GAME 7
FIU (2-4, 1-1 CUSA) at UTEP (0-6, 0-3 CUSA)
DATE
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
KICKOFF
9 p.m. ET
STADIUM
Sun Bowl (51,500)
WATCH FIU FOOTBALL WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE
FIU FOOTBALL MEDIA AVAILABILITY – GAME 7 – at UTEP
FIU football head coach
Mike MacIntyre, along with junior running back
Kejon Owens, met with the media on Friday afternoon in advance of the Panthers' road game at UTEP – which is slated for a 9 p.m. ET kickoff on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
WATCH HERE
THE COACHES
FIU
Head Coach: Mike MacIntyre (Georgia Tech '89)
Overall Record: 56-86 (12th season)
Record at FIU: 10-20 (3rd season)
UTEP
Head Coach: Scotty Walden
Overall Record: 34-26 (7th season)
Record at UTEP: 0-6 (1st season)
QUICK HITS
- FIU will be facing UTEP for the seventh time in program history and for the third straight season when they meet on Wednesday in El Paso.
- The Panthers will be looking to snap a two-game skid to the Miners and for their first road win in the series since 2016.
- FIU last road win came at Sam Houston (10/18/23)
PANTHERS CONCLUDE ROAD TRIP AT UTEP
The Panthers conclude their current two-game road swing with a visit to El Paso on Wednesday night to take on UTEP in a 9 p.m. kickoff from the Sun Bowl.
Wednesday's game will be aired on CBS Sports Network and called by Dave Ryan (pxp) and Brock Vereen (analyst).
The audio broadcast can be heard on The Panther Online Network with AJ Ricketts (pxp) and Corey Brooks (analyst) on the mic.
The pregame show on The Panther Online Network will start 15 minutes prior to kickoff and a postgame show will follow the conclusion of the contest.
The Panther Online Network can be accessed by visiting fiusports.com/listen.
WEEKNIGHT CLASHES CONTINUE
Wednesday night's game will mark the second of four consecutive nationally-televised weeknight games and the second straight road contest.
UP NEXT
FIU will return home on Tuesday, Oct. 22 when it hosts Sam Houston in a 7:30 p.m. ET start slated to air to a national audience on ESPNU.
The FIU-Sam Houston clash will be the annual Vice Night game which will see the Panthers wear the nationally-acclaimed uniforms that represent the heritage of the city of Miami.
SCOUTING UTEP
UTEP enters Wednesday night's meeting with the Panthers looking for its first win of the 2024 campaign following a 0-6 start.
The Miners are 0-2 at home with losses against Southern Utah (27-24/OT) and Sam Houston (41-21). UTEP also dropped road games at Nebraska (40-7), Liberty (28-10), Colorado State (27-17) and Western Kentucky (44-17).
UTEP is led by Scotty Walden, who is in his first season at the helm of the Miners' program.
The Miners are averaging 16.0 points over the first six games and have posted an average of 225.0 passing yards and 98.3 rushing yards offensively.
Kenny Odom leads the UTEP receiving corps with 19 catches for 435 yards and four touchdowns. Kam Thomas has hauled in a team-best 34 catches for 339 yards and a touchdown.
The Miners have employed a pair of quarterbacks this season in Skyler Locklear and Cade McConnell. Locklear has completed 77-of-121 pass attempts for 792 yards and three touchdowns, while McConnell has gone 40-for-71 for 540 yards and four touchdowns.
Defensively, the Miners are allowing 34.5 points per game in 2024. They have surrendered an average of 235.5 yards on the ground and 207.8 through the air. They have posted 15 sacks in the first six games and forced six turnovers.
LAST MEETING VS. UTEP
Despite finding itself facing an early deficit, the FIU football team put together a second-half rally before coming up on the short end of a 27-14 decision against UTEP on Oct. 11, 2023.
UTEP opened the contest with 21 unanswered points in the opening quarter – which proved to be just enough to keep the Panthers at bay as it hung on for the victory in the meeting of Conference USA foes.
The Panthers began the second half with new energy as they put together a solid drive on their opening possession, that saw freshman quarterback
Keyone Jenkins complete passes of 19 yards or more to three different receivers before finishing the eight-play, 84-yard drive with his fourth rushing touchdown of the season – from one yard out – to trim the deficit to 24-14 at 10:28 of the third.
