UM announces it will host C. Michigan in 2019

Jim

CORAL GABLES — The Hurricanes are set to open camp ahead of the 2017 season on Tuesday morning, but already, they have an idea of what at least part of their schedule will look like two years from now.

Miami announced Monday it would host Central Michigan for a non-conference football game at Hard Rock Stadium on Sept. 21, 2019.

It will be the first time the two schools meet, though the Hurricanes have posted a 5-0 record against schools from the Mid-American conference.

Another non-conference game the Hurricanes have already lined up for that same season? A seasonopening matchup on Aug. 31 against Florida in the Camping World Kickoff in Orlando.

This season, the Hurricanes are set to host Bethune-Cookman, Toledo and Notre Dame in nonconference matchups at Hard Rock Stadium. They also have future games lined up against Louisiana State (2018 in Arlington, Texas), Michigan State (2020 and 2021), and Texas A&M (2022 and 2023).

Central Michigan posted a 6-7 record last season and had originally announced it would travel to South Florida to take on Florida Atlantic on that Sept. 21, 2019 date, though it appears that game has now been pushed back to 2024. The Owls are set to travel to Central Michigan in 2021.

Like most college football programs, Central Michigan has made recruiting South Florida a priority, which is just one of the reasons traveling to first Boca Raton and then Miami Gardens was attractive for the Chippewas.

“We’re on the road this season to play three tough games — Kansas, Syracuse and Boston College,” CMU football coach John Bonamego said in a release issued by Central Michigan on Monday. “Our players get fired up to compete on the bigger stages, and there is no bigger stage than playing the Hurricanes in Miami.

“Florida also is an important state for recruiting, so it’s good to put CMU in front those students.”

Staff writer Matt DeFranks contributed to this report.

ccabrera@sun-sentinel.com; On Twitter @ChristyChirinos.