Miami adds first-ever matchup vs. Big 12 power to future schedule

Miami has added a nonconference and neutral-site showdown to open the 2027 season against a prominent program in the Big 12.

That matchup for the Hurricanes is set against Utah with ESPN confirming the two sides will face off in Las Vegas in 2027. The game will be featured as the 2027 Vegas Kickoff Classic across Labor Day Weekend at Allegiant Stadium.

Utah and Miami have never faced off on the football field, marking a historic meeting between the two programs in the new-look landscape of college football. Though the Utes are embarking on their first-ever season in the Big 12, Kyle Whittingham’s program enters the league as a preseason favorite per the Big 12 media preseason poll.

@ESPNEvents announces a historic first-time matchup between @CanesFootball & @Utah_Football at the 2027 Vegas Kickoff Classic

Labor Day Weekend 2027
@AllegiantStadm Las Vegas

Details: https://t.co/S15Zk9YtUv | #GoCanes | #GoUtes pic.twitter.com/Uq96qUQ9cS

— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) July 8, 2024

“One of the great things about college football is that there are still first-time matchups like this one to capture the attention of fans across the nation,” said John Saccenti, executive director of the Vegas Kickoff Classic and SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl. “We have a frequent visitor to our city in Utah playing a national brand like Miami for the first time ever at one of the world’s greatest football venues. The Battle of the ‘U’ — the ‘U’ of the West against the ‘U’ of the South facing each other in the Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World — and we cannot wait.”

While Mario Cristobal continues rebuilding Miami into its stature of the past, Whittingham has the Utes playing as one of the most efficient programs in the country. In the past 4 full-length seasons, Utah has 3 seasons with double-digit wins and an overall record of 39-16.

Paul Harvey

Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.