Miami head coach Mario Cristobal is anticipating an electric atmosphere for the Hurricanes’ eight home games at Hard Rock Stadium this season. The 2025 campaign kicks off with a strong home slate, including matchups against Notre Dame, Bethune-Cookman, South Florida, and Florida.
October brings home contests versus Louisville and Stanford, followed by November games against Syracuse and NC State. Cristobal specifically highlighted the Notre Dame and Florida games, predicting they’ll be filled with “complete and utter lunacy,” urging fans to bring the noise and “cause a ruckus.”
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The Hurricanes have recent history on their side. They edged out Florida 21-16 in their last meeting at Hard Rock in 2013 and defeated the Gators 41-17 on the road in 2024. Miami also delivered one of the program’s most dominant performances with a 41-8 blowout of Notre Dame in 2017.
After finishing 10-3 in 2024—falling just short of an ACC Championship appearance and a College Football Playoff berth—Hurricanes fans have high hopes for 2025. Notably, this marks the first time since 1987 that Miami will host both Florida and Notre Dame in the same season.
“What I expect from our fans is total chaos in that stadium from the start,” Cristobal said. “Make it loud and rowdy—we’ve all seen what Hard Rock can be like when it’s rocking. I’ve lived it as a player and a coach, and there’s nothing quite like it. We want to give them something to get fired up about.”
That 1987 season was historic for Miami, with a 31-4 win over Florida to start the year and a 24-0 shutout of Notre Dame to close the regular season en route to a 12-0 record and a national championship under Jimmy Johnson.
With one of the most exciting non-conference schedules in recent memory, 2025 offers Miami the chance to make an early statement—particularly in the primetime showdown against Notre Dame, set for a 7:30 PM kickoff. That night game could provide the very chaos Cristobal is counting on.
Coming off a 9-0 start in 2024 before a heartbreaking loss to Syracuse ended their College Football Playoff hopes, the Hurricanes are aiming to take the next step this fall. A return to the ACC title game and a playoff appearance are once again within reach.
