GAME 12
FIU (4-7, 1-6 CUSA) vs. Western Kentucky (6-5, 4-3 CUSA)
DATE
Saturday, November 25, 2023
KICKOFF
3 p.m. ET
STADIUM
FIU Stadium (20,000)/Miami, Fla.
WATCH FIU FOOTBALL WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE
FIU FOOTBALL MEDIA AVAILABILITY – GAME 12 – vs. WESTERN KENTUCKY
FIU football head coach
Mike MacIntyre met with the media on Tuesday afternoon to preview this Saturday's season finale vs. Western Kentucky.
WATCH HERE
THE COACHES
FIU
Head Coach:
Mike MacIntyre (Georgia Tech '89)
Overall Record: 54-79 (11th season)
Record at FIU: 8-15 (2nd season)
Western Kentucky
Head Coach: Tyson Helton
Overall Record: 38-26 (5th season)
Record at WKU: 38-26 (5th season)
QUICK HITS
- The Panthers enter Saturday's final game of the 2023 season seeking their fifth win and will also be looking to even their home record at 3-3 for the year.
- FIU will be facing WKU for the 17th time in program history on Saturday. The Panthers trail the all-time series 10-6.
- Saturday's game will mark the Panthers first at home in exactly one month – with their last appearance at The Cage coming on Oct. 26 vs. Jax State.
FIU CLOSES OUT 2O23 SEASON AT THE CAGE ON SATURDAY VS. WESTERN KENTUCKY
The Panthers will host Western Kentucky on Saturday afternoon in a 3 p.m. ET kickoff from The Cage in Miami in the final game of the 2023 regular season for both teams.
Saturday's game will be aired on ESPN+ will be called by AJ Ricketts (pxp) and Johnathan Cyprien (analyst) and can also be heard on Miami's WQBA 1140 AM with Zach Letson (pxp) and Alejandro Gonzalez (analyst) on the mic.
The pregame show on WQBA 1140 AM will start 30 minutes prior to kickoff and a postgame show will follow the conclusion of the contest.
WIDE RECEIVER KRIS MITCHELL ON VERGE OF RECEIVING MARK
Junior wide receiver
Kris Mitchell enters Saturday's regular season finale vs. Western Kentucky with 1,002 receiving yards – 72 shy of tying the program's single-season record of 1,074, which was set by
Tyrese Chambers in 2021.
Mitchell currently leads Conference USA and ranks 12th nationally in receiving yards and has tabbed a total of three 100-yard plus performances in 2023.
In addition, Mitchell's seven touchdown receptions this season are tied for the fourth-highest total in FIU single season annals and two shy of the program record of nine, entering Saturday's clash with Western Kentucky.
MOST RECEIVING YARDS - SEASON
| Rnk |
Yards |
Player |
Year |
| 1. |
1,074 |
Tyrese Chambers (45-1,074) |
2021 |
| 2. |
1,038 |
T.Y. Hilton (72-1,038) |
2011 |
| 3. |
1,013 |
T.Y. Hilton (41-1,013) |
2008 |
| 4. |
1,002 |
Kris Mitchell (56-1,002) |
2023 |
MOST RECEIVING TDS - SEASON
| 1. |
9 |
Tyrese Chambers |
2021 |
| 2. |
8 |
Thomas Owens |
2015 |
|
8 |
Jonnu Smith |
2014 |
| 4. |
7 |
Kris Mitchell |
2023 |
|
7 |
Thomas Owens |
2016 |
|
7 |
T.Y. Hilton |
2011 |
|
7 |
T.Y. Hilton |
2008 |
|
7 |
Cory McKinney |
2002 |
MOST CATCHES - SEASON
| Rnk |
No. |
Player |
Year |
| 1. |
72 |
T.Y. Hilton (72-1,038) |
2011 |
| 2. |
67 |
Chandler Williams (67-664) |
2006 |
| 3. |
66 |
Wayne Times (66-602) |
2012 |
| 4. |
61 |
Jonnu Smith (61-710) |
2014 |
|
|
Chandler Williams (61-870) |
2005 |
| 6. |
60 |
Alex Gardner (60-442) |
2015 |
| 7. |
59 |
Thomas Owens (59-887) |
2017 |
|
59 |
T.Y. Hilton (59-848) |
2010 |
| 9. |
58 |
Cory McKinney (58-675) |
2004 |
| 10. |
57 |
T.Y. Hilton (57-632) |
2009 |
| 11. |
56 |
Kris Mitchell (56-1,002) |
2023 |
MOST CATCHES - SEASON BY CLASS
| Cls. |
No. |
Player |
Date |
| Jr. |
61 |
Chandler Williams |
2005 |
DONOVAN MANUEL CLIMBING THE CHARTS
Senior linebacker
Donovan Manuel has enjoyed one of the best seasons by a defensive player in FIU annals in 2023 as he sits among the program's leaders in a number of defensive categories entering Saturday's season finale vs. Western Kentucky.
