On Thursday night, September 10, the University of Miami Hurricanes will welcome the Florida A&M Rattlers to Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, for a 8 p.m. kickoff that pits a top‑ten national program against a Division I FCS contender still seeking its footing after a rocky start to the season.
The Rattlers arrived at the contest after a 31‑13 setback to South Carolina State in the Orange Blossom Classic, a game that highlighted both offensive stagnation and defensive lapses, leaving first‑year head coach Quinn Fordham Gray Sr. eager to spark a turnaround.
Financial Details
Financial terms for the matchup have been disclosed, with Florida A&M slated to receive a $720,000 payout for playing, while the institution’s celebrated Marching 100 band will earn an extra $40,000 for its presence on the field, a boost that could aid travel expenses and program development.
Miami, currently seventh in the national rankings and the 2023 College Football Playoff runner‑up, will lean on sophomore wide receiver Malachi Toney, whose record‑setting single‑game receiving yardage performance has made him a focal point of the Hurricanes’ offense, and will be guided by head coach Mario Cristobal.
Quarterback uncertainty surrounds the Rattlers, as starter Isaiah Knowles remains sidelined with an injury, forcing backup Dustin Fletcher to assume the starting role under Gray’s leadership.
The contest will be broadcast on the ACC Network, and the Rattlers are positioned eighth in the USA TODAY HBCU football rankings, setting the stage for an early‑season showdown that could influence both teams’ momentum moving forward.