At 8pm on Labor Day (September 7th), the Miami Hurricanes travel to Tallahassee to play their annual cross-state rivalry game against the Florida State Seminoles. In many years, starting in the mid-1980's, the winner of this game was catapulted into the National Title hunt and often times a victory against their arch enemy would be a sign of good things to come for that respective team.
However, this year's matchup may be a significant break from that norm, considering the parity of the Atlantic Coast Conference, and also the prospects of both teams out-of-conference schedules.
When the 'Noles and 'Canes clash, there is always sure to be plenty of big hits, speed, game-changing plays, and a few personal foul/unsportsman like conduct pentalties sprinkled into the contest. But this year, both teams need not look far past their Monday night war in order to find a plethora of challenging games on the horizon.
In the weeks following the game, FSU will face the likes of BYU, USF, Boston College, and Georgia Tech... while Miami arguably has an even tougher slate, facing Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech immediately after. Bad enough right?
Not so fast my friend... the 'Noles end the season on the road in the Swamp against the Defending Champion Florida Gators... and the 'Canes face last year's runner-up, Oklahoma, in the 4th game of the season.
Certainly both teams are excited to hit the field against their rivals on that warm September Monday night, but unlike past years... no matter who wins that matchup... both teams may be limping across the finish line in November.
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