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Confusion Bowl
Confusion Bowl
from Wikipedia

Confusion Bowl
SportFootball
First meetingOctober 26, 1945
Miami (FL), 27–13
Latest meetingSeptember 1, 2023
Miami (FL), 38–3
Next meetingNone scheduled
Statistics
Meetings total4
All-time seriesMiami (FL), 4–0
Largest victoryMiami (FL), 54–3 (1987)
Longest win streakMiami (FL), 4 (1945–present)
Current win streakMiami (FL), 4 (1945–present)

The Confusion Bowl is a nickname given to college football games played between the Miami RedHawks (formerly known as the Miami Redskins) of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and the Miami Hurricanes of the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida.[1][2] The schools, who have met four times, share the name "Miami", leading the midwestern school to be referred to as "Miami of Ohio" and the Florida school to be regularly indicated in publications and polls as "Miami (FL)".[3]

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Miami (FL)
Miami (OH)
Locations of Miami (OH) and Miami (FL)

History

[edit]

Both universities have prestigious histories in college football, with Miami of Ohio's Redskins/RedHawks having produced some of the most successful football coaches of all time, earning it the nickname of the Cradle of Coaches, and the Hurricanes of Miami, Florida having won five national championships.[2]

Although the two institutions share names, they have different namesakes. Miami University derives its name from its location in the Miami Valley area of Ohio, which was historically the homeland of the indigenous Miami people.[4] The University of Miami gets its name from the city of Miami, Florida, which traces its own name back to Mayaimi, the historic name of Lake Okeechobee and the indigenous people that settled around it. The two Native American tribes have no relation to one another, and the similarity between their names is coincidental.

Concerns over confusion between the two universities predates the football games and began with the founding of the Florida institution in the 1920s. Alfred H. Upham, president of Miami University from 1928 to 1945, published a protest in the Ohio university's bulletin in February 1927. Upham wrote:

Presumably names of collegiate institutions are not copyrighted and these good citizens of Florida have the legal right to adopt such a name as they choose. But they certainly have not much moral right to usurp the name of a university which has established itself by more than a century of sound scholarship and effective educational service. . . . There are so many perfectly good names for a new and aspiring university. What justification or justice is there in appropriating one that has made its place in the academic world through more than a century of achievement?[5][6]

The first football game between the schools was held in 1945 at Miami, Florida, and was dubbed the "Confusion Bowl" by The Atlanta Journal.[7][3][8] The name gained traction as other newspapers also began calling the game the "Confusion Bowl", including the Logan Daily News and The Dayton Daily News.[9][10] Miami (FL) won the 1945 game, 27–13, snapping Miami of Ohio's five-game winning streak.[3]

When the Miami football teams played again in 1946, the name "Confusion Bowl" continued to be used,[11][12] with the Daily News having a section of their newspaper titled "Miami, O., 'Confusion Bowl' Loser" after Miami of Ohio again lost to the Miami Hurricanes, 20–17, in Florida.[3][2]

The programs met again in 1987, and the Confusion Bowl monicker stuck,[13] with Gannett's newswire joking "The lock of the week is that Miami is going to lose on Saturday".[3][2] The Hurricanes won again, this time by a convincing 54–3 score, and went on to win the 1987 national championship.

The teams met again in the 2023 season opener.[14][15][8][6] As a solution to the confusion, Miami of Ohio's veteran broadcaster Steve Baker said he would avoid references to "Miami" and instead refer to the RedHawks and Hurricanes.[14]

Game results

[edit]
Miami OH victoriesMiami FL victories
No.DateLocationWinnerScore
1 October 26, 1945 Miami, FL Miami FL 27–13
2 November 8, 1946 Miami, FL Miami FL20–17
3 November 7, 1987 Miami, FL Miami FL 54–3
4 September 1, 2023 Miami Gardens, FL Miami FL 38–3
Series: Miami FL leads 4–0

Source:[16]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
The Confusion Bowl is a nickname for the American college football games played between the of in , and the of the in , arising from the confusion generated by both institutions sharing the "Miami" name despite being located in different states. The moniker was first applied by media to the inaugural matchup on October 26, 1945, which the Hurricanes won 27-13 at the in Miami. The two teams have met only four times in total, with the series resuming after a 36-year hiatus in 2023 when the Hurricanes defeated the RedHawks 38-3 in the most recent edition. (Florida) has won every encounter, outscoring (Ohio) 139-36 across the games played in 1945, 1946, 1987, and 2023. The rarity of these matchups stems from the universities' divergent conference affiliations—the RedHawks in the (MAC) and the Hurricanes in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)—though occasional scheduling has revived interest in the "battle for the real ."

