FSU Football: Rivalry with Miami disrespected in preseason ranking

FSU football takes part in a game that has annually been one of the best in the sport – but one outlet took the game to task and disrespected it.

When the history books are written about the FSU football team, the page on rivalries will clearly show that it was the University of Miami – and not those Crocs from the University of Florida – who played the Seminoles first with their inaugural meeting taking place in 1951, seven seasons before the Gators played the Noles for the first time.

Since that first game nearly seven decades ago, the Noles and Canes have combined for 63 games in the series that have helped decide everything from a state championship – with one of the two schools playing for a national championship 12 times over a 16 season period from 1987 to 2002 that includes five straight seasons at the end.

It’s arguably the greatest rivalry not just in FSU football history but in the entire history of college football – well, at least most people would feel that way because one outlet decided that it didn’t even crack the top five.

Florida State Seminoles Football

With the 2019 season still a week away from officially getting underway for the Seminoles, plenty of outlets are giving their preseason rankings of everything from top stadium to top rivalry – and Sports Illustrated chimed in by ranking the FSU-Miami as the SEVENTH best rivalry in all of college football.

"10. Texas–Texas A&M9. Pitt–West Virginia8. Mississippi State–Ole Miss7. Florida State–MiamiThis is one streaky series. The ‘Noles won seven straight starting in 2010 after the Hurricanes won six straight beginning in 2000. In fact, going back to its inception in 1951, we’ve had two streaks of seven, one of six, two of five and one of four. 6. Georgia–Florida5. Notre Dame–USC4. Army–Navy3. Texas–Oklahoma2. Ohio State–Michigan1. Alabama–Auburn"

Okay, now as a college football fan I will say that all the rivalries ranked ahead of the FSU football game with the Hurricanes are great ones – but as a Seminoles supporter, there is no way that it should come in seventh especially when the argument against it has to do with streaks.

Hell, just this century alone you have a six game win streak in the top ranked “rivalry” game while the one at No. 2 has a Buckeyes team who has won 14 of the last 15 meetings. Meanwhile, the most recent streak by the Seminoles of seven straight wins included four won by five points or less.

It’s a series decided by big players, missed kicks (sorry, but it’s true) and arguably some of the best teams to ever play the sport. It’s a series that has no other rivalry that is in the same conversation when it comes to what is the best of the best.

Because when the history books are written, FSU football’s annual game with Miami is the best in all of college football – and the next chapter in the storied rivalry is just over two months away.