2025 Season Preview #7: FIU
Florida International the University by the Numbers:
- Location: Miami, FL
- Distance from UConn: 1,424 miles
- Stadium: Pitbull Stadium
- Field Type: FieldTurf
- Capacity: 20,000 (131st nationally)
- Enrollment: 48,439 (4th nationally)
- 2024 Record: 4-8 (3-5 CUSA)
- Last Bowl: 2019 Camellia Bowl (34-26 L Arkansas State)
- All-Time Bowl Record: 2-3
- 2024 Attendance: 12,815 (127th nationally)
- All-Time Series: 1-1
- Last Meeting: 2023 at UConn
- Returning Starters: 6 (3 offense, 3 defense)
- Returning Lettermen: 29
2025 Schedule:
- 8/29 Bethune-Cookman (Fri)
- 9/6 at Penn State
- 9/13 FAU
- 9/20 Delaware
- 10/4 at UConn
- 10/14 at Western Kentucky (Tue)
- 10/21 Kennesaw State (Tue)
- 10/29 at Missouri State (Wed)
- 11/8 at Middle Tennessee
- 11/15 Liberty
- 11/22 Jacksonville State
- 11/29 at Sam Houston
Last Time Here: 2023 - FIU 24-17 W
Last Meeting: 2023 - FIU 24-17 W
2024 Florida International the football team by the Numbers:
- Offensive yards per game: 350.0 (101st nationally)
- Passing yards per game: 229.4 (63rd)
- Rushing yards per game: 120.6 (105th)
- Points per game: 26.3 (77th)
- 3rd Down Efficiency: 31.0% (127th)
- 4th Down Efficiency: 53.8% (66th)
- Interceptions-Yards-TD: 11-286-2
- Fumbles: Number-Lost: 20-8
- Red Zone Success: 81.6% (90th)
- Defensive Yards Allowed per Game: 370.9 (67th)
- Passing Yards Allowed per Game: 179.6 (16th)
- Rushing Yards Allowed per Game: 191.3 (110th)
- Points Allowed per Game: 25.8 (73rd)
- 3rd Down Efficiency: 32.2% (11th)
- 4th Down Efficiency: 67.7% (122nd)
- Red Zone Success Allowed: 78.3% (30th)
PFF Predictions:
- Wins: 7.5
- Chance to Make Bowl: 92%
- SoS: 128th
- Chance to Win CUSA: 5%
- Chance to Make CFP: <1%
Last Time Here/Last Meeting: 2023 FIU 24-17
To this writer, this was the worst loss of the Jim Mora. Forget about the games where they weren’t expected to win like Michigan in ‘22 or Tennessee later on in ‘23, this was a game where UConn had to win after a fine loss to NC State, and bad loss at Georgia State to open the season. Meanwhile, FIU was 2-1, but one of those wins was a come from behind 14-12 win over FCS Maine, and a 46-39 win over a defensively challenged North Texas team. UConn was ready to start Ta’Quan Roberson for the first time since his season ending injury in the season opener the year prior, having taken over for the injured Joe Fagnano against Georgia State.
And the first half was as bad as it could get for the Huskies. Freshman QB Keyone Jenkins did whatever he wanted on the opening drive, going six plays for 75 yards in 2:33 for the TD. For his part, Roberson led the Huskies on a 13 play 71 yard drive elapsing 6:32, but ended at the FIU 8, and Joe McFadden kicked a 26 yard FG to make it 7-3. The two teams would trade punts, then FIU booted a 27 yard FG after Jenkins hit Eric Rivers for a gain of 48. The Huskies would go three-and-out for the second straight drive, and FIU put up another TD, another big gain from Jenkins to Jalen Bracey, this time for 45 yards. After several punts, FIU would deal a blow before halftime, with Jenkins hitting Kris Mitchell for 64 yards for the TD, and the Panthers led at the half 24-3.
UConn got the ball to start the second half, and went eight plays for 82 yards, finished off with a Jelani Stafford one yard TD run, and the lead was cut to 24-10, and there was at least very slight relief that the Huskies could actually put up a score. They forced another FIU punt, but then went three-and-out, losing all momentum from the previous drive. To open the fourth quarter, Roberson hit Devontae Houston, who raced 37 yards for the score, and the lead was down to 24-17, and with plenty of time remaining, it looked like maybe the Huskies would complete the comeback.
Unfortunately, there were no more scores to be mustered, punting twice, then failing to convert a 4th and 14, with Roberson hitting Cam Ross a few yards shy of the sticks. The play before that, a 4th and 4 from the FIU 15, Roberson hit Justin Joly for what seemed like the tying score, but a holding call against Chase Lundt brought the ball back. To Lundt’s credit, the pass was not getting off unless he held. And UConn fell to 0-3, and if they couldn’t beat FIU after beating them by 21 the year before with arguably a worse team/offense, who were they going to beat?
