Sep 13, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Hurricanes running back Mark Fletcher Jr. (4) carries the football against South Florida Bulls cornerback Ben Knox (1) during the third quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

'Very Talented Football Team, Very Well-Coached Football Team': No. 4 Miami Prepares for Florida

Originally posted on Miami Hurricanes on SI
By Justice Sandle | Last updated Sep 16, 2025 11:08 AM ET

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — No. 4 Miami (3-0) looks like a juggernaut heading into its week four matchup against the Florida Gators (1-2).

The Gators are a confusing team to gauge heading into this game. They have one of the best defenses in the country, but the inconsistency on offense holds them back from possibly being 3-0.

In the Hurricanes' minds, this is another ranked matchup that they are preparing for.

The worst type of team to face is a team that is wounded. A wounded animal is the most dangerous. Coach Mario Cristobal is prepared to face that animal as well as a "very talented football team, very well-coached football team."

Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK

"Size, speed, strength, good technique, and fundamentally, schematically challenging," Crisotbal said, describing what stands out to him about Florida. "Powerful at the line of scrimmage, heavily invested in the trenches, powerful at running back, speed at wide receiver, both inside and out, and length and size outside as well. Large secondary guys that can cover a lot of ground, a lot of length, multiple coverages, good at disguising coverages, and pressures. Dynamic returner on special teams. Very talented football team, very well-coached football team."

He also knows that the talent is there in Gainesville and can compete with the talent in the orange and green. That won't change the preparation and how hard the team is going to work. It is just another great opportunity for the team that is looking to do something incredible this season.

"The part that has to be respected most is their talent level, their coaching, their size, speed, and physicality," Cristobal said. "Schematically, they're very challenging in a lot of different ways. They've been playing elite defense for several games, dating back to last season. And offensively, they've been very close on several occasions to having some great performances. So it's very clear. They're an extremely talented team. They're well coached. They play hard. And for us, a great opportunity."

The Hurricanes are set to take on the Gators at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.