Florida announces Week 1 game vs. Miami, season tickets are both sold out

Florida and Miami‘s season-opening showdown will be in front of a full house. On Thursday, Florida announced its Week 1 matchup against the Hurricanes is officially sold out.

Florida also sold out its 2024 season tickets, marking the most season tickets sold since 2017. In Billy Napier’s two years at the helm of the program, Florida has tallied 10 sellouts. For reference, UF only sold out four games from 2018-21.

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This year will be the first time since 2008 that Miami will invade The Swamp for a Week 1 bout. History isn’t on the Hurricanes’ side. The last time Miami faced off against Florida inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Florida walked away with a convincing 28-3 triumph.

Nonetheless, the programs from the Panhandle State have a competitive history, with Miami boasting a 29-27 all-time record over the Gators. The two programs last met in 2019 when Florida defeated Miami 24-20.

Evidently, oddsmakers expect another nail-biter this season. According to FanDuel, the Hurricanes are a 2.5-point favorite over Florida. Moreover, Miami is a -138 money line favorite.

Miami landed at No. 19 in the preseason AP Top 25 while Florida didn’t receive any votes. Alas, Napier isn’t a stranger to upsets. In Week 3 last season, Florida stunned Tennessee with a convincing 29-16 win.

Of course, Miami won’t lie down and accept defeat. The team added former Washington State quarterback Cam Ward this offseason, via the NCAA Transfer Portal. With transfer running back Damien Martinez behind Ward, Miami’s offense will give the Gators a daunting challenge in Week 1.

On Aug. 31, Florida and Miami will square off inside Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at 3:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ABC.

Paul Finebaum evaluates Billy Napier’s future at Florida

Paul Finebaum believes the Gators’ season-opener will be pivotal to Napier’s future with the program. During an appearance on “McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning,” the SEC Network analyst weighed in on Napier’s chances of finishing the season at Florida.

“It depends on the beginning of the season,” Finebaum said. “The biggest game for him is that first game. You can add any cliché you want about first impressions, but if fans show up at The Swamp in 12 days and see a lackluster performance in a loss to Miami, then where do they go?

“For optimism, that’s a game that has to be in the win column. And then two weeks later, Texas A&M comes to town. Now, again, we don’t know how A&M plays against Notre Dame in the opening game, but that’s really to me, where their season lies.”