Background

The Two Universities

Miami University in , was chartered in 1809 as the first in the state, opening to students in 1824 and earning recognition as one of the oldest public institutions west of the . The University of Miami in , was founded in 1925 as a private during the region's land boom, envisioned by developer George Merrick and community leaders to serve as an educational hub for the growing area. Oxford, Ohio, is a rural college town approximately 35 miles northwest of Cincinnati, with a population of about 23,000 residents, many of whom are affiliated with the university. In contrast, the University of Miami occupies a suburban campus in Coral Gables, just south of downtown Miami, spanning 239 acres amid tropical landscapes and serving around 13,000 undergraduate students. Miami University emphasizes a liberal arts foundation, with notable strengths in business administration through its Farmer School of Business, education programs ranked highly for teacher preparation, and undergraduate research opportunities across disciplines like microbiology and engineering. The University of Miami excels in marine and atmospheric sciences via the Rosenstiel School, business and entrepreneurship at the Miami Herbert Business School, and health sciences including medicine and nursing at the Miller School of Medicine. The shared name "Miami" derives from Indigenous roots but stems from distinct geographical and cultural contexts unrelated to each other. University's moniker honors the and the Great Miami River in Ohio's Miami Valley, where the river flows northward through the region before joining the en route to the . Similarly, the draws its name from the Miami River in , a short coastal waterway emptying into and the Atlantic Ocean, which was named for the tribe that once inhabited the area around — a group distinct from the Myaamia of the Midwest. These institutions have fostered prominent athletic traditions, including football programs that have occasionally intersected in notable matchups.

Origins of Name Confusion

The adoption of the name "University of Miami" by the institution in Florida, chartered in 1925, promptly sparked objections from officials at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, which had been established over a century earlier in 1809. In a February 1927 letter to the editor published in the university's alumni magazine, The Bulletin, Alfred H. Upham—then president of the University of Idaho and a Miami University alumnus who would later serve as its president from 1928 to 1945—formally protested the Florida school's use of "Miami," arguing it lacked moral legitimacy given the Ohio institution's long-standing association with the name and could lead to widespread confusion in mail delivery, alumni communications, and national academic recognition. Upham suggested alternatives such as "Everglades University" to avoid diluting the Ohio school's identity. These early concerns were echoed by other Miami University (Ohio) stakeholders, including alumnus George Shuman, who on February 10, 1927, sent a direct protest letter to the University of 's president and board of trustees, and President Raymond M. Hughes, who in 1927 acknowledged alumni worries about inevitable mix-ups while noting the Florida school had no legal obligation to change despite the practical issues. Between the late and early , such apprehensions manifested in tangible pre-1945 incidents, including misdirected mail between the two campuses and scheduling errors for academic and alumni events, which exacerbated fears of eroded institutional distinctiveness. Both universities trace their names etymologically to the Indigenous tribe, whose historical presence in the Valley and Florida Everglades inspired regional nomenclature, but this shared heritage only intensified the perceived overlap. The absence of any legal resolution to these disputes resulted in the adoption of informal qualifiers to distinguish the schools, such as "Miami of Ohio" for the older institution and "Miami of " for the newer one, a practice that persists in media and correspondence. While similar naming overlaps occurred in other like and during this period—leading to occasional score misattributions or fan confusion—the football matchups between the two Miamis drew particular attention due to their national radio and later broadcasts, amplifying the identity clash. The term "Confusion Bowl" itself emerged in this context, first coined on September 12, 1945, by Ed Danforth, sports editor of The Atlanta Journal, in a column previewing the inaugural football game between the schools on October 26, 1945; Danforth highlighted anticipated announcer errors and spectator bewilderment over which "Miami" was being referenced.

