Advertisement

UF, FSU, UM look ahead to brand-name matchups

 
Published Oct. 23, 2016

Saturday was a quiet day for college football in Florida. The Gators and Seminoles were off, and Miami played Virginia Tech on Thursday night.

That just sets the stage for next weekend: three nationally televised matchups for those teams against brand-name programs.

No. 13 Florida State hosts No. 4 Clemson in what has recently become the biggest ACC game of the year. The winner of this game has won the past five ACC championships. FSU has lost at home to Clemson only once since joining the ACC in 1991.

"They are just typical Florida State — very good football team," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. "I know this will be a huge challenge for us to have a chance to go down there and get it done."

The Tigers could get running back Wayne Gallman back from a concussion and have a chance to show that they remain one of the favorites to come to Tampa for the Jan. 9 national title game. FSU is getting healthier, too. It's possible that star safety Derwin James returns next weekend from knee surgery.

Georgia's recent struggles — three losses in its past four games — won't spoil the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party and a matchup against No. 15 Florida.

The Gators' top-tier defense will face a quarterback Florida tried to poach. After Georgia fired coach Mark Richt last year, UF made a late push for five-star recruit Jacob Eason, who stuck with his oral commitment to the Bulldogs.

"We tried to jump in there obviously late when there might have been a crack," UF coach Jim McElwain said. "I don't know how big the crack was. … I do know this: (Eason is) a special talent."

Miami, now with Richt as its coach, faces Notre Dame in a game that has name recognition and history (Catholics versus Convicts, anyone?) but not much else.

The Fighting Irish began the season as a playoff contender but tumbled out of the top 10 after a 2-5 start. The Hurricanes have fallen off, too, dropping from No. 10 to unranked with three consecutive losses. Miami likely knocked itself out of the ACC Coastal Division picture but still has plenty to play for, starting with a win in South Bend.

"They are going to fight," Richt said of his players after Thursday's loss to Virginia Tech. "That's what I see."