What to Know
- For most of the teams from the Sunshine State taking the football field this weekend, it will feel like a reunion of sorts.
For most of the teams from the Sunshine State taking the football field this weekend, it will feel like a reunion of sorts as they take on hated rivals, conference foes or teams they happened to face last season.
The action kicks off on Saturday with all of Florida’s big three college programs looking for their first win against a FBS foe this season (after all lost their first FBS games for the first year since the 1953 season) while the Dolphins seek to prove last week’s opening game win wasn’t a fluke.
NBC 6 has you covered with which games are must watch – and which ones are the perfect time for a nap.
Miami Dolphins at New York Jets (Sunday)
After their season opener finally ended seven hours after kickoff (but which felt like Tuesday or Wednesday with that length), the Fins look to get to a 2-0 record for the first time since the 2013 season against a Jets team who dominated their season opener – but is also starting a first year quarterback who is the youngest signal caller in NFL history.
Miami Hurricanes at Toledo Rockets (Saturday)
Last season, the Rockets gave Miami all they could handle at home before the Hurricanes came up in the fourth quarter with the victory. In 2018, the question for those in orange and green is how much longer Malik Rosier will be the starter at quarterback or when Mark Richt is going to have seen enough and give the backups a chance against someone other than a FCS team.
FIU vs. UMass (Saturday)
Last season, the teams met as a makeup game for others that were cancelled due to Hurricane Irma – and while the Panthers scored 63 points, they also gave up 45 to one of the worst teams in the FBS. If I could give this game less than one peacock I would, because the Panthers should make quick work of the Minutemen.
Florida State at Syracuse (Saturday)
The Seminoles are hurting right now after dropping their opener and needing every prayer possible just to beat FCS foe Samford last weekend. If the Noles are able to win, it might be a sign of things being sunnier the rest of the way – if they lose, the honeymoon will officially be over for first year head coach Willie Taggart and the team will officially be in trouble.
Florida vs. Colorado State (Saturday)
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The irony of this game is the only reason it is being played is due to the fact that the Gators had to as part of a buyout for the contract of Jim McElwain from the Rams – as McElwain is watching the game from Michigan, where he is the Wolverines’ assistant coach this season, after being fired before the end of last season following less than three years in Florida.
Other State Games
Saturday, three more Sunshine state teams will take the field – as USF travels to face Illinois in Chicago while Florida Atlantic hosts Bethune Cookman and FAMU host Jackson State – while the UCF Knights get a week off after their game against North Carolina was cancelled due to Hurricane Florence.
On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will return home to face the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles – while they team they beat to win the title, the New England Patriots, will also be in the Sunshine State to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars