Miami / Florida State Rivalry

No rivalry in college football has featured more instant classics than Florida State and Miami.

Twelve times between 1987 and 2004, the Seminoles and Hurricanes met as top-10 teams — including an incredible seven consecutive meetings.

While Miami was largely the reason FSU hasn’t won more crystal trophies, the programs combined to win six national titles in that time span and played for six others.

After a hiatus from national prominence, Saturday’s 8 p.m. showdown at Doak Campbell Stadium represents the first top-10 regular-season match-up between the schools since 2004.

The teams first met in 1951, and the series has been relatively even ever since, with Miami holding a slight 31-26 edge.

Here’s 10 of the more memorable games between the pair.

• 1958: FSU 17, Miami 6. The game in the Orange Bowl represented the Seminoles’ first-ever victory over the Hurricanes in six meetings. FSU’s offense was directed by quarterback Vic Prinzi. The Seminoles prevailed despite being out-gained 309-176.

• 1983: UM 17, FSU 16. Unranked FSU nearly pulled off an upset of sixth-ranked Miami at home. The Hurricanes won on — you guessed it — a field goal, but this game was also memorable for what happened prior to kickoff. FSU coach Bobby Bowden and UM coach Howard Schnellenberger staged a mock boxing match for photographers prior to the teams’ meeting in Tallahassee.

• 1987: UM 26, FSU 25. The Hurricanes entered ranked third nationally, the Seminoles fourth. The Seminoles let an early lead slip away, but quarterback Danny McManus drove FSU 75 yards in the final two minutes and connected on a touchdown pass to Ronald Lewis. Bowden opted to go for two points and the victory, but McManus’ pass to Pat Carter was broken up by UM’s Bubba McDowell. UM finished undefeated and won the program’s second national title.

• 1988: UM 31, FSU 0. “The Seminole Rap” ... enough said, right? FSU entered the opener in the Orange Bowl ranked No. 1 nationally. The Seminoles also recorded a music video that was released prior to the season. Coach Bowden said he thought it was a bad idea, and it was.

By Jim Henry of the Tallahassee Democrat