Miami vs. Florida State players in the NFL: Which school's all-time pro roster wins head-to-head?

No. 3 Miami meets No. 18 Florida State at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday -- and that means the sidelines will be crowded with NFL players from both schools.

You just know those Hurricanes and Seminoles would like to suit up one more time and play against each other.

Miami and Florida State have combined to put 16 players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame -- an endless list of legendary players who shaped the rivalry. Jared Verse and Derwin James -- Florida State stars -- made the Pro Bowl last season. Miami's Cam Ward was the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Rueben Bain might be the top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. As for the past? Eight players from these schools made the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. The game defined three decades -- with eight top-10 showdowns from 1987-96 and five top-10 showdowns from 2000-04.

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What if the Hurricanes and Seminoles played an all-time NFL game? Imagine the individual matchups: Michael Irvin vs. Deion Sanders on the outside for one more game. Unless, of course, Jalen Ramsey wants a turn on “The Playmaker,” and “Prime Time” wants to cover Andre Johnson. Jim Otto vs. Warren Sapp on the interior. Walter Jones vs. Ted Hendricks on the edge. Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Warren Sapp. Derrick Brooks, Derwin James and Anquan Boldin. This would be the greatest alumni game of all time.

Who would be in that game? We selected players based on their NFL careers, not college. Here is how those rosters shook out:

*Denotes Pro Football Hall of Fame 
+Denotes NFL All-100 Anniversary team

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Miami offense vs. Florida State defense 

Miami quarterbacks

Jim Kelly – a five-time Pro Bowl selection – led Buffalo to four Super Bowl appearances. He is one of the 27 modern-era QBs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Vinny Testaverde played 21 seasons and compiled 46,233 passing yards. Bernie Kosar led Cleveland to three AFC championship game appearances. Cam Ward is next.  It's a deep quarterback room.   

Miami running backs

Miami features five running backs who rank in the top-50 in career rushing yards. Frank Gore – who had 16,000 yards – ranks third all time and was a five-time Pro Bowl selection. Edgerrin James (12,246 yards) is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  Ottis Anderson (10,273) won Super Bowl XXV MVP honors. Clinton Portis (9,923) and Willis McGahee (8,474) also are on that list – and that does not include five-time Pro Bowl selection Chuck Foreman (5,950), one of the best running backs in the 1970s. By the way, McGahee, Portis and Gore were all on the roster together in 2001. 

Miami receivers 

The Hurricanes have four receivers in the 10,000-yard club. Michael Irvin (11,904 yards) is a three-time Super Bowl champion and would be one of the team captains. Andre Johnson (14,805) also is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and Reggie Wayne (14,435) is not far behind. How about a four-wide set with Santana Moss (10,283)? These four receivers combined for 19 Pro Bowl appearances.  

Miami tight ends 

This might be the most-competitive position group. How do you choose between Jimmy Graham and Greg Olsen? Graham gets the edge knowing he had 89 receiving TDs. Jeremy Shockey is a fan favorite who would have a place on this roster, and Kellen Winslow II and Bubba Franks would be in the mix. 

Miami offensive line 

Jim Otto – a 10-time All-Pro selection with the Raiders – is the anchor of this offensive line at center. Dennis Harrah, a six-time Pro Bowl selection at guard, also is a mainstay. Chris Myers could play center or guard, and Bryant McKinnie and Leon Searcy are among the tackles who set the standard at Miami. Will Francis Mauigoa – a SN Preseason All-American – join this group someday? 

Florida State defensive line 

Peter Boulware finished with 70 sacks – including 15 sacks in 2001. He was a dominant player at the college and pro level. Josh Sweat remains a solid pro, and the interior would be tough with Darnell Dockett and Corey Simon – who had a combined four Pro Bowl appearances. Braden Fiske had 8.5 sacks as a rookie for the Los Angeles Rams. Alphonso Carreker had 24 sacks in seven seasons between Green Bay and Denver. 

Florida State linebackers 

Derrick Brooks – an 11-time Pro Bowl selection and five-time All-Pro selection – is the heart of this Florida State defense. Marvin Jones had six seasons with 100-plus tackles for the Jets, and Jared Verse is off to a fast start with the Los Angeles Rams. Sam Cowart and Ernie Sims add depth to this group. 

Florida State cornerbacks 

It does not get much better than Deion Sanders and Jalen Ramsey. Sanders had 53 career interceptions and nine pick sixes, the most of any defensive back from either school. Ramsey is a seven-time Pro Bowl selection. Antonio Cromartie and Samari Rolle combined for five Pro-Bowl selections. 

