Florida vs. Miami, August 31st, 3:30 p.m. on ABC at Ben Hill Stadium (The Swamp) in Gainesville, Florida.
The Hurricanes kick off the 2024 season with a wealth of talent, adding to a highly skilled squad. Quarterback Cam Ward (3,735 yards. Pass., 25 TDs, 7 INTs, 65.2 QBR, 2023-24) arrives from the Washington State program to southern Florida having amassed over 13,000 yards passing and 119 TDs so far in his career.
The depth of the Hurricanes football program could lead them to the ACC Championship. Whether or not it’s on the legs of an undefeated regular season will be determined by a ravenous Gator squad focused on winning their conference championship (SEC) and obtaining a playoff berth.
In addition, and like Ward, a Heisman candidate, running back Damien Martinez arrives from Oregon State as a transfer junior. In his sophomore season with the Beavers, Martinez rushed for 1,185 yards and nine touchdowns. He accumulated a 6.1-yard average, clocking a 4.5 40 at 6’0, 230 lbs. Martinez joins the potent backfield duo of sophomore Mark Fletcher Jr., 6’2” 225 (514 yds, 5 TDs, 4.9 yd avg.) and sophomore Ajay Allen (361 yds., 5 TDs, 5.2 yd. avg.)
Now that the Virginia Cavalier’s Malik Washington has leaped to the NFL, the Hurricanes’ Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George are the Atlantic Coast Conference’s top two receivers. Restrepo (85 catches, 1,092 yards, 12.8 yards per catch, 6TDs) will try to build on his multiple 100-yard games from last season. With 57 catches, 864 yards, a 15.2-yard average, and eight touchdowns, George will benefit from Cam Ward’s scrambling ability, making it more challenging to cover.
Gator wide receiver and 1st round pick of the San Francisco 49ers, Ricky Pearsall (65 catches, 965 yards, 4 TDs), will be missed, leaving the Gators with big shoes to fill. But the three-time national champions are never without a bevy of skilled players. And receivers Eugene Wilson III (61 catches, 538 yds., 6 TDs, 8.8 yds. per catch), Arlis Boardingham (26 catches, 289 yds, 4TDs, 11.1 yards per catch), and Kahleil Jackson (251 yards rec., 1 TD, 12.0 yards per catch) will elevate the Gators to the top of the SEC.
Like his counterpart Cam Ward, Florida quarterback Graham Mertz (2,903 yds., 20 TDs. 8.1 yd., 69.3 QBR) also brings experience. The Gator senior had the third-best completion percentage (73%)* in college football in 2023 and has thrown 8,308 yards and almost 60 touchdowns. A wealth of weapons will enable him to win at home against the Hurricanes or on the road versus new southeast conference arrival Texas or mainstay rival Tennessee.
The Gator’s greatest threat to the Hurricanes and key to winning versus the CCFB’s toughest schedule will be time of possession. Florida will look to keep Ward, Martinez, Restrepo, and George off the field. They will counter with their own Heisman trophy candidate, running back Montrell Johnson Jr. (817 yds., 5 TDs, 5.4 yds per carry, 4.56 40 yd dash), and equally explosive sophomore Treyaun Webb (163 yds., 2 TDs, 4.58 40 yd dash).
Hurricanes —2.5 (ESPN)
*teamrankings.com
