Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal runs on the field before the game Sept. 13, 2025, against the South Florida Bulls at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

This weekend, one of the most storied and compelling rivalries in college football will return.

No. 3 Miami’s game against No. 19 Florida State on Saturday, Oct. 4 isn’t only a matchup of top-20 teams, but also a continuation of a series that defined the sport for a generation of college football fans. For much of the 1980s, and for stretches in the 1990s and early 2000s, the winner of the annual meeting between the Hurricanes and Seminoles took a major step toward winning a national title.

It didn’t hurt that the games were often heart-poundingly competitive, either, with Florida State famously losing several times on a missed field goal in the final seconds.

This year, the game will give the victor more than just in-state bragging rights. Miami and Florida State are two of the three highest-ranked ACC teams in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll, meaning whoever wins Saturday’s contest will greatly improve their outlook for at least being one of the two teams to make it to Charlotte, North Carolina on Dec. 6 for the conference championship game.

For the Hurricanes, getting there would present them with an opportunity to make some history: Despite all of its historical excellence, with five national championships and an outsized cultural impact on the sport, Miami has never won a conference it has been a member of for nearly two full decades.

Heading into Saturday’s game against Florida State, here’s a closer look at Miami’s ACC championship history:

Has Miami ever won the ACC?

As difficult as it is to believe, Miami has never won the ACC since joining the league in the mid-2000s. Conversely, Florida State has claimed five conference titles and six divisional titles since Miami joined the ACC.

The Hurricanes' lack of success is particularly jarring considering they won the Big East each of their final four seasons in the conference before making the move to the ACC. Moreover, Miami has made the ACC championship game only once in the 18 seasons in which it has been held. That occurred in 2017, when it lost to Clemson 38-3.

Those shortcomings are that much more interesting given that the Hurricanes' other major-revenue sports team, it's much less historically decorated men's basketball program, has twice won the ACC regular season title (in 2013 and 2023), along with a conference tournament championship in 2013.

When did Miami join the ACC?

The Hurricanes joined the ACC ahead of the 2004 college football season, marking a break from their former home in the Big East, where they played 13 seasons from 1991-2003. Miami also competed out of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SIAA) from 1929-41.

Much of Miami's history, however, has been as an independent. The Hurricanes held that status in 1927-28, and again from 1942-90.

Miami ACC record

Here’s a look at Miami’s records in each of its seasons in the ACC, including where they finished in the conference standings:

  • 2004: 9-3 (5-3 ACC) | No. 3
  • 2005: 9-3 (6-2) | No. 2 in Coastal Division
  • 2006: 7-6 (3-5) | No. 4 in Coastal
  • 2007: 5-7 (2-6) | No. 5 in Coastal
  • 2008: 7-6 (4-4) | No. 4 in Coastal
  • 2009: 9-4 (5-3) | No. 3 in Coastal
  • 2010: 7-6 (5-3) | No. 2 in Coastal
  • 2011: 6-6 (3-5) | No. 4 in Coastal
  • 2012: 7-5 (5-3) | No. 3 in Coastal
  • 2013: 9-4 (5-3) | No. 2 in Coastal
  • 2014: 6-7 (3-5) | No. 5 in Coastal
  • 2015: 8-5 (5-3) | No. 3 in Coastal
  • 2016: 9-4 (5-3) | No. 3 in Coastal
  • 2017: 10-3 (7-1) | No. 1 in Coastal (lost ACC championship)
  • 2018: 7-6 (4-4) | No. 3 in Coastal
  • 2019: 6-7 (4-4) | No. 3 in Coastal
  • 2020: 8-3 (7-2) | No. 3
  • 2021: 7-5 (5-3) | No. 2 in Coastal
  • 2022: 5-7 (3-5) | No. 5 in Coastal
  • 2023: 7-6 (3-5) | No. 9
  • 2024: 10-3 (6-2) | No. 3

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Has Miami ever won ACC title? Hurricane football's conference history, revisited

Reporting by Craig Meyer, USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY

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