Manuel is currently sixth among the program's single-season leaders in tackles with 111 – two behind Johnanthan Cyprien (113/5th) and only eight behind Keyonvis Bouie, who sits in second with 119.
Sage Lewis owns the FIU record for most tackles in a single season with 132 in 2018.
Manuel is also within striking distance of second place on the FIU single-season solo tackle list with his current total of 61 – which currently sits tied for ninth. He is eight solo stops shy of Anthony Wint's second-place total of 72 – which was set in 2017. Sage Lewis (2018) also has the program mark for most solo stops in a season with 83.
Manuel currently ranks fifth for the most tackles in a season in FIU annals with 15.5. He is one shy of fourth place, which is held by Antwan Barnes with 16.5 in 2012.
The senior linebacker already is tied for the top spot on the single-season list for most forced fumbles with four – tied with three other players.
MOST TACKLES - SEASON
| Rnk |
No. |
Player |
Year |
| 1. |
132 |
Sage Lewis (83-49) |
2018 |
| 2. |
119 |
Keyonvis Bouie (68-51) |
2006 |
| 3. |
118 |
Keyonvis Bouie (65-53) |
2005 |
| 4. |
117 |
John Haritan (60-57) |
2003 |
| 5. |
113 |
Johnathan Cyprien (63-50) |
2010 |
| 6. |
111 |
Donovan Manuel (61-50) |
2023 |
| 7. |
109 |
Treyvon Williams (61-48) |
2016 |
| 8. |
108 |
Winston Fraser (64-44) |
2011 |
|
108 |
Anthony Wint (57-51) |
2016 |
| 10. |
101 |
Scott Bryant (42-59) |
2009 |
| 11. |
98 |
Alexander Bostic (55-43) |
2006 |
MOST SOLO TACKLES - SEASON
| Rnk |
No. |
Player |
Year |
| 1. |
83 |
Sage Lewis (83-49) |
2018 |
| 2. |
72 |
Anthony Wint (72-20) |
2017 |
| 3. |
69 |
Treyvon Williams (69-23) |
2017 |
| 4. |
68 |
Keyonvis Bouie (68-51) |
2006 |
| 5. |
65 |
Keyonvis Bouie (65-53) |
2005 |
| 6. |
64 |
Edwin Freeman (64-33) |
2018 |
|
64 |
Winston Fraser (64-44) |
2011 |
| 8. |
63 |
Johnathan Cyprien (63-50) |
2010 |
| 9. |
61 |
Donovan Manuel (61-50) |
2023 |
| |
61 |
Markeith Russell (61-35) |
2013 |
| |
61 |
Treyvon Williams (61-48) |
2016 |
| 11 |
60 |
Richard Dames (60-95) |
2021 |
MOST TFLS - SEASON
| Rnk |
No. |
Player |
Year |
| 1. |
22.5 |
Antwan Barnes (19-7/87) |
2006 |
| 2. |
19.0 |
Alexander Bostic (17-4/81) |
2006 |
| 3. |
18.0 |
Keyonvis Bouie (14-8/56) |
2006 |
| 4. |
16.5 |
Antwan Barnes (15-3/91) |
2005 |
| 5. |
15.5 |
Donovan Manuel (15-0.5/27) |
2023 |
| 6. |
15.0 |
Mike Wakefield (13-4/57) |
2015 |
|
15.0 |
Jarvis Wilson (13-4/86) |
2010 |
| 8. |
14.5 |
Tourek Williams (11-7/85) |
2012 |
|
14.5 |
Mike Wakefield (13-3/73) |
2014 |
| 10. |
14.0 |
Fermin Silva (14-0/46) |
2017 |
| 11. |
13.5 |
Tourek Williams (11-5/54) |
2010 |
MOST FUMBLES FORCED - SEASON
Rnk No. Player Year
1. 4 Donovan Manuel 2023
Mike Wakefield 2014
Jermell Weaver 2002
Mike Wakefield 2015
MITCHELL BECOMES THIRD FIU TO HIT 1,000 RECEIVING YARD MILESTONE
Junior wide receiver
Kris Mitchell totaled 157 receiving yards in the Panthers' most recent game at Arkansas on Nov. 18 – allowing him to become the third player in FIU annals to tally over 1,000 receiving yards in a single season.