Football Programs

Miami RedHawks History

The (Ohio) football program was established in , marking one of the earliest starts for intercollegiate football in the Midwest, with its inaugural game against the on December 8 of that year. The team experienced early success in the as a member of the , securing a conference championship in under head coach Harry W. Ewing with an undefeated 8–0 record, during which it outscored opponents 238–16. This era laid the foundation for the program's reputation in regional competition before transitioning to new affiliations. In 1948, Miami joined the Mid-American Conference (MAC), where it has remained a charter-like member and leader ever since. The program originally competed as the Redskins until 1996, when, at the request of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma to respect cultural sensitivities, the nickname was changed to RedHawks effective July 1, 1997. Miami has claimed 16 MAC championships, the most in conference history, with the most recent in 2019 under head coach Chuck Martin. In 2023, the team finished 11-3 and lost 9-13 to Appalachian State in the Cure Bowl; in 2024, it went 9-5 (7-1 MAC), lost the MAC Championship 3-38 to Ohio, but won the 43-17 over . Notable undefeated seasons include 1955 (9–0 under ), 1973 (11–0 under Dick Crum), and 1974 (10–0–1 under ). The program has produced prominent NFL talent, such as quarterback , who led the to two victories after setting Miami passing records from 2001 to 2004, and , who starred as a player in the late 1940s before becoming a Hall of Fame coach at Notre Dame. Miami's enduring legacy as the "Cradle of Coaches" stems from its role in developing influential figures in football, including (Ohio State), (Cleveland Browns, ), (, ), and more recent alumni like () and (Los Angeles Rams), with over 10 former players serving as head coaches in the or major college programs. This tradition, coined in 1959 and honored by statues outside Yager Stadium, underscores the university's emphasis on leadership and innovation in the sport. In recent years, as a conference team, Miami has maintained competitive relevance in the MAC, balancing its historical coaching pipeline with modern FBS challenges. The shared "Miami" moniker with the in has occasionally led to scheduling or fan confusion in rare matchups.

Miami Hurricanes History

The University of Miami's football program was established in 1926, with its first varsity season occurring in 1927 under coach Howard Buck, who led the team to a 3-6-1 record. The team adopted the name "Hurricanes" that year, inspired by Florida's frequent tropical storms and the desire for the squad to "sweep" opponents away like a hurricane; the mascot, Sebastian the Ibis, was introduced later in 1957 to represent resilience, as ibises are the last birds to flee hurricanes. Initially competing as an independent, the program joined the Big East Conference in 1991 and transitioned to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in 2004. The Hurricanes achieved their greatest prominence during the 1980s and 1990s under coaches , Jimmy Johnson, and , forming a dynasty that produced five s in 1983, 1987, 1989, 1991, and 2001. This era featured high-powered offenses and tenacious defenses, though the team endured heartbreaking "Wide Right" field goal misses in the 1992 and 2000 games, preventing additional titles. The program won nine Big East championships (1991, 1992, 1994, 1995 co-, 1996 co-, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 co-) before joining the ACC, where it has made divisional championship appearances (e.g., 2017, 2021, 2024) but no conference titles as of 2024. The program has served as a premier pipeline to the , with 298 alumni playing professionally and 149 earning selections, including Hall of Famers such as , , , , and . The "U" brand became iconic for its swagger, speed, and talent development, exemplified by players who brought intensity and flair to both college and professional fields. Since 2008, the Hurricanes have played home games at in , a 65,000-seat venue shared with the NFL's . Key rivalries include annual matchups with Florida State (the Florida State–Miami rivalry) and (the "War on I-75"), which have defined regional competition. Following a period of inconsistency after the early 2000s, including a 6-7 record in 2019 under Manny Diaz, the program has shown resurgence in the 2020s: 8-3 in 2020 (Diaz), then under (from 2022): 5-7 in 2022, 7-6 in 2023 (lost ), and 10-3 in 2024 (lost ).

