FIU: (2-2, 0-1 C-USA) (1-2 away)
UMass: (0-3, 0-0 MAC) (0-1 home)
 
Date: Oct. 3, 2015
 
Location: McGuirk Stadium (FieldTurf) (17,000) in Amherst, Mass.
 
Kickoff: 3:00 p.m. ET
 
Press Box Phone: 413.545.3550
 
Television: ESPN3 - Alex Faust (play-by-play) and Matt Chatham (color analyst) will call the action.
 
Radio: 1210 ESPN Deportes (WMNA 1210 AM) - Mike Levine (play-by-play) and Wes Carroll (color analyst) on the call. Fans can listen by tuning into 1210 on their AM dial or by logging onto either www.FIUSports.com or www.1210ESPNdeportes.com
 
Live Stats: www.UMassAthletics.com
 
Live Video Streaming: http://espn.go.com/watchespn/
 
Tickets: 305.FIU.GAME (348.4263) -or- www.FIUSports.com
 
Records: FIU enters Saturday's game with a 2-2 record following a 27-17 loss at LA Tech on Saturday, Sept. 26. UMass enters Saturday's action with an 0-3 record following a 62-17 loss at Notre Dame on Saturday, Sept. 26.
 
FIU Head Coach Ron Turner: Turner (Pacific, 1977) is in his third season at FIU (7-21, .250) and 12th season overall as a head coach (49-82, .377). Turner has never faced the Minutemen.
 
UMass Head Coach Mark Whipple: Whipple (Brown, 1979) is in his eighth season at UMass (52-38, .578) and 18th overall (124-71, .636). Whipple has never faced the Panthers.
 
Series History: Saturday will mark the first meeting between the two programs
 
Game Five – Panthers Tangle with Minutemen this Weekend
The FIU football team will play its final non-conference game of the season as the Panthers travel to Amherst, Mass., to take on the UMass Minutemen on Saturday, Oct. 3. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 with Alex Faust (play-by-play) and Matt Chatham (color analyst) calling the action. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. Fans can also listen to the game on 1210AM ESPN Deportes with Mike Levine (play-by-play) and Wes Carroll (color analyst) on the call.
 
The Panthers will look to rebound from a tough 27-17 loss at Louisiana Tech last weekend to open up Conference USA action. FIU allowed 472 yards to the Bulldogs, including 246 yards on the ground in the 10-point loss. FIU's air attack was strong versus LA Tech as sophomore Alex McGough notched career-highs in attempts (44), completions (29) and yards passing (263). The game marked the fourth-straight, 200-yard outing for McGough, who also registered two passing touchdowns.
 
Senior Ya'Keem Griner had a career-high seven catches last weekend, recording 64 yards receiving and one touchdown. Running back Alex Gardner also set a career-mark in receptions (9), notching 70 yards in receiving to go along with his 29 yards rushing on the ground (14 attempts). Sophomore Thomas Owens caught his team-leading fourth touchdown reception versus LA Tech, grabbing four passes for 43 yards. Owens has caught a touchdown pass in three-straight games.
 
Defensively, FIU was led by linebacker Treyvon Williams (11 tackles) and defensive backs Jeremiah McKinnon (seven tackles) and Xavier Hines (seven tackles). The Panthers had 7.0 tackles for loss versus the Bulldogs with one forced fumble and four pass breakups.
 
On the year, FIU is averaging 23.2 points-per-game (No. 102 in the nation), gaining 398.8 yards-per-game of total offense (No. 79 in the nation). The Panthers are averaging 136.8 yards-per-game on the ground (104 in the nation) and 262.0 yards-per-game through the air (No. 40 in the nation).
 
The Panther offense is led by McGough, who comes into this week's game having completed 100-of-155 pass attempts for 1,014 yards and nine touchdowns. The Tampa native ranks No. 25 in passing yards, No. 34 in passing yards-per-game (253.5) and No. 16 in passing touchdowns, nationally. With 2,694 yards passing for his career, McGough is just the fifth player in FIU his to pass for over 2,000 yards.
 
In the backfield, FIU is led Gardner, who enters this week's action with 246 yards on 67 carries and two touchdowns.
 
