Mario Cristobal can tell you about Florida State-Miami, can take you back to a time when this was more than an inter-state rivalry, when this was a game of national significance, a game that impacted all of college football almost every year. He can tell you about it because he was there.
Cristobal, now the ‘Canes coach, was on the 1989 Miami team that won the national championship with an 11-1 record. That year, the No.2 ranked ‘Canes lost to the No.9 ranked ‘Noles, 24-10, their only defeat of the season. FSU would go on to finish with 10 straight wins, but two losses at the beginning of the year cost it any chance at a national title.
And Cristobal also played for the ’91 Canes in what was not only one of the biggest games in the history of the series, but arguably one of the biggest games in the history of the sport.
In that one, FSU went in ranked No.1 and Miami No.2, with the ‘Canes winning, 17-16, after FSU missed a 34-yard field goal wide right with time running out.
That was the first of three straight games which FSU lost because it missed field goals wide right, with the victory propelling Miami to a 12-0 record and another national title. FSU would finish 10-2 and win the Cotton Bowl.
In recent years though, the game has fallen out of the national limelight, lost its luster as one or both teams struggled to remain relevant. But there are signs of a revival.
Cristobal bleeds orange and green, is old school with a modern approach and determined to bring Miami back to prominence. He currently has the ‘Canes undefeated and riding high, ranked No. 3 in the nation and, with Clemson’s collapse, the new favorite to win the ACC championship and a berth in the College Football Playoffs.
If he can get by Florida State. The ‘Noles, after a gruesome 2024 season in which they went 2-10 following their 13-1 record in 2023, are showing new signs of life.
They stunned Alabama 31-17 to open the season and ripped up inferior competition in their next two games, but lost to Virginia, 48-36, in double overtime their last time out. That dropped them to No. 18 in the AP rankings.
“This week we have a great opportunity in one of the best rivalry games in all of sports, not just college football, all of sports,” FSU Coach Mike Norvell commented this week according to FSU’s football website.
“We’re coming off a disappointing result, one of those games that, you know, you can take 20, 30 plays and if anything goes different, your final result is going to be changed,” Norvell said.
“It wouldn’t have changed the areas of improvement we’re going to have to correct, though, because obviously, there’s some things that showed up that are unacceptable to what we expect out of ourselves and how we want to play and how we want to finish,” Norvell commented.
“I’ve seen this team perform at a very high level and I know what we’re capable of,” Norvell continued, “and I have full expectations that’s what we’ll see this Saturday (against Miami),” Norvell declared.
“We’re getting ready for a very talented, physical, well-coached football team that’s playing at a high level,” Miami’s Cristobal remarked according to Miami’s athletic website. “Statistically, they’re in the top 10 (nationally) in just about every meaningful category,” Cristobal added.
There is no doubt FSU has put up some impressive stats, especially on offense. The ‘Noles lead the nation in scoring, averaging 53 points per game, and also in total offense with a 600 yards per game average.
There is some doubt, though, about how meaningful the stats are since FSU ran up big numbers in its games against East Texas A&M, a 77-3 win, and Kent State, a 66-10 victory.
Kent State didn’t win a game last year and was picked to finish last this year in the Mid-America Conference, which is a notch below FSU in the Group of Five, and East Texas A&M is a struggling member of the Southland Conference, a notch below Kent State in the Football Championship Series (FCS).
Still, FSU’s rebound and Miami’s continued resurgence have made the Miami-FSU series respectable again and once more, people are talking about the game.
Cristobal is aware of that and understands the pressures that are building up around it. It may not be like 1989 or 1991, but there is a new feeling of anticipation as these two teams get ready to meet.
Which means both Cristobal and Norvell have to keep their players grounded. “There’s not a single bit of noise, not a single bit of hype, not a single member of the audience on TV or in the stands that’s going to be able to make a play one way or the other,” Cristobal declared.
“The outcome will be determined by those who are on the field, and we’re focused on making sure we do our job to the best of our ability,” he added. So is Norvell. This is big, and they know it. FSU-Miami is back.
PAT’S PICKS
Miami over FSU: It’s in Tallahassee, and Tommy Castellanos has ignited the Seminoles. They have a good chance to grab this one. But Miami has some solid wins and the ‘Canes are more consistent.
Florida over Texas: It’s save your season time for the Gators. Thought here is that they haven’t given up and see this as a great opportunity to right the ship. Texas has a few cupcake wins and Arch Manning hasn’t settled in at quarterback.
USF over Charlotte: USF isn’t invincible but the Bulls won’t lose to Charlotte. Maybe at North Texas next week, but not to Charlotte.
Kansas over UCF: You’re not in the American anymore.
Last week, 1-1, for the season, 12-6, .667.