Florida State safeties 

LeRoy Butler is a Pro Football Hall of Fame selection and Super Bowl champion with the Green Bay Packers. Derwin James is a four-time Pro Bowl selection with the Chargers. Don't forget about Dexter Jackson, who was the Super Bowl XXXVII MVP for Tampa Bay. 

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Florida State offense vs. Miami defense 

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Florida State quarterbacks

Brad Johnson was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and led Tampa Bay to a victory in Super Bowl XXXVII. He finished with 29,054 passing yards. Jameis Winston – who has 24,225 passing yards – is the obvious choice as a backup. Would the Seminoles give Winston a few series in this game knowing he was 2-0 against the Hurricanes? EJ Manuel, Danny Kanell and Chris Weinke each played five NFL seasons. 

Florida State running backs

Warrick Dunn had 10,967 rushing yards and was a three-time Pro Bowl selection. Dalvin Cook had 6,227 rushing yards. That's an excellent multi-purpose tandem for the Seminoles, and let's not forget the opportunity to go heavy with Marion Butts (5,185) and William Floyd (1,141) – a versatile fullback who helped the San Francisco 49ers win Super Bowl XXIX. 

Florida State receivers

Anquan Boldin ranks ninth all time with 1,076 receptions – the most catches of any receiver on this list. Fred Biletnikoff earned Super Bowl XI MVP honors – the only offensive player from either school to achieve that honor. Laveranues Coles totaled 8,609 yards in 10 seasons. Jessie Hester also played 10 NFL seasons. 

Florida State tight ends 

Zeke Mowatt played eight NFL seasons and was a Super Bowl champion with the New York Giants. Pat Carter played 10 seasons between five NFL teams from 1988-97. 

Florida State offensive line 

Walter Jones – a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and four-time All-Pro in Seattle – is one of the greatest tackles of all time. Rodney Hudson was a three-time Pro Bowl selection at center for the Raiders. Jamie Dukes and Montrae Holland are the guards, and it's a toss-up between 11-year veterans Tra Thomas and Ken Lanier with Alex Barron – who played six seasons with the Rams and Cowboys. 

Miami defensive line 

This defensive tackle depth is absurd. Warren Sapp and Cortez Kennedy are Pro Football Hall of Famers who combined for 154.5 sacks on the interior. Vince Wilfork and Russell Maryland combined for five Super Bowl championships, and Jerome Brown was a two-time All-Pro selection. Defensive end Calais Campbell is in his 18th NFL season, and Danny Stubbs had 51.5 career sacks and was a two-time Super Bowl champion. 

Miami linebackers 

Ray Lewis – a 12-time Pro Bowl selection and Super Bowl XXXV MVP – is a no-doubter on this list. He had 1,568 tackles – the most of any player since the NFL began tracking the statistic in 1994. Ted Hendricks is yet another Pro Football Hall of Famer who was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and four-time Super Bowl champion. Jonathan Vilma was a three-time Pro Bowl pick and Super Bowl champion. D.J. Williams played 11 seasons, and Dan Morgan played seven NFL seasons with the Panthers. 

Miami cornerbacks 

Antrel Rolle was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and a Super Bowl champion through an 11-year career. He had 26 career interceptions. Ryan McNeil totaled 31 interceptions and led the league with nine interceptions for the St. Louis Rams in 1997. Duane Starks played eight NFL seasons and would be another option at cornerback. 

Miami safeties 

Ed Reed is arguably the greatest safety of all time. He had 64 interceptions – which ranks seventh all time, and he was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection. Bennie Blades enjoyed a 10-year NFL career, and Sean Taylor had 12 interceptions and was a two-time Pro Bowl selection in four NFL seasons. He died at 24 years old in 2007. 

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Special teams 

Miami special teams 

Devin Hester finished with 14 kickoff returns for TDs and five punt returns for TDs – and he's in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Roscoe Parrish led the NFL in punt return average twice. That's an elite 1-2. Michael Badgley has an 82.4% career field-goal percentage, and Jeff Feagles averaged 41.6 yards per punt over a 22-year career. 

Florida State special teams 

Leon Washington is tied for second in NFL history with eight kickoff returns for TDs, and Peter Warrick is another option. We know Deion Sanders is going to try to take one back in this game. He had six punt return TDs and three kickoff return TDs. Rohn Stark – a four-time Pro Bowl selection – led the NFL in punting average three times. Sebastian Janikowski ranks 12th in NFL history with 1,912 points, and Graham Gano is a solid backup at kicker.