He joins joining
Tyrese Chambers (2021/1,074) and T.Y. Hilton (2011/1,038 & 2008/1,013) as FIU players to reach the mark.
Mitchell also snagged his seventh touchdown catch of the season in the third quarter – which ties him for the fourth-highest single-season total in FIU annals – with Thomas Owens (2016), T.Y. Hilton (2008, 2001) and Cory McKinney (2002).
He has notched a total of 13 catches over 20 yards this season and six grabs of 40 or more yards in 2023.
The junior snagged an 80-yard catch at Arkansas, which also marked the longest pass play by the Panthers this season.
Mitchell currently ranks 12th among all FBS players in receiving yards and tops in Conference USA.
DONOVAN = DOMINANCE
Senior linebacker
Donovan Manuel has been one of the unquestioned leaders of the Panthers' defense in 2023.
Manuel currently ranks among the nation's leaders in a number of defensive categories including:
Tackles for Loss – 12th in FBS – 1st in CUSA (1.4)
Forced Fumbles – 4th in FBS – 1st in CUSA (0.36 pg)
Total Tackles - 15th in FBS - 2nd in CUSA (10.1 pg)
Solo Tackles - 11th in FBS - 2nd in CUSA (5.5 pg)
Manuel has recorded double-figure stops in five of 11 games overall. He has totaled 15.5 TFLs and 111 tackles to lead the Panthers in both categories through 11 games.
He has tabbed nine or more tackles in nine of 10 games overall entering Saturday.
Manuel has registered at least 2.0 TFLs in three of the last five games and six of 11 overall in 2023.
PANTHERS LOOKING FOR WIN NO. 5
FIU will be looking for its fifth win of the 2023 season when it faces Western Kentucky on Saturday in Miami.
The Panthers have posted four wins over the first 11 games of 2023 and one more win would eclipse last year's win total of four and mark the most wins for FIU in a single season since 2019 when it finished 6-7 overall.
ALL-TIME SERIES VS. WESTERN KENTUCKY
Saturday's game between FIU and Western Kentucky will mark the 18th meeting between the programs.
The programs have met for each of the previous eight seasons – dating back to 2015. FIU is 2-5 in that stretch with its last win over the Hilltoppers coming in 2018 by a 38-17 margin in Bowling Green.
FIU trails the all-time series with Western Kentucky 10-6 and own a 2-6 mark in previous road contests in the series.
SCOUTING WESTERN KENTUCKY
The Hilltoppers enter Saturday's action with an overall record of 6-5 and a 4-3 mark in Conference USA action. Western Kentucky posted a win in its most recent action with a 21-13 road win at UTEP, which snapped a two-game skid following a road loss at Jacksonville State (20-17) and home setback against Liberty (42-29).
Western Kentucky is 4-2 at home this season with wins over South Florida, Houston Christian, Middle Tennessee and Louisiana Tech.
The Hilltoppers are averaging 497.1 yards of offense and 36.4 points over their opening 11 contests and are allowing 383.9 yards and 23.4 points on average to their opponents.
Western Kentucky has shown the ability to move the ball through both the air and on the ground with an average of 352.1 yards passing and 145.1 rushing yards per contest.
WESTERN KENTUCKY - FLORIDA CONNECTION
The Hilltoppers have 21 players on their active roster that hail from the state of Florida.
