MIAMI — South Florida's newest rivalry has already overheated.
Miami beat Florida International 35-0 Saturday night in a game marred by a wild brawl in the third quarter that had fists flying, helmets swinging and even crutches being used as weapons.
In all, 13 players were ejected — eight from FIU, five from Miami, and each will likely face a minimum of one-game suspensions. Officials from both conferences, the Atlantic Coast and Sun Belt, are expected to review the game tape to determine if additional sanctions are necessary.
"It was something that neither of us wanted," Miami coach Larry Coker said.
Kyle Wright had three touchdown passes for the Hurricanes (4-2), while Lance Leggett had two TD catches — one from Wright, the other from Kirby Freeman.
It was the first meeting between the programs, whose campuses are 9 miles apart and have rosters almost entirely filled with players from Miami-Dade and Broward counties, the two largest in South Florida. Tensions were high throughout the night, with several occurrences of heated words being exchanged after plays ended.
But those verbal jousts were nothing compared with what happened with 9:00 remaining in the third.
"It was a great game," FIU quarterback Josh Padrick said, "until 9 minutes left in the third quarter."
James Bryant caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Wright, then drew a 15-yard flag for unsportsmanlike conduct. After making the catch, he appeared to point at the FIU (0-7) bench, then took a theatrical bow toward the stands.
"It's not our fault," said Miami's Kenny Phillips, who had an interception. "Whatever it was, it wasn't us."
Moments later, Jon Peattie kicked the extra point for a 14-0 lead and the melee began; replays showed an FIU player crashing into Miami holder Matt Perrelli as the first of many blows. Pushing quickly turned into punches, both sidelines emptied and several fights broke out.
"I have no idea how it happened," FIU coach Don Strock said.
The brawl lasted about five minutes, and it took officials several more minutes to sort out the penalties. More than 2 dozen uniformed police officers came onto the field, trying to end the fights, and at least one incident of fan fighting broke out in the Orange Bowl stands.
"Shocked, anger, both, all the emotions," Coker said when asked about watching the melee. "College football doesn't need it, FIU doesn't need it and certainly we don't need it."