GAINESVILLE – They hate each other.

Timeout. That might not be accurate.

The Miami and Florida football programs despise each other.

That deep, burning loathing has been building for 15 years. Fifteen years! Imagine Alabama and Auburn playing once every 15 years.

“I’ve heard a lot about the Miami-Florida rivalry,” Miami center Brett Romberg said at the Big East media day. “What it comes down to is this: We don’t like Florida State, but we respect them. We don’t respect Florida because I don’t think they respect us. If they did, we’d play them every year, anywhere.”

Emotions will be hotter than the Florida sun today when the ‘Canes and Gators add fuel to an already raging fire. Miami is riding a 23-game win streak, longest in the nation. Florida rookie coach Ron Zook must prove to Gators fans there is life after Steve Spurrier.

Florida is a 21/2-point favorite, which the ‘Canes believe is an insult.

“I don’t know how we’re the underdog,” said Miami tight end Eric Winston. “I don’t care where we’re playing. Put us on Mars. I wouldn’t even consider us an underdog against the Martians.”

No line on the Miami-Martian game, but Florida quarterback Rex Grossman issued one of the few solar-hot statements of the week. He sees Miami as the reigning national champ with an asterisk.

“Miami won the national championship but they didn’t play us,” said Grossman.

Can you feel the heat? Let’s throw another log or two on this Sunshine State conflagration.

The loser of this game will be hard-pressed to play for the national championship. Both squads face Florida State and Tennessee later this season. Two losses won’t get you to the Fiesta Bowl.

The Heisman Trophy might lose a contender. Grossman finished second in last year’s voting behind Nebraska’s Eric Crouch. Miami QB Ken Dorsey finished third.

Bragging rights, national championship dreams, Heisman hopes are all on the line in the first full week of the college football season. Is it me, or is it hot down here?