2025 FIU:
With three straight 4-8 seasons, FIU fired Mike MacIntyre, and hired proven FCS coach Willie Simmons from Florida A&M. The cupboard is not bare for Simmons, however, starting with Jenkins returning for his junior season. A dual-threat, Jenkins threw for 2,557 yards and 22 TDs with 8 INTs with a completion percentage of 61.8%. On the ground, he rushed for 130 yards on 75 carries, inclusive of yardage from 17 sacks. He missed a couple games due to injury, and returned for the last four, averaging 280 ypg and a TD:INT ratio of 12:1. In case of injury, Holy Cross transfer Joe Pasanasky (2,399 yards, 60% completion, and 19:6) provides a solid backup. Jenkins is one of, if not the top QB in CUSA, and should repeat that again this season.
Leading rusher Kejon Owens returns after rushing for 392 yards last season, splitting time with departing Lexington Joseph (308 yards). His backup, Devonte Lyons also returns after rushing for 288 yards, averaging 6.7 ypc, all after week 8. They also add Georgia Tech transfer Anthony Carrie, who rushed for 120 yards last year. It’s a solid unit, and Owens should now get the lion’s share of carries. FIU will look to improve upon their 3.6 ypc from a year ago.
And they will need the OL in order to achieve that improvement. Unfortunately, they lose four starters from a year ago. FIU does return LG Jaheim Buchanon, who made 12 starts last year as a redshirt freshman. Simmons hit the portal hard, adding MTSU transfer in C Julius Pierce (9 starts in two seasons), RG Antonio Tripp from nearby Miami (two games in two seasons) to join returnees RT Daniel Michel, and LT Jaleel Davis. They have some experience still, which is helpful after losing four starters, but time will tell how the group comes together.
At receiver, they certainly don’t have the talent of Kris Mitchell, who departed for Notre Dame, and Eric Rivers, who graduates after catching 62 passes for 1,172 yards. They lose five of their top six from a year ago, returning Juju Lewis (five catches for 93 yards). Simmons feels they made an upgrade at the position through the portal in Jojo Stone (Louisville), Alex Perry (Hawaii), and Tar’Varish Dawson (Colorado). At TE, they add UAB transfer Dallas Payne, who was held catchless against the Huskies. He made one start and had 382 yards in two seasons for the Blazers. The unit is inexperienced, but they have a good QB in Jenkins to help out.
Defensively, they return just three starters throughout the unit, and had to fill many gaps through the portal. On the DL, Keegan Davis returns after totaling 30 tackles last year, the most of any returnee. Quaylen Hill figures to start at NT after making two starts last year in a backup role. They add DT Olasunkonmi Agunloye from Marshall, and UVA before that, and JUCO DE Kenton Simmons, who had 43 tackles in two years at JUCO power Butler. They also add Florida State transfer Dante Anderson, and Stanford transfer Aaron Armitage. They lose a lot, but new DC Jovann Dewitt believes they have better size and length than in previous years.
At LB, they lose all their starters including leading tackler Travion Barnes (129 tackles), Elijah Anderson-Taylor (94 tackles), and Jamal Potts (81 tackles), their top three tacklers. They will rely on a couple of returnees and a Florida A&M transfer Simmons knows well to try and replace them. Percy Courtney returns after totaling 25 tackles a year ago, as does potential all-name team list LB Mister Clark, who played in four games last year. Johnny Chaney, who spent three years at FAMU, making 16 starts and notching 143 tackles, joins after spending last year at Colorado, playing in four games and taking a redshirt. Have to imagine the unit takes a bit of a step back after losing so much production.
In the secondary, two starters return in CB Brian Blades (29 tackles), and Arkansas State SS Websley Etienne (56 tackles in nine starts). They also return Demetrius Hill, who had 95 tackles in 12 starts in 2022, but transferred to Illinois. He is back, as is FS Shamir Sterlin, who played in three games with nine tackles last year as a true freshman, and other CB Victor Evans (15 tackles). It’s an intriguing unit, as Blades has NFL potential, and Etienne had a great year for Arkansas State.
On special teams, FIU will need to replace a kicker, and a punter. Starting K left the team after week one, and two kickers, led by Alejandro Prado hit 7-9 FGs. They bring in UAB transfer K Noah Grant, who handled kickoffs last year for the Blazers. At punter, they bring in Trey Wilhoit from FAMU, who had a net average of 37 yards per punt last year, and downed 19 punts inside the 20. They lose PR Dean Patterson, but return kick returners C’Quan Jnopiere, and Ross Fournat. Some of the new WRs can step up and replace Patterson, and the group should improve in 2025, assuming everyone sticks around.
Prediction:
I think this is an underrated game on the schedule. FIU could potentially win 8 games in Simmons’ first season, and we know that the Huskies have struggled traditionally with mobile QBs. The defense made adjustments last time around, holding FIU scoreless in the second half, and with a much stronger offense than in ‘23, I don’t see this matchup going the same way. Still, I don’t think it’ll be cakewalk for the Huskies, but I do think they get the win at home.
UConn 31 FIU 24