GAME 12
FIU (4-7, 2-5 C-USA) vs. Middle Tennessee (6-5, 3-4 C-USA)
DATE
Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022
KICKOFF
6 p.m. ET
STADIUM
FIU Stadium (20,000)/Miami, Fla.
HEAD COACH INFO
FIU
Head Coach:
Mike MacIntyre (Georgia Tech '89)
Overall Record: 50-72 (10th season)
Record at FIU: 4-7 (1st season)
MIDDLE TENNESSEE
Head Coach: Rick Stockstill
Overall Record: 107-103 (17th season)
Record at MT: 107-103 (17th season)
QUICK HITS
- The Panthers will be looking to close out the 2022 campaign with its fifth win of 2022 - which would be the most for the Panthers since posting six wins in 2019.
- FIU and Blue Raiders will be meeting for the 18th consecutive season when they square off on Saturday in Miami.
SETTING THE STAGE
FIU will wrap up its 2022 campaign on Saturday, Nov. 26 when it hosts Middle Tennessee in a 6 p.m. ET kickoff at "The Cage" in Miami.
The game will be aired on ESPN3 with AJ Ricketts (pxp) and Corey Brooks (analyst) on the call.
The game can also be heard on Miami's WQBA 1140 AM.
Saturday's game will mark the annual "Senior Day" game with the Panthers expected to honor a total of three seniors prior to the contest, including defensive backs
Dorian Hall and
Kyan Brumfield, along with defensive lineman
Davon Strickland.
FIU will be looking for its fifth win of the 2022 campaign when it faces the Blue Raiders on Saturday evening - which would match its best single-season total since posting six in 2019.
Saturday's game will mark the 18th consecutive season that the Panthers have faced Middle Tennessee - dating back to 2005. The Blue Raiders lead to all-time series 12-5 and have won each of the last three meetings between the programs and six of the last seven overall.
The Panthers (4-7, 2-5 C-USA) have dropped their last three games at North Texas, at home against Florida Atlantic and at UTEP following wins in their previous two contests at Charlotte and vs. Louisiana Tech.
Middle Tennessee enters Saturday's tilt 6-5 overall and 3-4 in Conference USA action. The Blue Raiders have won their last two games over Charlotte and Florida Atlantic.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will close out the 2022 campaign on Saturday vs. Middle Tennessee.
FIU will then shift focus to the early national signing period - which is slated for Dec. 21-23, 2022.
SCOUTING MIDDLE TENNESSEE
The Blue Raiders enter Saturday's clash with the Panthers having won each of their last two games and three of the last four overall. Middle Tennessee posted wins over Charlotte and Florida Atlantic in its most two recent contests.
Middle Tennessee is 3-3 on the road this season with wins over Colorado State, Miami (Fla.) and UTEP.
FIU and Middle Tennessee have faced six common opponents so far this season with both programs sharing a win over Charlotte in those contests.
FIU defeated Louisiana Tech and lost to Florida Atlantic, UTEP, UTSA and Western Kentucky. The Blue Raiders lost to Louisiana Tech, UTSA and Western Kentucky, while defeating FAU and UTEP.
Middle Tennessee averaging 28.8 points per game, while allowing 28.1 over their initial 11 contests.
MT's is averaging a total of 385.4 yards of offense per game - with a total of 266.1 coming via the air and 119.3 on the ground.
The Blue Raiders offense is directed by senior quarterback Chase Cunningham who has tossed for 2,641 yards this season and 19 touchdowns. He has completed over 67 percent of his passes (254-of-378) and tossed nine interceptions.
The Blue Raiders top receiver is Jaylin Lane - who has amassed 769 yards and four TDs on 54 receptions. Middle Tennessee boasts a total of six players who have garnered over 300 receiving yards.
Frank Peasant paces the Blue Raiders' rushing attack with a team-high 719 yards and nine touchdowns on 156 carries (4.4 avg.)
Middle Tennessee leads Conference USA in sacks (18), rushing defense (125.5) and red zone defense (67.4%).
Overall defensively, Middle Tennessee is allowing 119.3 rushing yards and 266.1 passing yards per game - and an average of 28.1 points.
