Miami will face rival Florida State in the third game of the 2017 season and Hurricanes senior wide receiver Braxton Berrios likes the early-season meeting.
Miami will face rival Florida State in the third game of the 2017 season.
It is the earliest the Hurricanes will be playing their annual conference foe since 2009 when they opened their season in Tallahassee.
Miami is hoping the early-season meeting on Sept. 16 at Florida State will pay dividends like in 2009, which is the last time Miami beat FSU.
“I love it. I do. I love it for a few reasons,” Miami senior wide receiver Braxton Berrios said. “Normally I like the FSU game to be late, but I love it for the fact for the most part, let’s hope so, we’re going to be healthy. I think that’s a huge factor. Honestly I hope they’re healthy too. I don’t want any excuses or any reasons or any if, ands, or buts, I’m ready to go up there and close that book.”
Miami has lost seven straight to Florida State. It is tied for the most lopsided streak in the series, which began in 1951. FSU also won seven in a row from 1963-72.
FSU won 20-19 at Miami this past season to narrow Miami’s series lead to 31-30.
Berrios believes the game will be even more intense this fall.
“I think it’s going to be even worse this year,” Berrios said. “Everybody sees that. They circle their calendars and we do too. Obviously we’re not looking past either of the first two opponents. We’re ready to really get it going and I think that’s going to be the catalyst of our season really.”
Miami opens its season against Bethune-Cookman on Sept. 2 and at Arkansas State on Sept. 9.
With Florida State looming in the opening month, Berrios believes the Hurricanes will be focused more heading into the season.
“It definitely does because a lot of times over the past few years you warm up with a few games,” he said. “You try to get up those, but naturally it’s just a little bit harder and then you see you’ve got Florida State and we’re going to Tallahassee the third game of the year and that makes it real. Once the season comes that game is almost here.
“So it definitely helps motivate more than anything to get through everything and pay attention to the details knowing that all of those details are really going to count come week one, but they’re going to get thrown in on week three.”