WEEK 7: FIU (2-3, 0-1) vs. UTSA (4-2, 2-0)

 

DATE	Friday, October 14
TIME	8 p.m. ET
STADIUM	FIU Stadium (20,000)
LOCATION	Miami, Fla.
TV	CBS Sports Network
RADIO	WQBA 1140 AM | FIU Student Radio
INTERNET	Listen Live | Watch Live
LIVE STATS	FIU – UTSA Stat Feed
FOLLOW US	Twitter | Instagram
GAME NOTES	FIU Game Notes | UTSA Game Notes

 
SETTING THE STAGE
PANTHERS TAKE ON UTSA UNDER THE LIGHTS FRIDAY IN MIAMI
FIU plays its second consecutive home contest under the lights at FIU Stadium when it takes on UTSA in the Conference USA home opener on Friday, Oct. 14 beginning at 8 p.m. ET.

The game will be aired to a national audience on the CBS Sports Network with Dave Ryan (pxp) and Donte Whitner (analyst) on the call. 

The game can also be heard on Miami's WQBA 1140 AM with the voice of the Panthers AJ Ricketts (pxp) and Corey Brooks (analyst) calling the action.

FIU and UTSA will be squaring off on the gridiron for just the fourth time ever and the first time since 2018.  The Panthers posted a 14-7 win in the only previous meeting between the programs in Miami on Nov. 4, 2017.

The Panthers enter Friday night's tilt 2-3 overall after dropping a 33-12 decision against Connecticut on Oct. 8 in their most recent action.  FIU posted a season-high 409 yards of total offense against the Huskies.

UTSA is currently 4-2 overall in 2022 and 2-0 in C-USA action having already secured league wins over Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky.

HEAD COACH INFO
FIU                                
Head Coach: Mike MacIntyre (Georgia Tech '89)
Overall Record: 48-68 (10th season)
Record at FIU: 2-3 (1st season)

UTSA                        
Head Coach: Jeff Traylor (Stephen F. Austin '90)
Overall Record: 23-9 (3rd season)
Record at UTSA: 23-9 (3rd season)

QUICK HITS
- The Panthers will be playing back-to-back home games for the first and only time this season when they host UTSA under the lights on Friday.
- Friday's game will mark the C-USA home opener for FIU - the Panthers are 5-4 in home league openers since joining C-USA in 2013.

SCOUTING UTSA
The Roadrunners enter the Friday night showdown with the Panthers winners of their last three games and boasting the 11th-most potent offense in the country through six weeks of play.

Each of UTSA's losses were against ranked opponents - with the Roadrunners getting edged in their season-opener by a 37-35 decision in triple overtime against then-No. 24 Houston.

Following a non-conference win over Army, UTSA was handed a 41-20 setback in Austin against then-No. 20 Texas.

UTSA is averaging 498.3 yards per game offensively and are led by one of the nation's best signal callers in senior Frank Harris, who sits fifth in the nation posting 332.8 passing yards per contest.

Harris has completed 155-of-224 pass attempts for 1,997 yards and 13 TDs - while tossing just four interceptions.

The Roadrunners feature a total of three different receivers that have notched over 500 yards already this season in the trio of De'Corian Clark (618/7 TDs), Zakhari Franklin (586/6 TDs) and Joshua Cephus (549/2 TDs).

Clark ranks fourth in the nation with his seven TD catches, while his 618 yards checks in seventh among national leaders.

Franklin boasts the ninth most TD receptions (6) and 12th most yards.

Defensively it has been another story for the reigning C-USA champion Roadrunners - as they have allowed an average of 447.5 yards to their opponents - 115th nationally.

UTSA has allowed an average of 174. rushing and 273.5 passing yards a game to its opponents over its initial six contests.

PANTHERS GRADE HIGH IN PASS RUSH
FIU junior linebacker Shaun Peterson for the past two weeks has posted the highest pass rush grade amongst edge defenders in the entire FBS - according to Pro Football Focus.

In addition, FIU defensive tackles Davon Strickland (15th) and Jordan Guerad (23rd) rank among the top 25 nationally among FBS interior defensive lineman in pass rush grade.

The Panthers are the only FBS program to have multiple interior lineman in the top 25.

SEASON-BEST OFFENSIVE OUTPUT VS UCONN
The Panthers posted a total of 409 yards of total offense in their 33-12 loss vs. Connecitcut on Oct. 8 - their highest single-game output this season.

The Panthers outgained the Huskies 409-402 overall, while posting 256 passing and 153 rushing yards.

FIU was doomed by three first-half turnovers in the loss - a pair of interceptions and a lost fumble that led to 17 points for Connecticut.

The Panthers entered the Oct. 8 game vs. UConn having lost just four turnovers over their first four games - before commiting three in the first 30 minutes vs. the Huskies.

Lex Joseph flexes first fiu 100-yard effort
Junior running back Lexington Joseph (Miami Central HS) posted 103 rushing yards in the Panthers' game against UConn on Oct. 8 - the first by an FIU player this season and the second of his career.

In addition, Joseph's 47-yard TD burst in the third quarter vs. the Huskies marked the Panthers longest rush from scrimmage in 2022.

Joseph just missed surpassing his career-high effort of 105 yards which he set at Southern Miss last season.

QUICK HITS FROM UCONN...

• Oct 8 game vs. Connecticut marked FIU's first home game in 37 days – since the season opener vs. Bryant on Sept. 1.
• Jalen Bracey hauled in a season-high nine receptions for 75 yards.
• Dean Patterson's 46-yard catch in the fourth quarter tied for the second-longest reception by an FIU player this season.
• FIU's fourth quarter safety represented its first since Oct. 19, 2019 vs. UTEP.
• The Panthers posted their highest total offense output of the season to date with 409 yards.
• This season's matchup with UConn marked the first of four in a non-confernece series for over the next six seasons.
• Freshman defensive lineman Keegan Davis recorded his first career sack vs. UConn.
• Donovan Manuel finished with a team-high 11 stops, including a pair of tackles for loss (-4).

UTSA-FLORIDA CONNECTION
The Roadrunners feature a total of three players on their roster that hail from the state of Florida.

Travon Sylvester	St. John's, Fla.	Bartram Trail HS
Lamonte McDougle	Pompano Beach, Fla.	Deerfield Beach HS
Tye Edwards	Palatka, Fla.	Menendez HS

 
CHARLOTTE TV DESIGNATION ANNOUNCED
FIU'S road game at Charlotte on Saturday, Oct. 22 will be aired on ESPN3 beginning at 3:30 p.m.
 
The Panthers and 49ers will be meeting for the seventh time in history when they square off on Oct. 22 in a Conference USA showdown.  FIU leads the all-time series with Charlotte 5-1.
 
Additional television designations for future FIU Football games this season will be announced at a later date.

YOUNG ROSTER
FIU features one of the nation's youngest and most inexperienced rosters - as they Panthers have a total of 48 new faces on the 2022 squad - including 24 true freshmen.

STREAKS DIE IN LAS CRUCES
It only took four games for the new FIU coaching staff led by Mike MacIntyre to erase a pair of losing skids that the Panthers have been battling 2018 and 2019.

The Panthers' 21-7 victory over New Mexico State in Las Cruces marked FIU's first win over a FBS opponent since defeating Miami (Fla.) 30-24 on Nov. 23, 2019 - snapping a 19-game skid.

UP NEXT
The Panthers return to the road following Friday's game against UTSA with a trip to Charlotte to take on the 49ers in a C-USA clash on Saturday, Oct. 22 in a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff that will be aired on ESPN3.