LAST TIME VS. MIDDLE TENNESSEE
The FIU football team committed a total of three turnovers in the opening half as it was defeated by a 50-10 margin at Middle Tennessee State (11/13/21).
Middle Tennessee State capitalized on each of those miscues by the Panthers and scored on its opening six possessions as it raced out to a 34-3 halftime lead – including a 27-0 margin during the second quarter of play.
FIU senior quarterback Max Bortenschlager was limited to 98 yards while connecting on 9-of-20 pass attempts. He tossed a pair of interceptions – one of which was returned for a touchdown.
MTSU's offense was paced by its ground game – which averaged 5.6 yards per carry while totaling 261 yards for the game.
Blue Raider signal caller Nicholas Vattiano completed 20-of-24 passes for 147 yards, including a pair of touchdowns. His top target was Martell Pettaway who snared 11 receptions for 95 yards and a score.
Freshman
Chase Gabriel hit a season-long 53-yard field goal on FIU's opening possession to make the score 7-3 with 4:27 left in the first.
REGGIE PETERSON STEPPING UP
Sophomore linebacker
Reggie Peterson has racked up 22 tackles over the last three games - including a career-high 11 vs. Florida Atlantic on Nov. 12.
The Fort Pierce, Fla., native had recorded a total of five stops over the initial eight games and recorded five all of last season before his recent breakout.
NOBLES MAKES BIG PLAY AT UTEP
Graduate linebacker
Alex Nobles recovered his second fumble of the season in the fourth quarter and returned it 15 yards for the first touchdown of his collegiate career – the first fumble returned directly for a score since Sage Lewis took one back 61 yards for the Panthers at Charlotte on 11/17/18.
Sophomore defensive back
Adrian Cole also recovered a fumble following an interception by teammate
Reggie Peterson and ran it in for a touchdown – at North Texas on Nov. 5.
TURNOVERS TELL THE STORY
FIU committed four turnovers - three of which came in the opening 30 minutes - in its loss to Florida Atlantic on Nov. 12.
The four turnovers marked the most committed by the Panthers since losing four fumbles vs. Middle Tennessee on Oct. 26, 2019.
FIU is 4-2 this season when it commits one turnovers or less and 0-5 when it has more than two turnovers.
NOTABLES FROM UTEP...
- FIU allowed 38 points unanswered points in the first half before falling 40-6 at UTEP in the final road game of the season on Nov. 19.
- Was the first meeting between FIU and UTEP since 2019 and the Panthers' first trip to El Paso to face the Miners since 2016.
- UTEP recorded a safety with just over five minutes left in regulation – the first by an FIU opponent since August 31, 2017 at UCF.
50 WINS FOR COACH MAC
FIU head coach
Mike MacIntyre secured the 50th win of his career with the Panthers' 42-34 double overtime win over Louisiana Tech on Oct. 28.
MOST TURNOVERS SINCE 2014
The Panthers' defense forced five turnovers (3 INT/2 FR) in their 34-15 win at Charlotte on Oct. 22.
The last time that FIU forced five or more turnovers was on Nov. 15, 2014 vs. Middle Tennessee (3 INT/2 FR).
MONTIEL NAMED TO RAY GUY WATCH LIST
Sophomore punter
Daton Montiel has been selected to the watch list for the Ray Guy Award, which is presented annually to college football's most outstanding punter by the Augusta Sports Council.
Montiel currently ranks 47th national among NCAA FBS leaders with an average of 42.4 yards over 56 punts this season.
The Pompano Beach, Fla., native has boomed 13 kicks over 50 yards this season, including a 64-yarder and has placed a total of 17 punts inside the 20-yard line.
He has totaled 64 punts this season over the initial 11 games – totaling 2,714 yards and forcing 33 fair catches.
Montiel is the third player in FIU history to earn mention to the prestigious list – joining former Panthers Stone Wilson and Tommy Heatherly.
The award is named after punter Ray Guy, an All-American for Southern Mississippi and an All-Pro in the National Football League for the Oakland Raiders.
The Ray Guy Award winner is selected by a voting body of Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) sports information directors, national media and former Ray Guy Award winners.
