Florida Cup

The Florida Cup is the American football trophy sponsored by the state of Florida given to either the Florida State University Seminoles, the University of Florida Gators, or the University of Miami Hurricanes in return for beating the other two teams in the same season (including bowl games if necessary). It was first awarded in 2002.

Trophy design

The trophy was designed to be a unique piece of art as well as representative of the traditional power of Florida's major collegiate football teams. The Florida Cup stands approximately 24 inches (0.6 m) 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 to join Florida State, which played its first season as a member of the conference in 1992. Just prior to this move Miami was in the Big East Conference, which it joined in 1991. Both teams had been independent prior to joining their respective conferences. Florida has been in the Southeastern Conference for much longer, having been one of its charter members in 1932.

Although Florida State, for roughly 50 consecutive years, has played both Miami and Florida annually, Miami and Florida have not scheduled each other regularly since 1987 when Florida ended a series dating some 49 consecutive seasons. Thus, the cup can only be awarded in years where either Florida State wins or there is a Florida-Miami matchup in the regular season or bowl games.

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, when it beat both Miami and Florida State.

Results table

Rankings under final scores indicate a team's AP Poll ranking prior to that game. Rankings next to a champions name indicate that team's ranking in the final AP Poll for that season. Teams are unranked unless otherwise indicated.

Florida victories

Florida State victories

Miami victories

Season	Winner	Florida-Florida State score	Florida-Miami score	Florida State-Miami score
2002	#2 Miami	#23 FSU 31, #15 UF 14	#1 UM 41, #6 UF 16	#1 UM 28, #16 FSU 27
2003	#5 Miami	#9 FSU 38, #11 UF 34	#3 UM 38, #21 UF 33	#2 UM 22, #5 FSU 14
				#10 UM 16, #9 FSU 14 2004 Orange Bowl
2004	#11 Miami	UF 20, #10 FSU 13	#14 UM 27, #20 UF 10 2004 Peach Bowl	#5 UM 16, #4 FSU 10 (OT)
2008	#1 Florida	#2 UF 45, #23 FSU 15	#5 UF 26, UM 3	FSU 41, UM 39

See also

• Florida–Florida State football rivalry
• Florida–Miami football rivalry
• Miami–Florida State football rivalry