Take Five Breakdown: Rematch

Please Read: Welcome to the new-look Inside the Gators

• OTM: Five-Game Stretch Should Determine Napier’s Future
• Take Five: 2025 Florida Football Preview
• Florida Football Preseason Superlatives

The Florida Gators (1-2, 0-1 SEC) travel to face the No. 4 Miami Hurricanes (3-0, 0-0 ACC) on Saturday. Miami is Florida’s second of four consecutive AP Top 10 opponents. The teams faced off in 2024 in Gainesville, Fla., and the Hurricanes won 41-17. To learn about Miami, Inside the Gators spoke with Carter Lutz, sportswriter for The Miami Hurricane, the University of Miami’s student newspaper.

Five Miami Hurricanes to Know

Carson Beck, Quarterback, Redshirt Senior

• Although new to Miami, Florida’s familiar with Beck, Georgia’s starting quarterback in the previous two seasons. In last year’s World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, the Gators picked off the Bulldogs’ QB three times. In fact, Beck led the SEC in interceptions with 12 in 2024. That said, Lutz has been impressed by the sixth-year signal caller through three games. “He’s confident with the scheme,” says Lutz. “He looks like he’s in the right headspace. [He] always knows where he’s going with the ball.”

Rueben Bain Jr., Defensive End, Junior

• In 25 career games, Bain has 20.5 tackles-for-loss and 12.5 sacks. The Preseason All-ACC selection is a game wrecker for Miami. After the team’s 49-12 thrashing of South Florida, Pro Football Focus announced that Bain was the highest graded Power Four defensive player in week four. “A lot of good players can get double teamed and fly under the radar,” said Lutz. “But it feels like he’s always in the mix. One of the best players in college football.”

Francis Mauigoa, Right Tackle, Junior

• Mauigoa has been Miami’s starting right tackle every game since he joined the program in 2023. A consensus five-star recruit that’s lived up to the hype and will likely be a top 10 selection in the 2026 NFL draft. “The o-line is dominant and has been for a while,” says Lutz. “It gets better every year. [Alex Mirabal] is the best o-line coach in the country.”

CJ Daniels, Wide Receiver, Redshirt Senior

• The sixth-year wideout has been dominant through three games, reeling in 14 catches for 175 yards and three touchdowns. After a 1000 yard season with Liberty in 2023, Daniels had an unremarkable 480 yard season with LSU in 2024. Miami had a big hole to fill at wide receiver this offseason after losing Xavier Restrepo, the program’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Lutz thinks Daniels done a good job so far. “He’s been terrific.”

Mark Fletcher Jr., Running Back, Junior

• Fletcher rushed for over 500 yards in each of his first two seasons, but is finally the lead back for Miami in his junior year. Through three games, Fletcher has run for 272 yards and four touchdowns. Lutz says the Hurricanes’ staff feels comfortable leaning on the power runner. “Miami is going to run the ball consistently,” said Lutz. “He can run it up the gut with how the interior o-line has been. He’s [also] a beast on the goal line.”

Five Fast Facts

• The Gators’ nine remaining games feature seven AP Top 15 opponents.
• Florida has won 10 straight games against the AP No. 4 team, dating back to 1990.
• In two meetings against the Gators, Beck has passed for 624 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions.
• The game features the top two freshmen in the FBS in receptions. Miami’s Malachi Toney ranks first with 18, while Florida’s Vernell Brown III is second with 16.
• Miami is the only undefeated team with two ranked wins.

Five Game Day Storylines

2024 Rematch

• Florida hosted then No. 19 Miami for both teams’ 2024 season opener. Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward torched the Gators’ defense, passing for 385 yards, three touchdowns, and a pick, the start of an impressive 2024 season that would set up his selection as the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Gators starting QB Graham Mertz exited the game in the third quarter due to a concussion. Florida lost 41-17.

Lagway’s Low

• Gators quarterback DJ Lagway looks to bounce back from an abysmal five-interception performance at LSU. After dealing with lower-body and shoulder injuries in the offseason, the sophomore QB has been unexciting through three games, passing for 629 yards, five touchdowns, and six interceptions. Despite playing just the first half of the team’s week one win over Long Island, Lagway is averaging over 33 pass attempts per game. In 2024, he had over 30 pass attempts just once, the team’s Gasparilla Bowl win over Tulane.’

Hurricanes Defense

• After Miami allowed 25.3 points per game in 2024, head coach Mario Cristobal made a change at defensive coordinator, hiring Corey Heatherman away from Minnesota. Through three games in 2025, the Hurricanes have allowed just 13 points per game. Lutz says the 2024 Miami team was held back by a lack of defense. “Last year, they had guys, but they didn’t have a defense. [The 2025 team] is the most hyped team in the Cristobal era.”

Gators Defense

• Despite the 1-2 record, Florida’s defense has allowed just two offensive touchdowns. The Gators have not allowed any points on an opening drive in 11 straight games. They haven’t allowed any first-quarter points in seven straight games. An opponent has not scored over 20 points in seven consecutive games.

College Gameday

• The matchup is featured on ESPN’s College Gameday, Florida’s first appearance on the show since Sept. 21, 2022, at Tennessee. The Gators are 26-16 all-time when featured on Gameday, including 2-1 against Miami. An unranked Florida team hasn’t beaten an AP Top 5 opponent since Nov. 2, 2002, a 20-13 win over No. 5 Georgia. Coincidentally, that is the only other time until Saturday when ESPN’s College Gameday features an unranked Florida.

Score Prediction

• Williams: 21-17 Miami
• Lutz: 31-17 Miami

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