Miami football has faced South Florida seven times before, but today marks the first time the Bulls come into the game as a ranked team.
USF rose to No. 23 in the US LBM Coaches Poll after stunning Florida 18-16 on a last-second field goal by Nico Gramatica. The 2-0 Bulls broke into the Associated Press poll at No. 18, the first time they’ve been ranked since 2018. There’s still quite a ways to go before coach Alex Golesh can reach the heights of 2007, when USF climbed all the way up to No. 2.
The Bulls are enjoying their moment in the sun, one that lands them in a suddenly high-profile showdown with the 2-0 Hurricanes that’s been on the schedule for years. Miami and USF signed a three-game contract in 2019. Today’s game is the first of the series, with the next installment coming to Tampa in 2027.
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The teams played last year, with Cam Ward throwing for 404 yards in a 50-15 Hurricanes rout. No. 6 Miami is 6-1 all-time against USF, with their lone loss in 2010 marking the end of the Randy Shannon era.
UM hosts the suddenly spiraling Gators next week before hitting a bye, after which they head to Tallahassee for another rivalry showdown with No. 12 Florida State. But to keep their College Football Playoff expectations afloat, the Hurricanes will have to start by dispatching the upstart Bulls.
How much did Miami pay USF?
Miami does not owe South Florida anything for coming to Hard Rock Stadium today, according to the contract obtained by the USA TODAY Network. The three-game contract both schools signed in 2019 calls for another game Sept. 4, 2027 in Tampa and the finale on Sept. 9, 2028 back at Hard Rock Stadium. After the final game in 2028, UM owes USF $1.15 million to be paid no later than Feb. 15, 2029.
That payout averages to about $383,000 per game. For comparison, Florida State paid FCS team East Texas A&M $450,000 to come to Tallahassee last week.
If either team withdraws from any of the agreed-upon games, they will owe $3 million for each canceled game, according to the contract. That payment would be due by Feb. 15 of the year following the canceled game. There are exceptions for unforeseen circumstances that would prevent the game from being played, including natural disaster.
Miami vs USF predictions, picks and odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Friday, Sept. 12.
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This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: How much did Miami football pay South Florida? What Hurricanes paid for today’s game
Reporting by Dan Rorabaugh, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
