Maybe it’s the geography. Maybe it’s the recruiting wars. Or maybe it’s just because when Miami Hurricanes and Florida State suit up, something electric crackles in the air. This rivalry goes back to 1951, and over 69 meetings, the Canes lead the series 36–33. It’s never been just another game. Mario Cristobal is rolling into this with a $4 million QB and an offense/defense that refuses to stop putting up numbers. But on the other hand, Mike Norvell is limping into this after a disastrous upset by Virginia. Noles’ hot start has been cooled by the Cavaliers with a dramatic double-overtime win.

And now, amid all that buildup, the ACC has stepped in with a public signal: this rivalry is getting heavy broadcast treatment. “CANES. NOLES. THIS RIVALRY NEVER DISAPPOINTS 🔥 SEE YOU SATURDAY IN TALLAHASSEE!” the ACC Network tweeted. And this premium treatment is well deserved. As we pointed out, the Canes aren’t tiptoeing into this. They’ve shown real steam to open the season: balanced offense, opportunistic defense, and coaches with momentum. They got a massive dub over the Gators and completely squashed South Florida’s cinderella tale on a 49-12 point.

If the past is anything to go off of then Cristobal is definitely looking to recreate the 22-point win over the Noles back in 2024. But let’s not forget that Norvell and Co. still have some fuel left in their engines. No one will ever forget the Week 1 upset that Thomas Castellanos managed to hand Bama.

This team is dangerous, but then again, there are cracks in the roster. Virginia’s double-overtime blitz and the constant hammering throughout the regular quarters proved that if there is enough pressure, this Noles team will fall flat, and this is exactly what the Miami Hurricanes will look to exploit.

In the end, it’s not just about who wins the day. For Miami, a dominant showing gives them more than a win—it gives them a shot at flinging out a Top 10 opponent. And for FSU, it’s about proving they’re still in the mix when top-tier matchups come calling. But folks, this whole showdown is only half of the drama cause we got something more cooking in the background. While all eyes are on the Canes vs. Noles, there is still a question about who actually gets the “media spotlight”.

College GameDay drama: Rivalry week getting sidestepped?

Here’s where things get messy: the rumor mill suggests College GameDay might not head to Tallahassee this week after all. Hurricanes beat writer Adam Lichtenstein tweeted, “Not sure College GameDay is going to Tallahassee next week now.” Which ACC Network has promised a premium for the fans, losing GameDay in the process doesn’t feel like a worthy sacrifice.

It’s a narrative hit. The rivalry loses one big megaphone. No Pat McAfee, no Nick Saban. There is a high chance that the GameDay crew heads to Bama or Vandy for their showdowns, but nothing is sure as of now.

However, one thing we do know is that GameDay shows or not, this rivalry will get its day.