MIAMI (Aug. 27, 2019) - The 2019 football season officially kicks off for FIU on Thursday, Aug. 29 as the Panthers travel to New Orleans to face off against the Tulane Green Wave.

Thursday's matchup kicks off at 8:00 p.m. ET,  broadcast live on ESPN3. 

For complete game notes, click here. 

SCOUTING THE GREEN WAVE
Tulane capped the 2018 season with a 7-6 mark as the Green Wave defeated Louisiana-Lafayette in the AutoNation Cure Bowl to bookend the year. Tulane won five of its final six games to capture a share of the American Athletic Conference West Division title. 

LAST TIME AGAINST TULANE
The only other meeting between FIU and Tulane came in 2017, when the Panthers rolled the Green Wave 23-10 at Riccardo Silva Stadium.

Alex McGough, noted Panther legend, led the way offensively, throwing for 220 yards and a score through the air and adding 42 yards on the ground. Wideout Thomas Owens had no problem against the Green Wave secondary, as he hauled in 152 yards on six catches. Jose Borregales booted three field goals, including a 42-yarder, to add to the 23-point total for the Panthers.

FIU IN SEASON OPENERS
FIU has earned a 3-13 (#4-12) record in season openers, with the Panthers owning a 1-7 (#2-8) record for season openers on the road. The Panthers have not won a season opener since 2015's 15-14 slugfest against UCF in Orlando.

# - Vacated win against Youngstown State in 2004

2018 RECAP
The 2018 season had plenty of fireworks, as the Panthers exploded for a program-best nine wins on the year after setting numerous records on the offensive side of the ball and coming up with key stops and takeaways on defense. The Panthers were led by grad transfer James Morgan, who earned C-USA Newcomer of the Year honors after his record-breaking season. FIU posted a 9-4 mark on the year, with highlight wins coming over Old Dominion (28-20), Middle Tennessee (24-21) and Toledo (35-32) in the 2018 Bahamas Bowl.

THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
The game against Tulane will be FIU's first Thursday night regular season contest since Aug. 31, 2017 at UCF. The Panthers are 5-5 overall on Thor's Day, with their last win coming against UCF (15-14) on Sept. 3, 2015.

ALL THE POINTS
The FIU offense had no trouble scoring last season, with the Panthers scoring a league-best 34.6 points per outing in 2018. FIU topped the C-USA in total points scored (450), average points per game (34.6), total touchdowns (58), team passing efficiency (154.7). The offense was also highly efficient in converting third and fourth downs, ranking first overall in C-USA with 46.8 percent and 65.2 percent respectively.

Additionally, the Panthers broke single-season school records for most points scored (450), total offensive touchdowns (54), total offense (5,480), most pass yards (3,194), total touchdown passes (27), total rushing touchdowns (27), completion percentage (65.5), passer rating (154.7), yards per pass (8.3) and yards per rush (4.8).

NO FLY ZONE
The FIU secondary was an opportunistic unit last season, with the Panthers earning 17 interceptions on the year. The 17 picks ranked second in the league and 11th overall in the nation, while setting a program record for most interceptions in a single season at FIU. The Panthers ranked fourth overall in the conference for pass defense and sixth in the league for pass defense efficiency.

KEEPING MORGAN CLEAN
The offensive line allowed a FIU season-low eight sacks last season, with the total ranking third in the nation in 2018 to effectively keep quarterback James Morgan very clean throughout the season. The offensive line remains relatively intact from last season, with Dallas Connell (C), Shane McGough (OG) and D'Antne Demery (OT) returning.

MORGAN EYES MORE GLORY
James Morgan enjoyed a breakout season in his first year with the Panthers and helped FIU to a school-record nine wins, while setting a single-season record for passing touchdowns (26) and finishing with the second-most passing yards (2,727) in school history. Morgan's 157.6 passing efficiency rating broke the single-season record at FIU, while ranking first overall in C-USA and 11th overall in the NCAA as he finished the year with C-USA Newcomer of the Year and Honorable Mention laurels. Entering 2019, Morgan has earned a spot on the Manning Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Davey O'Brien Award and Wuerffel Trophy Watch Lists to name a few.

LEWIS ON THE HUNT
In his first season at middle linebacker, Sage Lewis was a force to be reckon with as he broke FIU's single-season records in total tackles (132) and solos (83) to rank first in the league for both categories. The linebacker opened the 2018 season with an 18-tackle performance against Indiana (9/1) as he foreshadowed his big year. Lewis earned All-CUSA First Team honors in 2018, while being named the C-USA Preseason Defense Player of the Year entering 2019, while grabbing a spot on the Nagurski and Butkus Award Watch Lists.

UP NEXT
FIU returns home on Saturday, Sept. 7 as the Panthers host WKU to open conference play. The game between the Panthers and Hilltoppers is set to kick off at 7:00 p.m. ET. 

As a reminder, season tickets for the 2019 FIU football season are on sale. For more information, or to order your tickets by phone, please call (305) FIU-GAME.

Click Here To Purchase Season Tickets

SOCIAL MEDIA
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