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 7 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:

7. OVER HERD

Before last season's win over a dilapidated Marshall in Miami, FIU could not solve the Thundering Herd in four frustrating losses, none more so than a 52-0 pasting by the Herd in Huntington, West Va. in 2015.

This year before its game against Marshall in Huntington, FIU was two wins from bowl-eligibility and trailed the Herd by a game in the conference standings.

The Panthers encountered miserable conditions in late October in Huntington: 43 degrees, windy and persistent rain. It didn't matter this time as FIU brought its own sunshine to the Mountain State.

With a relentless rushing attack and an opportunistic defense, FIU sprinted to a 35-7 third quarter-lead over Marshall. Two rushing touchdowns, two touchdown passes from Alex McGough to Thomas Owens and a pick six by Brad Muhammad buried the Herd.

The Panthers rushed for 224 yards against the top rushing defense in Conference USA. Owens recorded his fourth straight 100-yard receiving game on the season with 114 yards. Muhammad had two interceptions in the game and a team-leading 10 tackles.

Redshirt freshman kicker Jose Borregales converted two field goals and at that point had made 10 consecutive field goals to place him second all-time in FIU history. The streak for Borregales ended two weeks later against Old Dominion. Former FIU kickers Jack Griffin and Adam Moss each hit 11 straight field goals during their playing careers.

After the resounding victory FIU was one win away from becoming bowl-eligible for the first time since 2011.

TOP 10 MOMENTS OF 2017 FIU FOOTBALL SEASON COUNTDOWN

10. TWO-YARD SPECIAL
9. SWEET "HOME" ALABAMA
8. TULANE BECOMES ONE LANE