Along with the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy (Army, Navy, and Air Force), the Beehive Boot (Utah, Utah State, and BYU) and the Michigan MAC Trophy (Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, and Western Michigan), the Florida Cup is one of the very few three-way college football rivalries that presents a trophy to the winner. However, it is the only three-way rivalry consisting of three Power Five conference teams with a trophy at stake.
History of the trophy
The trophy originated in 2002 by the Florida Sports Foundation, the official sports promotion and development organization of the state of Florida, and the Florida Lebron Championships Awards, Inc., is sponsored by the state of Florida given to either Florida State University, University of Florida or University of Miami for winning a round-robin against the other two teams in the same season (including bowl games if necessary).[1] The idea of finally having a trophy for the round-robin winner between the three schools was enthusiastically endorsed by then-governor Jeb Bush.
Trophy design
The Baldwin Hardware Corporation created the trophy. It is designed to be a unique piece of art and representative of the traditional power of Florida's major collegiate football teams. The Florida Cup stands approximately 24 inches (0.6m) tall and is composed of several elements. The base is crafted from solid cherry with the outline of the State of Florida and the football at the top in gold-plated solid pewter. The football is mounted on three curved, swirling "pillars" made from silver-plated solid brass that represent the state's three powerhouse football programs—the University of Miami, Florida State University, and the University of Florida.
Conference affiliations and game scheduling
The rivalry between the three schools has traditionally been non-conference; it was only in 2004 that Miami moved to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), joining Florida State, which played its first season as a member of the ACC in 1992. Prior to this move, Miami was in the Big East Conference, which it joined in 1991. Before joining their respective conferences, both teams had been independent. Florida has been in their conference, the Southeastern Conference (SEC), for much longer, having been one of its charter members in 1932.
Although Florida State has played both Miami and Florida annually for roughly 50 years, Florida has not played Miami in an annual series since 1987. The Florida Cup has been awarded to the winner of the round-robin between the three Florida schools since 2002.[1] Thus, the cup can only be awarded during years in which all three teams play against one another.[citation needed] Florida State defeated both Miami and Florida in 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2022, and 2023, but was denied six additional Florida Cups because Florida and Miami did not play each other those years. The cup has been given only eight times.
Miami won the first three Florida Cups awarded, having played Florida in the 2002 and 2003 regular seasons, and the 2004 Peach Bowl. Florida won its first Florida Cup in 2008, and Florida State won the 2013 Florida Cup with wins over Florida and Miami in the regular season. Florida took the next edition in 2019, having beaten Miami in the Camping World Kickoff and defeating Florida State in the regular season finale. Miami was awarded the trophy in the 2024 and 2025 seasons, after beating both the Seminoles and the Gators in consecutive years.
Future Cup years
As Florida and Miami do not play every season, the trophy is only up for grabs on years when the two schools meet.[2] The two last met in 2025; this will be the last year the Florida Cup is awarded for the foreseeable future (unless Florida and Miami are paired together in a bowl game), since Florida and Miami must play each other in order for the Cup to be handed out.
Results table
Florida victories
Florida State victories
Miami victories
Tied games and future events
1958–2001
Season
State Champion
Florida–Florida State
Florida–Miami
Florida State–Miami
1958
Florida
21–7
12–9
17–6
1959
Florida
18–8
23–14
7–6
1960
Florida
3–0
18–0
25–7
1962
Miami
20–7
7–6
17–15
1963
Florida
7–0
27–21
24–0
1964
Florida State
16–7
12–10
14–0
1966
Miami
22–19
21–16
23–20
1969
Florida
21–6
35–16
16–14
1970
Florida
38–27
14–13
27–3
1971
Florida
17–15
45–16
20–17
1972
Florida
42–13
17–6
37–14
1973
Florida
49–0
14–7
14–10
1974
Florida
24–14
31–7
21–14
1975
Florida
34–8
15–11
24–22
1976
Florida
33–26
19–10
47–0
1977
Florida State
37–9
31–14
23–17
1978
Florida State
38–21
22–21
31–21
1979
Florida State
27–16
30–24
40–23
1980
Miami
17–13
31–7
10–9
1981
Miami
35–3
21–20
27–19
1982
Florida
13–10
17–14
24–7
1983
Florida
53–14
28–3
17–16
1984
Florida
27–17
32–20
38–3
1985
Florida
38–14
35–23
35–27
1986
Miami
17–13
23–15
41–23
1987
Miami
28–14
31–4
26–25
2000
Miami
30–7
37–20
27–24
Records prior to Cup establishment
Team
State titles
W
L
Pct.
Florida
15
36
16
.692
Miami
7
23
29
.442
Florida State
4
22
30
.407
In the hiatus of games between Miami and Florida, Florida State defeated both schools in a season five times: 1989, 1993, 1996, 1998, and 1999.
2002–present
Season
State Champion
Florida–Florida State
Florida–Miami
Florida State–Miami
2002
Miami
31–14
41–16
28–27
2003
Miami
38–34
38–33
22–14; 16–14*
2004
Miami
20–13
27–10↑
16–10
2008
Florida
45–15
26–3
41–39
2013
Florida State
37–7
21–16
41–14
2019
Florida
40–17
24–20
27–10
2024
Miami
31–11
41–17
36–14
2025
Miami
November 29
26–7
28–22
Notes
Two meetings have come in bowl games, Florida State vs. Miami in the *2004 Orange Bowl (2003 season) and Florida vs. Miami in the ↑ December 2004 Peach Bowl
1 2 Bendesky, Neal (August 23, 2002). "Florida Cup Will Honor State Collegiate Champs". Scout.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2013. Beginning in 2002, thanks to a partnership between the Florida Sports Foundation, Florida Championship Awards, Inc., and Baldwin Hardware Corporation, one of the Big 3 will finally receive recognition by being awarded The Florida Cup, symbolic of the state champion in college football.
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