FIU's receiving corps is led by Owens, who has totaled 26 catches for 329 yards and four touchdowns through the Panthers' first four games. The Boynton Beach, Fla., native ranks No. 22 in receptions-per-game (6.5), No. 44 in receiving yards-per-game (82.3), No. 33 in total receiving yards and No. 11 in touchdown receptions, nationally.
 
The Panthers' defense comes into the UMass game, allowing 22.8 points-per-game (No. 22 in the nation) as FIU ranks No. 50 in total defense (353.8 yards-per-game). FIU's rushing defense ranks No. 43 in the nation, allowing 133.8 yards-per-game on the ground.
 
Williams leads all Panthers with 33 total tackles this season. Fellow linebacker Anthony Wint is second on the team with 31 total tackles. Wint recorded a career-high 2.0 tackles for loss last week and has recorded 3.0 TFL on the year. Senior Denzell Perine leads the team in tackles for loss (4.5) and sacks (3.0).
 
Saturday will mark the first meeting between the two schools and will be the Panthers' third, first-time opponent this season.
 
Game Notables
-  FIU will play four of its first five games on the road.
-  Saturday will mark the 29th game for Head Coach Ron Turner at FIU.
-  Saturday will mark Turner's 132nd game as a college head coach.
-  Saturday will mark the first meeting between FIU and UMass.
-  FIU has faced two first-time opponents this season as is 1-1 in those contests
-  FIU will be looking to record its 19th road victory all-time on Saturday.
-  Saturday will mark the 159th game in FIU history.
-  FIU will be looking to improve to 3-2 to start the season.
-  Saturday will mark FIU's first trip to Amherst, Mass.
-  Coach Turner has never faced the Minutemen.
-  Saturday will mark the team's 14th appearance on ESPN3 (3-10 all-time).
-  Saturday will mark the team's 75th televised game.
-  Sophomore Alex McGough enters Saturday having thrown four-straight, 200-yard games.
-  Sophomore Thomas Owens enters Saturday having caught a touchdown pass in three-straight games.
-  Junior Jonnu Smith enters Saturday having caught a pass in 28-straight games.
 
A Quick Look at UMass
The Minutemen are in search of their first win of the season facing their third consecutive first-time opponent. Prior to this initial meeting with FIU, the Maroon and White completed their first contests against Temple on Sept. 19 at No. 6 nationally ranked Notre Dame on Sept. 26.
 
Umass freshman running back Marquis Young ran for 103 yards on only five carries, but it was not enough for the Minutemen as Umass faltered at No. 6 Notre Dame, 62-27, Saturday. With Young leading the way, the Maroon and White ground attack averaged 5.1 yards per attempt on 29 rushes.
 
In addition to Young's afternoon, Jamal Wilson added 51 yards rushing over seven carries (7.3 per attempt). Tajae Sharpe hauled in eight passes from Blake Frohnapfel covering 83 yards while Marken Michel added 46 more over six receptions and Shakur Nesmith pulled down three grabs for a team-high 88 receiving yards with one touchdown.
 
Frohnapfel went 20-for-40 against the Notre Dame defense for 233 yards passing with one interception. Ross Comis spelled Frohnapfel in the fourth quarter and threw for 69 yards and a touchdown on an 8-for-8 day passing.
 
A Look Back at the LA Tech Game
-  Mark Bruno, Deonte Wilson, Tyree Johnson and Anthony Jones made their first-career starts.
-  LA Tech's opening-drive score marked the first time FIU allowed the first score of the game this season.
-  Jonnu Smith extended his streak of consecutive games with a reception to 28 with a 19-yard reception in the first quarter.
-  Smith finished the day with three catches for 43 yards.
-  Austin Taylor's 44-yard field goal in the second quarter was a season long.
-  Ya'Keem Griner's 10-yard touchdown reception was the second of the season for the senior and fourth of his career.
-  Griner set a career-high in receptions with seven and was one yard shy of tying his career-high in yards receiving, posting 64 on Saturday.
-  Alex Gardner recorded a career-high nine catches (70 yards) versus the Bulldogs.
-  Alex McGough notched his fourth-straight 200-yard passing game, recording a career-high 263 yards through the air.
-  McGough set career-high is completions (29), attempts (44) and passing yards (263).
-  McGough also totaled two passing touchdowns to give the Tampa native nine on the year and 23 for his career (4th all-time at FIU).
-  Thomas Owens grabbed his fourth touchdown of the season in the fourth quarter. Owens has caught a touchdown pass in three-straight games. 
 
