By Pete Pelegrin
Twitter: @Petepelegrin

It has been an historic 2017 season for FIU. The Panthers have matched the program record for wins in a season, broken all kinds of FIU records and can cap an outstanding first season for FIU coach Butch Davis by defeating Temple in the Gasparilla Bowl on Thursday, Dec. 21.

The Gasparilla Bowl is the third bowl game in FIU's short history and the last time the Panthers were in the postseason was in the same building – Tropicana Field – in the 2011 Beef 'O' Brady's St. Petersburg Bowl.

Today marks 8 days until kickoff between FIU and Temple. Until Dec. 21 we're going to count down the days until the Gasparilla Bowl by re-visiting the Top 10 moments of the 2017 FIU football season.

Of course, the No. 1 moment could happen in the Gasparilla Bowl, but until then there is another No. 1 moment that we'll reveal on Dec. 20. Let's continue the countdown:

8. TULANE BECOMES ONE LANE

There were several times this season that the FIU defense's mettle was tested. Against one of the best rushing teams in the nation, the Panthers would have to answer without their top two leading tacklers.

Missing linebackers Treyvon Williams and Anthony Wint due to injuries, the Panthers faced Tulane, the No. 8 rushing team in the nation, which at the time was averaging 293 rushing yards per game.

The FIU defense held its own and more against Tulane's dangerous read-option attack. The Panthers limited the Green Wave to 81 yards on the ground in the first half while the FIU run offense wore down the Tulane defense.

Behind a ball control, balanced offense FIU defeated Tulane 23-10. The Panthers rushed for 218 yards, threw for 220 yards and possessed the ball for 36:50 on a hot, humid night in Miami that had several Tulane defenders with their hands on their hips throughout the game.

Fermin Silva led the Panthers with eight tackles, including two sacks and three tackles for loss. Jermaine Sheriff recovered a fumble and Brad Muhammad intercepted a pass. Tulane finished with 203 rushing yards, 90 yards below its season average.

FIU was 4-2 after that game and at that time matched the 2011 FIU team for the best start in the program's 16-year history.

TOP 10 MOMENTS OF 2017 FIU FOOTBALL SEASON COUNTDOWN

10. TWO-YARD SPECIAL
 9. SWEET "HOME" ALABAMA