CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Canes and the Gators are preparing for their first game of the season on Saturday at the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium also known as “The Swamp” in Gainesville.
The University of Miami’s Mario Cristobal and The University of Florida’s Billy Napier were coaching their players for the game airing on Local 10 at 3:30 p.m., Saturday.
The 19th-ranked Canes enter Year 3 of the Mario Cristobal era with big expectations after another highly-ranked recruiting class and the transfer of quarterback Cam Ward to the U.
Local 10 News was at the scene where Canes players arrived and loaded onto buses outside the athletic center at the Coral Gables campus, gearing up for the long ride to Gainesville.
Miami enters the season ranked No. 19 in the country and is looking to make a strong start. This opener will also mark the first game as a Hurricane for Ward, who transferred from Washington State.
The team seems focused as they go through pre-trip checks, ensuring they’re mentally prepared for the game. The anticipation is palpable as more players board the buses, each with their gear in hand, ready to make an impact.
The Canes are slight favorites over Florida in Saturday’s game.
The Gators are hoping to bounce back from a disappointing 5-7 season under Billy Napier.
Florida Atlantic plays Michigan State at 7 p.m., on Friday.
Other games Saturday include Florida International University at Indiana State, at 3:30 p.m., Ave Maria University at Stetson at 6 p.m., South Carolina State at Florida A&M at 6 p.m., and Bethune-Cookman at the University of South Florida at 7 p.m.