Record Watch - Richard Leonard
Senior Richard Leonard enters this Saturday's game ranked No. 3 in career kick returns (65), No. 2 in career kick return yards (1,679) and No. 2 in total return yards (2,478) in the FIU record books.
 
The Panthers in September
FIU finished the month of September with a 2-2 record, averaging 398.8 yards-per-game of total offense while scoring 93 points. A year ago, the Panthers went 2-2 during the month of September, averaging 293.0 yards-per-game of total offense and scored 96 points.
 
In 2014, FIU had three home games in September (1-2). This year, the Panthers have had only one home game (1-0).
 
Offensively, the Panthers have recorded 262 more passing yards and 161 more rushing yards than a year ago.
 
The difference from a year ago defensively is in the turnover category. This year, FIU has four interceptions and no fumble recoveries. A year ago, the Panthers totaled seven picks and 10 fumble recoveries during the month of September.
 
 28 and Counting
Junior Jonnu Smith enters Saturday's game having caught a pass in 28-straight games. That currently ranks tied for No. 10 among all active players, nationally.
                                                
A Look at the Passing Game
Through the first four game of the 2015 FIU season, Alex McGough has totaled 1,014 yard of 100-of-155 passing (64.5 percent) and nine touchdowns. Last year, the Tampa native recorded 448 yards on 42-of-88 yards passing and five touchdowns through the first four games.
 
First-Time Opponents in 2015
-FIU will face four first-time opponents in 2015.
-FIU faced Indiana for this first time on Saturday, Sept. 12, falling to the Hoosiers, 36-22, in Bloomington, Ind. The Panthers followed that up with a 39-14 win over first-time opponent N.C. Central on Saturday, Sept. 19.
-In its history, 2002-15, FIU is 17-42 in first-time meetings with its 59 all-time opponents.
-Two of FIU's four first-time opponents will be visiting Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium this season.
 
TO = TDs
Sophomore Thomas Owens enters Saturday's game with a team-high four touchdown receptions this season. The Boynton Beach, Fla., native has caught a touchdown pass in each of the team's last three games.
 
200+
Sophomore Alex McGough enters Saturday's game with 1,014 yards on 100-of-155 passing (64.5 percent) and nine touchdowns. The Tampa native has thrown for over 200 yards in each of the Panthers' first four contests.
 
Solid on the O-Line
Through the first four games, FIU's offensive line has allowed only three sacks. That averages out to 0.75 sacks allowed-per-game, which ranks No. 13 in the nation.
 
Offensive Explosion
On Saturday, Sept. 19, the Panthers racked up 490 yards of total offense versus the N.C. Central Eagles, marking the most total yardage by an FIU team under Head Coach Ron Turner. It also marked the second-straight 400-yard game for the Panthers, which totaled 406 yards at Indiana a week earlier. The 490 total yards are the most since FIU put up 522 versus Middle Tennessee on Oct. 13, 2012.
 
Road Trip
With only four road games during the 2014 season, FIU will play seven games away from Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium, including four of its first five games to start the season.
 
Get Your Popcorn Ready
"Get your popcorn ready" is a phrase TO (Terrell Owens) made popular in NFL as a way to let people know that a good show was coming. FIU's TO (Thomas Owens) put on a show on Thursday, Sept. 3, recording 10 catches for 78 yards at UCF. In the sophomore's first-career start, the 10 catches were two shy of the school record set by T.Y. Hilton (Oct. 8, 2011 at Akron). Not to be outdone, Owens followed that performance up with a nine-catch, 166-yard outing at Indiana last Saturday. The 166 yards were the fourth-most in a single game in FIU history. The sophomore also caught two TDs in that game including a 75-yard bomb from Alex McGough. The reception tied Owens for the fifth-longest touchdown catch all-time at FIU (Jonnu Smith – 75 yard touchdown at UAB – 9/27/14).
 
Airing it Out
On Saturday, Sept. 12, sophomore Alex McGough connected with wide out Thomas Owens for a 75-yard touchdown pass versus the Indiana Hoosiers. The reception tied the school record for the fifth-longest TD catch, tying the mark set last season when McGough hit junior Jonnu Smith for 75 yards at UAB (9/27/14).