Game Summaries

1945 and 1946 Games

The inaugural Confusion Bowl games were played in the immediate post-World War II era, as both universities fielded teams bolstered by returning military veterans eager to resume college athletics. These non-conference matchups were arranged amid regional scheduling opportunities, with Miami (Ohio) traveling to for both contests due to logistical challenges of long-distance travel in the late . The series nickname originated with the 1945 game, coined by The Logan Daily News to capture the inherent mix-up between the two schools sharing the same city name. On October 26, 1945, at Burdine Stadium in Miami, the () defeated (Ohio) 27–13 in a game that drew an average home crowd of approximately 20,700 for the Hurricanes' season. Miami (Ohio), coached by and riding a five-game winning streak, took a 13–0 halftime lead with a pass from Robert Wieche to Bill Hoover and another score following a fumble recovery by (as Miami (Ohio) was then known). The Hurricanes, under Jack Harding, mounted a comeback in the second half, sparked by Inky Mazejka and fullback Harry Ghaul, who scored three in the fourth quarter to secure the victory. finished the season 9–1–1, while Miami (Ohio) ended 7–2. The following year, on November 8, 1946, the teams met again at Burdine Stadium, where Miami (Florida) edged Miami (Ohio) 20–17 before a crowd of 31,158. As 13-point favorites, the Hurricanes struck first with a rushing by Harry Ghaul, but tied it on a score by (later a Hall of Fame coach at Notre Dame). Miami (Florida) led 14–10 at halftime after a touchdown run by Ed Injaychock, then extended the advantage to 20–10 in the third quarter on a Bob McDougal score (though the extra point was blocked). Miami (Ohio) closed to 20–17 late with a Wayne Gibson rush but failed on a crucial fourth-down attempt to tie the game. Both teams enjoyed successful campaigns, with Miami (Florida) going 8–2 overall and Miami (Ohio) finishing 7–3. Media coverage of the back-to-back games emphasized the "Confusion Bowl" moniker, with broadcasters and reporters noting frequent mix-ups in telegrams, tickets, and announcements that amused fans and highlighted the novelty of the . These early encounters boosted visibility for both programs during the post-war resurgence of , setting a precedent for the occasional but memorable clashes between the two Miamis despite their geographical separation.

1987 Game

The 1987 Confusion Bowl matchup took place on November 7, 1987, at the in Miami, Florida, where the No. 1-ranked () decisively defeated the ( of ) by a score of 54–3. This game marked the revival of the series after a 41-year hiatus since the 1946 contest. The victory was a key part of head coach Jimmy Johnson's undefeated 12–0 campaign for the Hurricanes, who entered the game averaging over 35 points per contest and featured a roster loaded with future NFL talent, including wide receiver and safety . Quarterback Steve Walsh directed an explosive offense that overwhelmed the RedHawks' defense, scoring touchdowns on a variety of plays while holding Miami (OH) to a single . The 51-point margin underscored the growing chasm between the elite independent program of Miami (FL) and the mid-major representative from Miami (OH). In the aftermath, the lopsided win further cemented the Hurricanes' dominance heading into the postseason, serving as an effective tune-up before their appearance. (FL) went on to defeat 20–14 in the on January 1, 1988, securing the . For (OH), the loss contributed to a 5–6 overall finish under head coach .

