It's been a while since these teams last met, but don't tell the Gators it's not a rivalry.
When Miami (1-0) and No. 5 UF (1-0) face off at 8 p.m. in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday, it will be like the four-year break in the series never happened.
"It's a huge rivalry game," UF quarterback Tim Tebow said. "They're a huge powerhouse program, and they're in the state of Florida. And they've been beating up on Florida a lot lately.
"It's just like Florida State, except we don't play them as often."
Miami took that last meeting, 27-10, in the 2004 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on New Year's Day as well as the contests in 2003, 2002 and 2000.
In fact, it's been 22 years since a Gators victory over the Hurricanes. Way back in 1985, when Tebow was two years from being born and the oldest Gator, Butch Rowley, was a young lad of six months, the Gators beat the Hurricanes 35-23.
Tebow might not have been alive when UF last won against Miami, but that doesn't stop him from feeling the competition.
"I do remember watching the Peach Bowl in (2004), and that wasn't very pretty," Tebow said. "I was pretty upset watching that game."
The fact that both teams call the state of Florida home means the game also brings together old high school teammates and rivals.
Tebow's competition at quarterback on Saturday will be the man who snatched the state single-season records for passing yards and touchdowns from Tebow's fingers.
Robert Marve, a redshirt freshman, will be making his college football debut in the game. Marve won Florida's Mr. Football award in 2006, one year after Tebow earned the honor.
Marve's final game as a high school player for Plant High came against Nease, Tebow's school. Plant won that game for the state championship.
"Rub it in, alright," Tebow said.
It's not just Tebow who has Miami connections.
Defensive lineman Matt Patchan's father is a former Miami offensive lineman who won a national championship in 1987.
Wide receiver Deonte Thompson attended the same high school as three current Hurricanes, one of them his cousin, Damien Berry.
Sophomore safety Major Wright of Miramar was inundated with Miami talk during the summer.
"That's basically what I heard every day," Wright said. "Miami, Miami, Miami this, Miami that. I would just look forward to a good game."
It's a different story for sophomore cornerback Joe Haden, who is originally from Fort Washington, Md., and did not grow up around the UF-Miami rivalry. Instead, his Florida-bred teammates have been filling him in on the intensity.
"They just really don't like 'The U,'" Haden said. "It's not as bad as Florida State, but they don't like 'The U.'"
The Gators will be able to unleash two weapons against Miami that they could not in week one against Hawaii.
Junior wide receiver Percy Harvin and junior linebacker Brandon Spikes will suit up for the home team, ready to go after their absences from the season opener.
"I've just been itching to get on the field so bad," Harvin said. "I kind of was itching to pad up."
