We play every year, usually the last game. We both have history dating back to the Big East days. We've played each other in some very meaningful games. 2002, 2003 and 2017. Similar programs in terms of history and tradition. Also, now that Narduzzi is targeting Florida for recruiting, I'm sure a lot of the players will look at this game as one to get up for. I know both schools aren't geographically close and Miami's main rival is FSU. But, if we're not getting to play PSU and WVU on a regular basis I think the game makes the most sense to be our main rivalry.
Miami should be our main ACC rival
- Thread starter Panther1995
- Start date
If we start to win more of the games against the Canes, this rivalry will get heated.
You would think the one thing holding it back would be that generally both teams have not been good in the same season. Ironically though in recent years, the worse team has been winning this matchup.
There’s definitely potential for this to be a good rivalry matchup. However I think more games where both teams are at least in the division title chase would be required for it to really heat up.
There’s definitely potential for this to be a good rivalry matchup. However I think more games where both teams are at least in the division title chase would be required for it to really heat up.
Definitely agree we need to win it more for the game to be more heated. That would be fun. And WVU will be back on the schedule pretty regularly it seems.
Pitt is Miami's third most played opponent after Florida State and Florida. That said, it has been a mostly lopsided series and never has been considered much of a rivalry by either side to this point. Since 1984, Miami has won 19 of 22. Frankly, they don't consider Pitt to be worth a rivalry. We'll have to do better to stoke any rivalry.
FYI, Pitt is Syracuse's most played opponent. Pitt is also WVU's and Penn State's most played opponent. I seems as though it may be fairly unique to be three different school's most played opponent.
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Long distance rivalries are built on meaningful games. Meaningful games are when both teams are ranked and both teams have something at stake. I can't recall a game beyond Fitz's final year where that was the case. It would be awesome if it could happen. We beat them in 76' when we won our championship and they beat us in most of their championships. Unfortunately, we've never beaten a decent Miami team and they usually smash us. We need to actually beat these guys a few times to create something.
I think Pitt-Miami could be a good annual game, but closest team I see to being a rival in the ACC is Syracuse. The records can change but the proximity and history can’t. Also helps that we’re rivals in basketball.
It is incredible how seldom Pitt-Cuse have met in big games. Every time one program is up, the other is down (usually way down). I remember a few games in the late 80's where both teams were ranked and ESPN had them on in primetime. They always seemed to be spectacular games.
I still think what should be more of a rivalry is Pitt/GT as Georgia Tech is our doppleganger as a football program. We are so alike, it's not funny.
* We are close in enrollment sizes.
* Both located in large cities with a lot of pro sports competition.
* Both surrounded by some of the largest and most rabid fanbases of larger state schools.
* Both have a fairly decorated and historic programs
* Both excellent academic schools, especially in the STEM type of fields.
* John Heisman and Pop Warner
* We are close in enrollment sizes.
* Both located in large cities with a lot of pro sports competition.
* Both surrounded by some of the largest and most rabid fanbases of larger state schools.
* Both have a fairly decorated and historic programs
* Both excellent academic schools, especially in the STEM type of fields.
* John Heisman and Pop Warner
I beg to differ. The 2017 Miami team was "decent"
What about Syracuse? Driving distance apart, play close, competitive games annually, great traditions of the past, and a healthy hoops history. It is the natural one. I realize Miami is the bigger football name, but rivals are usually (not always) close geographically. We both play every year, but the Pitt/Canes history is more one-sided than the Pitt/Cuse history. And, obviously, more away fans can get to the games.
lol Miami fans, what fans they have left, most likely only care about the Florida State game. Who are complete trash as well at this point.
Pitt fans only care about Penn State and to a lesser degree Syracuse and WVU. Pitt-Miami will NEVER be a huge rivalry game lol.
This is what happens when you create these mega conferences and somehow still manage to separate long time rivals
Pitt fans only care about Penn State and to a lesser degree Syracuse and WVU. Pitt-Miami will NEVER be a huge rivalry game lol.
This is what happens when you create these mega conferences and somehow still manage to separate long time rivals
Yeah, I should've said that we haven't beaten their good teams enough to piss them off.
Yeah we have a ton in common but the combination of geography and history make it pretty irrelevant as a game. In an 80 year period before we joined the ACC, we only played like 4 times. At some point if we're in this division in a long time, something will evolve into a real division rivalry, but that will likely be because of great games on the field.
I always felt like the VT game was a rivalry.
I like our current divisional alignment, but it is my understanding that one of the realignment scenarios that has received some interest is basically the old Big East teams plus Florida State as well as the original ACC teams plus Georgia Tech.
I could live with that. I would even be OK if it was Georgia Tech instead of Florida State because I think Georgia Tech is our southern doppelgänger. However, all things being equal, I’d rather have Florida State in the division with Georgia Tech being our annual crossover game.
I think that would make a lot of these rivalries more pronounced if you were fighting for a divisional spot every year.
ACC YANKEE
Boston College
Florida State
Louisville
Miami
Pitt
Syracuse
Virginia Tech
ACC REBEL
Clemson
Duke
Georgia Tech
North Carolina
NC State
Wake Forest
Virginia
CROSSOVERS:
Virginia-Virginia Tech
Georgia Tech-Pitt
Clemson-Florida State
Wake Forest-Boston College
Duke-Syracuse
North Carolina-Louisville
NC State-Miami
As I said, I genuinely like our current divisional alignment and I’m not necessarily looking to change. However, if that which is rumored is true, I could definitely live with that division.
