State started the year by shocking the college football world and defeating Alabama in Tallahassee. After going 2-10 last season, they flipped the script in the very first game, and a big part of it was because of their new offensive coordinator. Gus Malzahn has been tremendous for the Seminoles. His offensive identity is running the ball, and he is a wizard at scheming it up. His offenses are at their most dangerous when he has a running quarterback, and he has one in Tommy Castellanos. It’s no surprise that FSU is at the top of nearly every rushing metric in the country to begin the season. They have been phenomenal on the ground. The passing game of the Noles is not great due to Castellano’s limited passing ability. He has thrown four touchdowns while also throwing three interceptions. He is most dangerous when carrying the ball, where he has 221 yards (second most on the team) and four touchdowns. RB Gavin Sawchuk has been great for Malzahn, recording 233 yards and six touchdowns. Duce Robinson is their main target in the passing game. His 6’6 “frame is tough to deal with, as he has a 100% catch rate on contested catches, with seven receptions. It’s a remarkable number and catch rate, showing that he is a problem when the Noles find him on one-on-one coverage. When it comes down to FSU and their offense, it’s the running game. Malzahn will utilize misdirection, power, counters, and a lot for defenses to figure out. In my opinion, this will be the toughest offensive scheme Miami will face all season due to how great Malzahn is.
According to Pro Football Focus, the best part about the Seminoles is their ability to stop the run. They have the fifth-highest grade in run defense at 92.8, according to PFF. Darrell Jackson Jr. leads the Noles in run stops with eight on the season. He is surrounded by other talented players, including Deante McCray, Mandrell Desir, Justin Cryer, and others, who help him stop the run. Earl Little Jr. has been good for them at safety, leading the team in tackles with 18. Jerry Wilson and Ja’Bril Rawls are their top two corners on the outside, and both have recorded interceptions. Wilson has allowed a 53.3 passer rating when targeted. Rawls has allowed a 72.6 passer rating when targeted, but has allowed a 57% catch rate this season. The weakness in them is their tackling, as PFF has graded both of them poorly in that aspect of their game. The defense as a whole has talent, but they experienced some lapses against Virginia last week, resulting in a loss. The defensive line can get pushed around and taken advantage of, but on Saturday night, they will look to show up in a crucial rivalry game with huge implications on the line.
What’s at Stake
- The state of Florida: Miami has already defeated USF and the Florida Gators this year. The only team (of relevance) left is Florida State, and the Hurricanes can put their stamp on the state on Saturday night. Bragging rights, recruiting battles, and much more are on the line.
- Legitimacy: Following their loss to Virginia, FSU has been written off somewhat. Whether it is right or wrong, that has been the subject of national discussion. With Miami, this is typically where they experience a letdown. A lot of momentum heading into a game, everyone praising them and believing that ‘The U is back.’ It’s time to prove it and continue to show the country that they are contenders and not pretenders.
- The best team in the ACC: I understand that FSU lost to Virginia, but the winner of this game will be viewed as the top dog in the conference. Georgia Tech is great, and so is Louisville, but Miami has proven its worth, and FSU remains a strong team. The winner of this game will be in the driver’s seat to head to the ACC title game with massive momentum in the conference.
Prediction
This game scares me more than people think. I have one of the highest opinions when it comes to Gus Malzahn and what he does on offense. His rushing attack and scheme are no joke, and it has been proven for several years. Nick Saban has even mentioned that going up against Malzahn when he has a running quarterback was the toughest game he’s had as a coach.
Miami’s defense has been great, but they haven’t seen an offensive scheme like the Noles have. This game will be won by whoever wins the chess match between Malzahn and Hetherman. Seeing the performance FSU had against Virginia gave more confidence in Miami’s chances on the road.
It’s the first road game for the Hurricanes, and it will be in a hostile environment. Where Miami has the advantage is having an extra week to prepare for this FSU team. Coming off a bye week and having more time to prepare will be the difference in shutting down this rushing attack of the Seminoles. The offense for Miami should control the line of scrimmage and have a good game against an inconsistent FSU defense.
It’s going to be a close game. At the end of the day, this team has shown that they are resilient and tough, and I believe we will see it on Saturday night.
Final Score Prediction: Miami 27, Florida State 26
