The Miami Hurricanes are closer to an exciting in-state matchup against the Florida Gators for Saturday's ESPN College GameDay. The team quickly gained respect from multiple national media outlets. As they currently sit on a 3-0 record, they've risen in the AP polls, the defense is among the best in the country, and quarterback Carson Beck is emerging as a Heisman trophy candidate.
There is so much going right for the Hurricanes, who entered the season with a level of uncertainty. Given the new offensive pieces, along with a fresh defensive staff, it was difficult to predict how the team would look on the field. However, they have put all doubts and concerns to rest.
The Hurricanes will host College GameDay for the first time since Sep 26th, 2020. They went up against Florida State and won the matchup, with a final score of 52-10. The team ranked as the 12th-best team in the nation. Former Hurricanes quarterback D'Eriq King completed 29 of 40 passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed eight times for 65 yards.
The Gators enter this weekend's game with a ton of pressure to revive their season. They currently sit on a 1-2 record, with both losses coming embarrassingly. In their week two matchup against the South Florida Bulls, they were penalized 11 times for 103 yards. Also, defensive tackle Brendan Bett was ejected for spitting on Bulls offensive lineman Cole Skinner.
The following week, Gators quarterback DJ Lagway threw five interceptions against the third-ranked Louisiana State Tigers. The upcoming College GameDay matchup against Miami could potentially be the make-or-break point of their season.
It will be an exciting battle against two in-state rivals on the field. As for College GameDay, since 2009, they've had guest pickers join the broadcast and pick the winners of upcoming games. This weekend, two-time Florida Panthers Stanley Cup champion Matthew Tkachuk has been selected as the guest picker.
Tkachuk has made a tremendous impact on the professional hockey scene in the state of Florida. Had he not been traded to the Panthers, the franchise would not have achieved the current level of success it has today.
Tkachuk did not attend college, as he entered the NHL draft in 2016 after playing junior hockey. He is the first NHL player to be given this opportunity and he views it as an honor.
It will be interesting to see how much college football he follows and how his picks go.