MIAMI (November 23, 2017) – FIU returns home to take on Western Kentucky at Riccardo Silva Stadium. The Panthers and Hilltoppers renew a rivalry that began when both teams were in the Sun Belt Conference and currently continues in a Conference USA matchup.
 
FIU and WKU meet for the 11th time in their series history. The game is televised on BeIN Sports. WKU leads the series with FIU 6-4. The Hilltoppers defeated the Panthers 49-21 last November in Bowling Green, Ky.
 
FIU (6-4, 4-3 Conference USA) is coming off a 52-24 loss to Florida Atlantic in Don Shula Bowl XVI.  WKU (6-5, 4-3 C-USA) defeated Middle Tennessee 41-38 in overtime last Friday in Bowling Green, Ky.
 
WKU has won the last four games against FIU. Before that FIU won four games in a row against WKU, including, the Panthers last win in the series back in 2010. That victory spurred a stretch of six conference wins in seven games for FIU that led to the 2010 Sun Belt Conference title for the Panthers.
 
WKU features the top passing offense in C-USA led by quarterback Mike White. The Hilltoppers also have one of the stingiest pass defenses in the league.
 
FIU quarterback Alex McGough leads the offense. McGough was 20 of 32 for 218 yards and 2 TDs in the Shula Bowl to earn FIU MVP honors.
 
FIU linebacker Anthony Wint leads the team with 68 tackles. With his 11 tackles against FAU, Wint (312 career tackles) moved into second place all-time on the FIU career tackles list passing Scott Bryant. Former FIU and current Tennessee Titans safety Johnathan Cyprien is FIU's career tackles leader with 365.
 
Game Notables
- The Panthers look to pick up win No. 7 which would put them one win away from tying a program-best eight wins, which the 2011 team accomplished.
- Saturday is the 11th game for Butch Davis at FIU (6-4), and 132nd of his collegiate head coaching career.
- Saturday will mark the 189th game in FIU history.
- FIU is 28-of-29 (97%) when it gets inside its opponents red-zone, which ranks third nationally.
- FIU is 5-1 when scoring first this season.
- FIU has forced seven turnovers and recorded seven sacks in its last four games.
- The defense has recorded 12 sacks in the last five games.
- In his last three games, FIU senior QB Alex McGough has completed 87-of-125 passes for a 70% completion percentage.  He has also thrown a pair of touchdown passes in each of those four games.
- Senior LB Anthony Wint registered 11 tackles at Florida Atlantic last week - the fourth double-digit tackles game for the senior linebacker this season.
 
Senior Send Off
Saturday will mark the final game for 19 seniors for the Panthers. FIU will recognize the group before the game. Those seniors include:
 
OG Jordan Budwig
DB Bryce Canady
OL James Cruise
OL Chris Flaig
RB Alex Gardner
DB Niko Gonzalez
DE Jordan Guest
OL Pol Guzman
QB Alex McGough
TE Pharoah McKever
OL Chris Miller
CB Brad Muhammad
WR Thomas Owens
LB Fred Russ
DE Newton Salisbury
DB Shermarke Spence
WR Julian Williams
LB Treyvon Williams
LB Anthony Wint 
 
The Last 5
FIU's three-game win streak was snapped by Old Dominion, but the Panthers' have still been showing up strong in the last five games. Here's a look at some key numbers during the win streak.
 
- FIU is averaging 26.4 points per game.
- FIU is averaging 166.2 rushing yards and 230.6 yards through the air. Overall, FIU is averaging 396.8 yards per game.
- FIU has forced eight turnovers – four fumbles and four interceptions.
- The defense has recorded 11 sacks.
- FIU forced a season-high three turnovers against Marshall –two interceptions and one fumble.
- Senior quarterback Alex McGough has completed 104-of-156 passes for 1153 yards with nine touchdowns and three INT's. McGough's completion percentage sits at 66.7 percent with a 143.94 passing efficiency. McGough has accounted for 1,191 yards of total offense.
- Senior running back Alex Gardner has led the ground attack gaining 329 yards on 74 carries averaging 4.4 yards per carry. He's scored three touchdowns.
- WR Thomas Owens has 32 catches for 425 yards and three touchdowns, while averaging 13.3 yards per catch and 106.2 receiving yards per game.
- Linebackers Anthony Wint (32), Treyvon Williams (28), and Sage Lewis (23) have combined for 83 tackles.
- Defensive lineman, Newton Salisbury and Fermin Silva have combined for 9.0 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks while Anthony Johnson has 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
- Senior cornerback Brad Muhammad has all three interceptions and three pass breakups.
- Kicker Jose Borregales is 6-of-7 in field goals and 16-of-16 in PAT's.
- Punter Stone Wilson is averaging 40.2-yards per punt on 22 punts with eight fair-caught, 11 downed inside the 20 and five 50 plus yard punts.