FIU's special teams kept the momentum going for the Panthers as it recovered an onside kick for the first time this season following the score but came away without points following a failed fourth and six attempt from the UTEP 46.
That was as close as the Panthers would get as the Miners added a late 20-yard field goal with less than six minutes remaining to account for the final margin.
FIU junior running back
Kejon Owens was a bright spot in the loss for the Panthers as he totaled 82 rushing yards on 10 carries, while averaging a solid 8.2 yards per attempt. He also scored on an 11-yard run.
Jenkins finished the contest 12-of-24 overall for 216 yards. He also rushed for a score for the fourth consecutive game.
UTEP was led by wide receiver Kelly Akharaiyi who snagged eight catches for a career-high 223 yards and a pair of touchdown receptions.
Miner signal caller Cade McConnell completed 11-of-17 passes for 262 yards and a pair of touchdowns. UTEP was led on the ground by Torrance Burgess Jr., who tabbed 86 yards.
PANTHERS RALLY FOR NEAR UPSET AT LIBERTY
FIU erased a 14-point deficit in the final 10:43 of regulation before eventually coming up just short in a 31-24 overtime loss at defending conference champion Liberty on Oct. 8.
The Flames, who entered the game with the nation's longest regular-season winning streak at 15 games, led by a 24-10 margin with under 11 minutes in the fourth quarter prior to the Panthers' rally.
FIU sophomore quarterback
Keyone Jenkins ran for a one-yard touchdown with 1:42 left in regulation to force overtime.
The Panthers drove 61 yards in 3:44 to deadlock the score after opening the critical drive with 5:36 left and trailing 24-17.
The push was keyed by a pair of catches by junior wide receiver
Eric Rivers – who snagged a 23-yard catch before hauling in a crucial 17-yard gain to convert a fourth and four and set the Panthers up at the Liberty four-yard line.
Jenkins followed two plays later with the one-yard scoring run to force overtime and after the FIU defense held firm on Liberty's final possession of regulation.
Liberty escaped with the victory after scoring on a nine-yard run by Kaidon Salter on its first overtime possession and then forcing and recovering a fumble on the Panthers' possession in the extra period.
The Panthers got within 24-17 with 6:23 left in regulation on a three-yard rushing touchdown by
Kejon Owens. The drive was sparked by a 40-yard completion from Jenkins to Rivers.
VICE JERSEY DROP
The Vice Jerseys are back in 2024 as the FIU football team will once again wear one of the most popular fits in college football when they host Sam Houston before a nationally-televised ESPNU audience on Tuesday, Oct. 22.
Miami Vice was more than just a popular television program that aired from 1984-89 on NBC. It was a cultural phenomenon that had a profound impact on the city of Miami. The show's vibrant colors, pulsating music, and stylish fashion made it an instant hit, capturing the imagination of audiences around the world. But Miami Vice did more than just entertain.
It put Miami on the map, showcasing the city's diverse culture and stunning beauty to a global audience, helping to establish the city as a top tourist destination.
And perhaps Miami Vice's most lasting impact is the way it shaped Miami's cultural identity. The show's portrayal of the city as a vibrant, multicultural, and dynamic metropolis helped redefine Miami's image. Nearly forty years after its debut, Miami Vice's impact on the city of Miami is still felt today.
As the only NCAA football program with an on-campus stadium in Miami, FIU is proud to celebrate the legacy of Miami Vice and the cultural identity of this great city by outfitting FIU football players in vice-themed uniforms again this fall.
BARNES LEADING THE WAY
Junior linebacker
Travion Barnes has wasted no time in establishing himself as a leader of the FIU defense.
He currently ranks second among all FBS players in total tackles with an average of 11.7 per game - which is also tops in Conference USA.
In addition, Barnes sits fourth among FBS leaders and first in CUSA with an average of 6.5 solo tackles per contest through the opening six games of 2024.
BIG PLAY RIVERS
Junior wide receiver
Eric Rivers is averaging 18.67 yards per catch through the opening six games of 2024 - which ranks fifth in CUSA and 35th among all FBS players.
