The Atlantic Coast Conference has announced that the Miami Hurricanes and Wake Forest Demon Deacons will square off at 12:00 p.m. ET on Saturday October 26 at Sun Life Stadium. This marks the second noon kickoff for Miami at home this fall, having taken on Florida earlier this season, upsetting the Gators, 21-16.
Miami and Wake Forest haven’t met in South Florida since the 2008 season, where the Hurricanes prevailed, 16-10. A year later, the two met a year later in Winston-Salem where Miami stormed back for a 28-27 win, down 13 points early in the fourth quarter.
Miami takes on North Carolina in Chapel Hill this Thursday for an ESPN nationally televised showdown where the Hurricanes hope to advance to 6-0 for the first time since 2004. The Tar Heels stumble in 1-4.
Both squads are coming off a bye, with Miami having topped Georgia Tech, 45-30 on October 5. Earlier in the day, North Carolina fell to Virginia Tech, 27-17.
The noon kickoff for the showdown with Wake Forest has some folks miffed, but from a weather standpoint it gives Miami an advantage with head and humidity still in play in South Florida late October.
Furthermore, it’s all about the (ESPN) U and remaining on national television and if that means playing the game and moving things around regarding kickoff, you do it.
Should Miami stay on track, it all but guarantees a primetime showdown against Florida State on November 2 and possibly another national showdown with Virginia Tech a week later, with the Coastal Division on the line.
Next Saturday’s showdown against Wake Forest is one of three remaining home games at Sun Life Stadium, so the #CanesFam needs to show up in full force. From there, only Virginia Tech (11/9) and Virginia (11/23) remain.