| Virgil Marshall |
Cocoa, Fla. |
Cocoa |
| Marcus Patterson |
Crestview, Fla. |
Sandalwood |
| Vincent Murphy |
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. |
St. Thomas Aquinas |
| Reginald Allen Jr. |
Interlachen, Fla. |
Interlachen |
| Anthony Brackenridge |
Jacksonville, Fla. |
Sandalwood |
| Koron Howard |
Jacksonville, Fla. |
Sandalwood |
| Deante McCray |
Jacksonville, Fla. |
Sandalwood |
| Denzil Alleyne |
Lakeland, Fla. |
Bartow |
| Anthony Johnson Jr. |
Miami, Fla. |
Pace |
| Marvin Sims |
Miami, Fla. |
Champagnat Catholic |
| Nazir Ward |
Miami, Fla. |
Miami Northwestern |
| Darius Thomas |
Miramar, Fla. |
Miramar |
| Malachi Corley |
Orange City, Fla. |
Campellsville (Ky.) |
| Amaari Smith |
Pahokee, Fla. |
MTI Prep |
| Chavaris Dumas |
Palatka, Fla. |
Palatka |
| Rex Robich |
Palm Coast, Fla. |
Matanzas |
| Leavy Johnson |
Panama City, Fla. |
Bay |
| Austin Reed |
St. Augustine, Fla. |
St. Augustine |
| Willie Taggart Jr. |
Tallahassee, Fla. |
Florida State Univ. HS |
| Michael Moment |
Tampa, Fla. |
Tampa Bay Tech |
| Daniel Edwards Jr. |
Winter Park, Fla. |
Winter Park |
JENKINS BREAKS RECORD FOR RUSHING TDS BY QB
Freshman quarterback
Keyone Jenkins one-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter at Arkansas on Nov. 16 marked his sixth of the season and broke the FIU program record for most rushing scores by a signal caller – surpassing Alex McGough's total of five in 2017.
In addition, Jenkins has scored a rushing touchdown in a stretch of five consecutive games (Sept. 16-Oct. 18) – the program record for most consecutive games with a rushing touchdown by any player is six (6) – set by Darriet Perry in 2009.
PANTHERS MATCH BEST 4-GAME START
The Panthers' 3-1 start to 2023 matched their best four-game start in program history, which they also accomplished in 2017 and 2011.
MITCHELL ADDED TO BILETNIKOFF AWARD WATCH LIST
Junior wide receiver
Kris Mitchell has been added to the 2023 Biletnikoff Award Watch List, it was announced by The Tallahassee Quarterback Club (TQC) Foundation, Inc., the Florida-based creator and sponsor of the prestigious Biletnikoff Award.
The Biletnikoff Award annually recognizes the college football season's outstanding FBS receiver. Any player, regardless of position (wide receiver, tight end, slot back, and running back) who catches a pass is eligible for the award. As such, the Biletnikoff Award recognizes college football's outstanding receiver, not merely college football's outstanding wide receiver.
The semifinalists, finalists, and award recipient are selected by the highly distinguished Biletnikoff Award National Selection Committee, a group of 650 prominent college football journalists, commentators, announcers, Biletnikoff Award winners, and other former receivers. Foundation trustees do not vote and have never voted.
Mitchell was one of five players added to the list, which now totals 59 candidates for the prestigious honor.
JENKINS FOURTH AMONG ALL FBS FRESHMEN IN PASSING YARDS
True freshman quarterback
Keyone Jenkins has wasted little time making his presence known since taking over as starter the last eight games.
He currently boasts a total of 2,165 passing yards over his 10 starts entering Saturday's season finale - which currently ranks as the 56th-highest total in FBS - and fourth-most among all freshman nationally.
His average of 216.5 passing yards per game sits as the fifth-best mark in Conference USA and the 52nd best mark in the nation.
In addition, Jenkins has shown a knack for the big play with an average of 12.96 yards per completion - the 31st best total among all FBS quarterbacks.
The product of Miami Central High completed passes to eight different receivers while completing 20-of-32 passes for 291 yards in the Panthers' 46-39 win over North Texas on Sept.9.
That followed a 292-yard performance in his first career start vs. Maine on Sept. 2 which shattered the record for most passing yards ever by a true freshman at FIU - a record that had stood since 2002.
In his first road test, he went for 284 yards and two TDs in a 24-17 win at Connecticut - which also saw him complete passes to seven different receivers. He also added 24 yards on the ground and a rushing TD in the win over the Huskies on Sept. 16.
JENKINS WINS UNDER CENTER
True freshman quarterback
Keyone Jenkins has known little but winning in his recent seasons as a starting signal caller dating back to his prep career at Miami Central.
Jenkins won each of his last 26 starts at Miami Central while also guiding the Rockets to three consecutive state titles from 2020-22.
He opened 3-0 as a starter for FIU prior to a loss against Liberty on Sept. 23.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will open the 2024 season on the road at Big Ten member Indiana on Saturday, August 31.
TICKETS
For more information on FIU Football season and individual tickets, including student ticketing, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit the
FIU Athletics Online Ticket Office
SOCIAL MEDIA
Get all the latest information on the team by following
@FIU.Football on Instagram and
@FIUFootball on Twitter and
Facebook.
General athletic news can also be found at
@FIUSports on Facebook and
@FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.
