Miami and Florida Reportedly Have No Plans to Renew Football Rivalry

You better enjoy this year's Miami-Florida matchup while you can. There is a good chance it will be the last one you see for quite some time.

According to Andrea Adelson of ESPN, Miami athletic director Blake James said during the ACC meetings that he hasn't spoken with Florida about extending the series, and the future of the in-state rivalry is quite bleak.

"

This is a game that’s been on the schedule and we’re thrilled to be hosting them in South Florida, James said. With that said, I haven’t spoken with Jeremy or the University of Florida about future games and I don’t know how it would fit into their schedule or fit into ours right now. There hasn’t been any conversation and there isn’t anything on the schedule for the future.

"

The end of this rivalry was clearly coming to an end, but this almost drives the final nail into the coffin.

Two programs that played each other more than 50 times, have only squared off five times since 2001, with two of those matchups taking place as bowl games. This year's meeting completes just the second home-and-home series since 1987, according to the report.

With both programs on the rise once again, this is a game that both schools would likely want to have on the schedule, but the way things are looking doesn't allow it. It is possible that the SEC will soon expand to a nine-game conference schedule, which would remove almost any hope of the Gators scheduling the Hurricanes anytime soon.

Miami also has an upcoming non-conference series scheduled with Nebraska, Michigan State, Rutgers and there is still a game scheduled against Notre Dame in 2016.

As for the Gators, a nine-game conference schedule would leave only three yearly spots open to try and make the Hurricanes part of their plans. You can then remove one of those vacancies with the rivalry against the Florida State Seminoles, which appears to be alive and well, according to the Adelson report.

"

I doubt that game will ever be affected because I think one of the criteria for getting in the final four is strength of schedule, which is why we’re changing our schedule, Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher said. Whether they have nine or we have eight only enhances that ability and it makes the results of that game even greater.

"

Thanks to possible conference schedule changes and a playoff format around the corner, the Miami-Florida rivalry will soon become a distant memory.

Follow @Randy_Chambers