I could live with that. I would even be OK if it was Georgia Tech instead of Florida State because I think Georgia Tech is our southern doppelgänger. However, all things being equal, I’d rather have Florida State in the division with Georgia Tech being our annual crossover game.
I think that would make a lot of these rivalries more pronounced if you were fighting for a divisional spot every year.
ACC YANKEE
Boston College
Florida State
Louisville
Miami
Pitt
Syracuse
Virginia Tech
ACC REBEL
Clemson
Duke
Georgia Tech
North Carolina
NC State
Wake Forest
Virginia
CROSSOVERS:
Virginia-Virginia Tech
Georgia Tech-Pitt
Clemson-Florida State
Wake Forest-Boston College
Duke-Syracuse
North Carolina-Louisville
NC State-Miami
As I said, I genuinely like our current divisional alignment and I’m not necessarily looking to change. However, if that which is rumored is true, I could definitely live with that division.
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Not bad. I’d strike all crossover games and go to a 9 game schedule. That way you play each of your counter-division opponents every other season.
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ACC Yankee? Yikes!!!
That makes me cringe!
How bout "Blue Ridge" and "Piedmont" divisions?
That makes me cringe!
How bout "Blue Ridge" and "Piedmont" divisions?
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I was going to go with Legitimate and Interlopers as my divisional names but I thought that was too divisive.
I felt the divisions should have gone like that as soon as we were admitted. The goal of the ACC was to swallow the Big East. Might as well let the old teams play each other like they used to.
There is nothing to suggest that Pitt has a rivalry with Miami, Pitt has not been in the same league as Miami during my lifetime.
Miami has won 19 of the last 22 games (over the last 40 years) against Pitt, most of those by 20+ points. That isn't a rivalry, that's domination.
Miami has had more wins than Pitt in 23 of the last 30 seasons. During that stretch, Miami has won 10+ games 10 times, whereas Pitt has done it once.
You'd be hard pressed to find Power-5 match-ups that are more 1-sided over the last 40 years. Maybe Ohio State/Michigan/PSU vs. Indiana, Notre Dame vs. Navy, Tennessee vs. Kentucky. Those are about the only ones I can think of that are similarly dominated by one side.
Edit:Well, didn’t see Paco’s post or I wouldn’t have written this.
Miami has won 19 of the last 22 games (over the last 40 years) against Pitt, most of those by 20+ points. That isn't a rivalry, that's domination.
Miami has had more wins than Pitt in 23 of the last 30 seasons. During that stretch, Miami has won 10+ games 10 times, whereas Pitt has done it once.
You'd be hard pressed to find Power-5 match-ups that are more 1-sided over the last 40 years. Maybe Ohio State/Michigan/PSU vs. Indiana, Notre Dame vs. Navy, Tennessee vs. Kentucky. Those are about the only ones I can think of that are similarly dominated by one side.
Edit:Well, didn’t see Paco’s post or I wouldn’t have written this.
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Rivals should be in all sports not just football. My thought is ND needs to be in the conversation, as well. But Syracuse (in Conference) fits the bill for me with being old established eastern university, old big east, reasonable geographic travel, and long time battles (football and basketball).
Out of Conference is WVU and PSU but the conference alignments have burned that bridge. Rotating ND, WVU and PSU per season would still be a cool way for old guys like me. Newer alum may see ACC cross-over, Syracuse, as the main rival.
Out of Conference is WVU and PSU but the conference alignments have burned that bridge. Rotating ND, WVU and PSU per season would still be a cool way for old guys like me. Newer alum may see ACC cross-over, Syracuse, as the main rival.
Build it out of what?
No geographical commonality.
No significant tradition or history between the schools.
No connection between the cities, regions, or fan bases.
totally lopsided series since the 80s. I believe Miami is like 20-3 against Pitt since the formation of BE football.
And like I said--you can't "build" a rivalry. It has to develop organically.
We've only been involved with maybe 15 "big" games in the past 20 years. Probably a third of them have been with VT. It would be awesome if both of us could fight our way into the rankings by the time we play on 11/23. If we both win out until then, that will be our biggest game in 10 years!
It would help if Pitt fans could attend in large numbers next year at Hard Rock.
Help what? To establish some kind of rivalry?
Only if there was some kind of Pitt fan vs Miami fan mass riot or something.
otherwise, all that would accomplish would be a better Pitt fan showing on the road and a better road trip for the Pitt fans that make the trip.
I like this format, but the first thought that comes to mind is what Florida St thinks of it. I remember during the end of the Jimbo Fisher era that they were trying to get into the SEC. I think this might push them a little further that way. Maybe that’s a good thing given the state of their program.
I think ultimately Notre Dame will join in all sports. ND probably won’t see the CFP again until that happens. They might be a better fit given that divisional realignment. Who knows what will happen with the conference network contracts going forward? I think apart from realigning the divisions, there’s going to be another big realignment between conferences.
Does anyone else think this is a weird post for someone who registered for the site on Sunday?
Pitt and Miami are hardly rivals.
Pitt and Miami are hardly rivals.