Rivers has notched a total of 10 catches of at least 20 yards or more in 2024.
OTHER FIU NAMES IN CUSA/NCAA LEADERS
Quarterback Keyone Jenkins
46th NCAA/2nd CUSA: Passing TDs (9)
52nd NCAA/2nd CUSA: Passing Yards (1,349)
61st NCAA/3rd CUSA: Points Responsible For (68)
52nd NCAA/3rd CUSA: Passing Yards Per Game (224.8)
Defense
36th NCAA/5th CUSA: Red Zone Defense (0.778)
37th NCAA/3rd CUSA: Passes Intercepted (6)
8th NCAA/1st CUSA: Defensive TDs (2)
LIBERTY NOTES
- FIU made its second-ever visit to Liberty and its first since 2020.
- FIU and Liberty each lost a turnover on their opening possession of the second half. Liberty fumbled inside the FIU one-yard line and it was recovered by the Panthers just shy of the goal line.
- The Liberty fumble was forced by CJ Christian and recovered by Travion Barnes.
- Junior linebacker Barnes finished with a career-high 16 tackles – including a career-high two sacks and three TFLs. He has recorded double-figure stops in four of the last five games overall and has led FIU in tackles in each of the last five games.
- Junior wide receiver Dean Patterson caught six passes for a career-best 90 yards.
- Liberty entered the game with the longest current regular-season winning streak among all FBS teams nationally at 15 games.
- FIU is now 8-7 all-time in overtime games and the loss snapped a three-game win streak in extra time.
HEADED OUT OF SOUTH FLORIDA
FIU will be playing its second game outside of South Florida since the season opener at Indiana on Aug. 31 when it travels to meet UTEP.
The Panthers lone road contest over the last five weeks was a short trip to meet Florida Atlantic on Sept. 14.
FIU played three home games during that stretch against Central Michigan (Sept. 7), Monmouth (Sept. 21) and Louisiana Tech (Sept. 28).
BARNES NAMED CUSA DEFENSIVE POW AGAIN
Junior linebacker
Travion Barnes was honored as the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week, for the period ending Oct. 12 - marking his second honor this season after previously being honored on Sept. 30.
The junior linebacker tabbed a career-best 16 tackles, including seven solo stops, along with two sacks, three TFLs and a fumble recovery in the Panthers' 31-24 overtime loss at Liberty on Oct. 8.
For his initial CUSA Defensive POW Award, Barnes led the FIU defense with a game-high 14 tackles, including a sack and two TFLs in the Sept. 28th win over Louisiana Tech in the Conference USA opener for both teams.
The Panthers' defense limited the Bulldogs to 10 points and held them scoreless for the final four possessions and last 17:43 of regulation.
Barnes is the second FIU player recognized with a weekly conference honor this season, joining
Keyone Jenkins, who was recognized as CUSA Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 9.
GOALINE STAND SPARKS LA TECH WIN
The FIU defense came up with a huge goal line stand to help give the Panthers momentum in its 17-10 win over Louisiana Tech in the CUSA opener on Sept. 28.
With 3:37 left in the second quarter and FIU leading 7-0, the Bulldogs had a first and goal at the FIU one-yard line.
The Panthers didn't budge as they stopped Louisiana Tech four consecutive plays for no gain and force a turnover on downs.
Five different players were in on the critical stops.
D POSTS FIRST SHUTOUT HALF SINCE 2019
The FIU defense shutout Louisiana Tech in the opening half of its 17-10 win on Sept. 28.
It marked the first shutout in a half for the Panthers' defense since blanking UMass on Oct. 5, 2019.
FEWEST RUSH YARDS ALLOWED IN CUSA
The FIU defense limited Louisiana Tech to 79 rushing yards in its 17-10 win on Sept. 28.
That marked the fewest allowed to a CUSA foe since holding Charlotte to 60 on Oct. 22, 2022.
WIN IN CUSA OPENER FIRST TIME SINCE 2018
FIU's win over Louisiana Tech in its CUSA opener marked the first time it has opened with a win in conference play since defeating Old Dominion (28-20) on Sept. 8, 2018.
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
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