GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The No. 19 Miami Hurricanes were at The Swamp in Gainesville to pay the Florida Gators a visit Saturday.
Florida Gators Head Football Coach, Billy Napier is in his third season at UF. The pressure is on Napier to fully turn the football program around. But he's struggled.
In his first season in The Swamp, the Gators went 6-7. In his second year, they went 5-7 and ended the 2023 season on a five-game losing-streak.
"We live in a society that wants in now. It doesn't happen that way in anything. Much less in football," said Napier.
If anyone is ready for a successful season, it's Gator fans. The last national title was picked up in 2008. This was during the Urban Meyer era.
Hurricane's Head Football Coach, Mario Cristobal is also in his third season. His overall record with the 'canes is 12-13.
Currently, the Hurricanes are ranked in the top 20, at 19.
The Gators struggled in the run game, their first drive.
The Hurricanes would strike first as tight end, Cam McCormick completes the catch from Cam Ward for the 9-yard touchdown pass. Miami in the lead, 7-0 with less than seven minutes left in the first quarter.
The Gators defense picked up slack. Hurricanes' Cam Ward had all day in the pocket but threw the ball away. Florida's' Shemar James picked off Ward with less than three minutes left in the first quarter.
The interception was James' first interception as a Florida Gator.
That drive would result in a 41-yard field goal for the Gators by Hunter Smith. Miami still in the lead with less than 20 seconds in the first quarter, 7-3.
At the end of the first quarter, the Hurricanes keep the lead, 7-3.
The Gators would hold the Hurricanes to a 23-yard field goal by Andres Borregales. Miami stays in the lead 10-3.
Throwing salt on it, the Miami Hurricanes keep their offense consistent. Quarterback Cam Ward connects with Mark Fletcher Junior for the 10-yard touchdown run. The Hurricanes steady their lead, 17-3 with 6:41 left in the first half.
The Gators fought before the end of the first half as running back, Montrell Johnson Junior hit the gas and went 71-yards to the house for the 71-yard touchdown. The Gators are still in this game, 10-17.
With less than a minute left in the first half, Miami's Xavier Restrepo puts the Hurricanes two touchdowns out of reach for the Gators, 24-10.
Miami closes the half on top, 24-10.
Back like they never left, the Miami Hurricanes rolled through the Gators defense and scored a touchdown in less than three-minutes. Mr. Touchdown himself wasn't done as Mark Fletcher Junior hit the one-yard touchdown putting Miami almost too far up to catch. The 'Canes up big, 31-10.
Miami doesn't get off the gas pedal. Quarterback Cam Ward connected with Jacolby Georgia who gets two taps in the endzone. Miami dominating, 38-10 with six-minutes left in the third quarter.
By the fourth quarter, the Gators offensive line almost completely collapses. Florida's quarterback Graham Mertz was sacked more in the second half than the first. With less than a minute left in the third quarter, Mertz threw an interception caught by Mishael Powell. This would wrap up the third quarter with the Hurricanes dominating the Gators, 38-10.
The Gators scored a touchdown in the middle of the fourth, making the score 38-17.
Miami's Andres Borregales scored for Miami, taking it to 41-17. The game ended with Miami taking down the Gators on that score.