2023 Game

The 2023 Confusion Bowl, the fourth meeting between the two programs, took place on September 1, 2023, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, serving as the season opener for both teams. The Miami Hurricanes (FL) dominated the Miami RedHawks (OH), securing a 38–3 victory in a game that highlighted the historical dominance of the Hurricanes in the series. The matchup was arranged as a buy game, with the Hurricanes agreeing to pay the RedHawks a $1.5 million guarantee to host the contest. The RedHawks entered the game as the defending Mid-American Conference champions from their 2022 title-winning season, aiming to build momentum under head coach Chuck Martin. Meanwhile, the Hurricanes, in head coach Mario Cristobal's second year, sought to generate early-season buzz and ACC conference momentum following a 5–7 record in 2022. The game unfolded with the Hurricanes striking first on their opening drive, as quarterback connected with wide receiver for a 44-yard touchdown pass just 1:34 into the contest. The RedHawks managed only a 48-yard by kicker Graham Nicholson in the second quarter, marking their sole points of the game. The Hurricanes' defense was relentless, limiting the RedHawks to 215 total yards and forcing three turnovers on downs; Jahfari Harvey and linebacker Wesley Bissainthe each recorded a sack, contributing to the RedHawks' minus-3 rushing yards at halftime. at the 65,000-seat was 49,024. In the aftermath, the win propelled the Hurricanes to a 4–0 start, including subsequent victories over Bethune-Cookman, Texas A&M, and , before an ACC skid that contributed to their 7–6 overall finish and a berth in the . Broadcast on the , the game renewed interest in the Confusion Bowl after a 36-year hiatus, sparking discussions among fans and media about the potential for a future rematch to capitalize on the unique matchup.

Legacy

Series Record and Statistics

The () maintains a perfect 4–0 record against () in the Confusion Bowl series, outscoring their counterparts 139–36 across the four meetings. This equates to an average margin of victory of 25.75 points per game for the Hurricanes. The series dates back to 1945 and represents rare non-conference matchups between the two institutions.
DateLocationResult (Miami FL – Miami OH)
Oct. 26, 1945Coral Gables, FL27–13
Nov. 9, 1946Coral Gables, FL20–17
Nov. 7, 1987Miami, FL (Orange Bowl)54–3
Sep. 1, 2023Miami Gardens, FL (Hard Rock Stadium)38–3
All games have been hosted in Florida at University of Miami venues, with no contests held in Ohio or at neutral sites. The series has produced an average of 43.75 total points per game, reflecting a mix of competitive early encounters and dominant later performances by . In particular, the 1987 and 2023 games featured defensive efforts that held Miami (Ohio) to single field goals, resulting in 51- and 35-point margins, respectively. No players from either team have been designated as series MVPs. Miami (Florida) head coaches are undefeated at 4–0 in the rivalry, with Jack Harding (1945, 1946), Jimmy Johnson (1987), and (2023) each securing wins. Miami (Ohio) head coaches hold an 0–4 mark, led by (1945, 1946), (1987), and Chuck Martin (2023).

Cultural and Media Impact

The "Confusion Bowl" nickname originated with the first matchup on October 26, 1945, when media outlets, including The Logan Daily News, highlighted the potential for fan and broadcaster mix-ups due to the shared city name. This moniker has endured, symbolizing a unique quirk in where two prominent programs share an identical institutional name despite being over 600 miles apart. Media coverage of these rare games often emphasizes the naming overlap to engage audiences. During the 2023 contest, broadcast teams, including ESPN affiliates, deliberately referred to the teams as the and to clarify identities and avoid errors, a strategy echoed by play-by-play announcer Steve Baker. The event sparked widespread discussion, with fans and commentators posting humorous content about the "Which Miami?" confusion, amplifying the game's novelty beyond traditional sports analysis. Culturally, the series lacks the heated intensity of geographic rivalries due to its infrequency—only four meetings since 1945—and the physical distance between , and , which limits sustained fan engagement. However, the matchup holds appeal for alumni and observers as a lighthearted footnote in , occasionally referenced in broader narratives about institutional branding challenges. The 1987 game, a 54–3 University of Miami (Florida) rout, aligned with the program's emergent "U" swagger, contributing to their undefeated regular season and national championship run under coach Jimmy Johnson. As a legacy element, the Confusion Bowl exemplifies name duplication issues in NCAA athletics, prompting informal online suggestions for a dedicated trophy—though none has been established—to commemorate future clashes. Its recruiting influence remains negligible, serving more as an amusing trivia point for prospects considering either program rather than a decisive factor. Looking ahead, no rematches are scheduled as of November 2025, with logistical hurdles like conference alignments (MAC for RedHawks, ACC for Hurricanes) and cross-country travel cited as barriers to reviving the series, despite 2023 postgame chatter about potential biennial play. The University of Miami (Florida) has dominated the brief series, winning all four encounters.

References

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