The Miami Hurricanes will host the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats for the 8th time since 2011. Miami is undefeated against BCU and dominated the Wildcats in 2023.
The Bethune-Cookman Wildcats will head down to Hard Rock Stadium and face the Miami Hurricanes on Saturday, September 6th at 7pm. The ‘Canes home opener is the weekend prior against Notre Dame in primetime.
The Wildcats open the 2025 season at Pitbull Stadium against the FIU Golden Panthers. BCU at Miami will air on ACCNX/ESPN+ so bundle up your ESPN accounts before the kickoff.
Photo by Joel Auerbach/Getty Images
A year ago, the Wildcats finished 2-10 with a 2-6 record in the SWAC. In ‘24 BCU lost their two FBS games against the USF Bulls and Western Michigan Broncos by a combined 73 points.
BCU head coach Raymond Woodie Jr. is a former Wildcats linebacker who played in the CFL for one season. Woodie Jr. was a high school coach prior to getting connected to Willie Taggart and joining his staffs at Western Kentucky, USF, Oregon, Florida State and Florida Atlantic.
Al Diaz/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
Through two seasons at Bethune-Cookman, Woodie Jr. has compiled a 5-18 overall record with a 4-12 conference record in the SWAC. Miami is 7-0 all-time against Bethune-Cookman, including a 48-7 beatdown in 2023 and a 70-13 ‘Canes win in ‘22.
BCU QB Cam’Ron Ransom returns for the ‘25 season. Ransom threw 11 TD’s with five INT’s a year ago. RB Dennis Palmer also returns after rushing for 706 yards and scoring five times on his own. WR Maleek Huggins is also back after averaging 14.7 yards per catch last season.
The BCU defense is rebuilding after losing their team leaders in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, and PBU’s. The Wildcats defense does return a pair of DB’s, Antwone Watts and Joshua Thornhill, that tied for the team lead in INT’s with two.
Prediction
Miami by 35+. Miami is going to want to come out on fire and stay sharp, no matter what happens against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish the weekend prior. An FCS game is the perfect opportunity to get the freshmen involved and on the field.
I’m assuming we’ll see QB Emory Williams, but I’d also like to see Luke Nickel get a few snaps behind center. RB Girard Pringle Jr. and DE Hayden Lowe are two more ‘25 signees that should be able to get on the field in mop up duty.