MIAMI (Sept. 4, 2018) – FIU treks north this Saturday as the Panthers visit Old Dominion to open the Conference USA slate for the 2018 season. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET, with the game being aired on beIN Sports.
 
For the complete game notes, click here.
 
ODU PREVIEW
After coming off a 5-7 season in 2017, the Monarchs dropped their season opener to Liberty, 52-10, last week. The Flames scored 38-straight second half points to trounce the Monarchs, while gaining nearly 600 yards of total offense against ODU.
 
LAST TIME AGAINST THE MONARCHS
The Panthers entered halftime trailing 24-14, before a feverish second-half comeback that brought FIU back to within one point. ODU scored 13 unanswered points before a last second FIU touchdown, ultimately winning a 37-30 shootout.
 
Alex McGough led the aerial assault for the Panthers with 323 yards and three touchdowns. Alex Gardner added 95 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
 
INSIDE THE SERIES
The Panthers and Monarchs have met five times on the gridiron, with ODU holding a slight lead in the all-time series 3-2. Last time out, the Panthers dropped a 37-30 decision at Riccardo Silva Stadium.
 
C-USA OPENERS
FIU is 4-1 in C-USA openers since joining the league in 2013, dropping its only contest to La Tech in 2015. The Panthers were 3-5 in conference openers during their Sun Belt days.
 
YEAR TWO SUCCESS FOR DAVIS
The FIU football program enters año dos in the Butch Davis era, which historically has been a very good season for Davis during his head coaching career.
 
At Miami (1996), Davis led the team to a 9-3 record and a share of the Big East title, while at North Carolina (2008) he turned around the Tar Heels for an 8-5 mark and earned the program's first ranking in almost seven years. Furthermore, Davis earned success in his second season with the Cleveland Browns as well, as he led the squad to a 9-7 record and an NFL playoff berth in 2002 -- the last since for the organization.
 
School (Affiliation)              Year        Record
FIU (NCAA)                            2018       0-1
North Carolina (NCAA)       2008       8-5
Cleveland Browns (NFL)     2002       9-7
Miami (NCAA)                      1996       9-3
 
STRIVING FOR GREATNESS
FIU has only earned back-to-back winning seasons once in the program's history, with the 2010 and 2011 squads stringing together consecutive winning seasons.
 
Furthermore, the Panthers have only earned seven or more wins three times over the course of 16 years.
 
Winning Seasons at FIU
Year        Head Coach                           Record
2017       Butch Davis                           8-5
2011       Mario Cristobal                    8-5
2010       Mario Cristobal                    7-6
 
CLUTCH CATS
FIU finished the 2017 regular season leading the nation in red zone scoring offense, converting 98 percent of its red-zone chances (40-of-41), which included 30 touchdowns.
 
The Panthers picked up right where they left off in the season opener, going 3-of-3 to continue their streak dating back to Nov. 4, 2017. Overall, FIU has scored on 24-straight of its red zone trips.
 
FORCING THE ISSUE
FIU forced 13 turnovers and recorded 19 sacks in its last seven games of 2017, finishing the season with 15 forced miscues and 23 sacks registered.
 
This past Saturday, the Panthers earned one INT and one sack against the Hoosiers to carry on the turnover tradition from last season.
 
RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME
Last season, the Panthers recovered 11 fumbles to rank 19th overall in the country and first in the C-USA. Former Panther and current New York Jet, Anthony Wint led the team with three recoveries in 2017.
 
HALL SHINES IN SEASON OPENER
Redshirt freshman Dorian Hall had quite the game to open his FIU career, as the safety earned one interception while making six tackles in his first start as a Panther. Hall's interception also marked a significant milestone, as he became the first freshman since 2002 to earn a pick in a season opener.
 
ALEXANDER MOVES TO WR
After beginning his career as a quarterback at FIU, redshirt junior Maurice Alexander made the switch from field general to wideout this season.
 
The transition has worked out so far for Alexander, as he earned his first career receiving touchdown in his first game at the new position. Alexander hauled in four catches for 25 yards and a score against Indiana.
 
SAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE
Redshirt junior Sage Lewis earned a monster game against Indiana, becoming a tackling machine against the Hoosiers to earn 18 total tackles for the game. The linebacker's total is tied for first in the nation, while tying for fifth-most in a single game at FIU.


THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT
Head coach Butch Davis had quite the haul for his first recruiting class at FIU, with the Panthers topping C-USA with the best recruiting class in the league. Additionally, the 2018 class ranked 67th nationally.
 
Top Recruits From Class of 2018
No.         Player                                     Pos.        Yr.           Rating
93           Teair Tart                               DL           R-Jr.        4*
97           Tayland Humphrey              DL           R-Jr.        4*
44           Cadarius Gaskin                    WR          Fr.           3*
26           Jamal Anderson                   DB           Fr.           3*
52           Donovan Georges                LB            Fr.           3*
77           D'Antne Demery                  OL           So.           3*
88           Sterling Palmer                     TE            Fr.           3*
 
PRESEASON WATCH LISTS
Quarterback James Morgan and kicker Jose Borregales nabbed preseason watch list honors for their respective positions prior to the start of the 2018 season.
 
Morgan was named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List, with the potential of having a great season under head coach Butch Davis. Morgan transferred to FIU after graduating from Bowling Green last season and will have two years of eligibility. As a freshman, Morgan threw for over 2,000 yards at Bowling Green and set a program record with 16 touchdown tosses in only seven starts.
 
Borregales was named to the Lou Groza Award Watch List after earning an 83.3% accuracy rate last season, which was second-best in 2017 among FBS freshmen who attempted at least 15 field goals. Overall, the kicker booted 15 of his 18 attempts last season through the uprights.
 
C-USA PRESEASON HONORS
The Panther duo of Jordan Budwig and Fermin Silva picked up Conference USA Coaches Preseason honors, with the pair poised to close out their FIU careers with a stellar season.
 
Budwig led the offensive line last season to one of its best years on the ground in school history, as he helped the Panthers rush for 2,069 yards in 2017. The offensive guard was granted a fifth year prior to the 2018 season.
 
For Silva, the defensive end was the team leader in tackles-for-loss (14.0), sacks (7.0) and quarterback hurries (6) while also racking up 50 total tackles in 2017.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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