GAME 8
FIU (2-5, 1-2 CUSA) vs. Sam Houston (5-2, 2-1 CUSA)

DATE
Tuesday, October 22, 2024

KICKOFF
7:30 p.m. ET

STADIUM
South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium (25,000)
 
 

TV	ESPNU
AUDIO	Panther Online Network
LIVE STATS	Stats Link
FOLLOW US	Twitter | Instagram
WEEKLY PRESSER	WATCH

 
WATCH FIU FOOTBALL WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE
FIU FOOTBALL MEDIA AVAILABILITY – GAME 8 – vs. SAM HOUSTON
FIU football head coach Mike MacIntyre, along with junior wide receiver Eric Rivers and junior defensive back JoJo Evans, met with the media on Friday afternoon in advance of the Panthers' meeting with Sam Houston – which is slated for a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff on Tuesday, Oct. 22.
 
WATCH HERE

 
THE COACHES
FIU                                                          
Head Coach: Mike MacIntyre (Georgia Tech '89)
Overall Record: 56-87 (12th season)
Record at FIU: 10-21 (3rd season)
 
Sam Houston
Head Coach: K.C. Keeler
Overall Record: 267-111-1 (31st season)
Record at SH: 93-38 (11th season)
 
QUICK HITS

• FIU will be facing Sam Houston for just the second time in program history on Tuesday night.
• The Panthers defeated the Bearkats 33-27 in double OT last season in the only previous meeting (10/18/23).
• Tuesday night's game will mark the Panthers' first home game since Sept. 23 - a span of 29 days.

PANTHERS SET FOR VICE NIGHT VS. SAM HOUSTON
The Panthers return home for the first time in 29 days to battle Sam Houston in the annual Vice Night game on Tuesday, Oct. 22 beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET at South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium.
 
Tuesday's game will be aired on ESPNU and called by Matt Schumaker (pxp) and Dustin Fox (analyst).
 
The audio broadcast can be heard on The Panther Online Network with AJ Ricketts (pxp) along with Corey Brooks and Billy Gil (analysts) 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
Tuesday night's game will mark the third of four consecutive nationally-televised weeknight games and the Panthers' first of back-to-back home games.
 
UP NEXT
FIU will conclude its two-game homestand on Tuesday, Oct. 29 when it hosts new Mexico State in a 7 p.m. ET kickoff from South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium.  The game will be broadcast to a national audience on CBS Sports Network.
 
SCOUTING SAM HOUSTON
Sam Houston enters Tuesday night's primetime clash with the Panthers 5-2 overall and fresh off a 31-14 home loss against Western Kentucky on Oct. 16.
 
The loss to the Hilltoppers snapped a four-game winning streak for the Bearkats - who defeated UTEP, Texas State, New Mexico State and Hawaii in the weeks leading up to the recent defeat.
 
Sam Houston defeated Rice to open the season and were defeated at Central Florida 45-14 in its only other setback.
 
The Bearkats are 2-1 on the road this season.  This will mark Sam Houston's second trip to the Sunshine State including the previous matchup at UCF in Orlando.
 
Sam Houston is led by K.C. Keeler, who is in his 11th season at the helm of the Bearkats' program.
 
The Bearkats are averaging 29.3 points over the first seven games and have posted an average of 181.2 passing yards and 219.7 rushing yards offensively.
 
Signal caller Hunter Watson leads the Sam Houston passing and rushing attacks.  He has completed 84-of-141 pass attempts for 987 yards and five touchdowns.  He has tossed five interceptions.  In addition, Watson is the Bearkats' leading rusher with 407 yards on 91 attempts along with four TDs.
 
Running backs DJ McKinney (393 yards/2 TDs) and Jay Ducker (365 yards/5 TDs) round out the Sam Houston rushing attack.
 
Qua'Vez Humphreys paces the receiving corps with 14 catches for 298 yards and four touchdowns.
 
Defensively, the Bearkats are allowing 24.7 points per game in 2024.  They have surrendered an average of 129.3 yards on the ground and 219.1 through the air.  They have posted 14 sacks in the first seven games and forced 13 turnovers.
 
LAST MEETING VS. SAM HOUSTON
FIU freshman quarterback Keyone Jenkins connected with junior wide receiver Kris Jenkins for a 25-yard scoring pass on the opening play in the second round of overtime to lift the Panthers to a 33-27 victory over Sam Houston on Oct. 18, 2023.
 
The Panthers defense held up their end on the following Sam Houston possession – as they pushed the Bearkats backwards with back-to-back sacks and kept them off the scoreboard to seal the victory.
 
The teams traded touchdowns on their opening possessions of overtime – with Sam Houston scoring on a 25-yard run by Noah Smith on its first play in the extra session before the Panthers answered with a one-yard quarterback sneak by Jenkins to push it to a second round of overtime.
 
Trailing 20-17 with under 90 seconds remaining, Jenkins picked up a key first down with a 23-yard run on a fourth and 18 to keep FIU's final drive in regulation alive and set up junior placekicker Chase Gabriel for a clutch 36-yard field goal that tied the game at 20-20 and sent the contest into overtime.
 
With the game tied at 17-17, FIU had possession deep in its own territory following a pooch punt by Sam Houston, that backed the Panthers up to their own three-yard line.  Jenkins had the ball slip out of his hands on a pass attempt which was then recovered by Sam Houston's Jevon Leon at the FIU 17.
 
The Bearkats capitalized with a 32-yard field goal by Colby Sessums to claim a three-point edge with 1:24 on the clock to set up the FIU rally.
 
Sam Houston quarterback Keegan Showmaker finished 31-of-47 passing for 306 yards and two touchdowns.  Smith caught nine passes for 91 yards in the defeat.
 
Jenkins completed 26-of-38 through the air for 190 yards and a touchdown.  Mitchell snagged eight catches for 81 yards and a touchdown.  Sophomore running back Kejon Owens paced the Panthers on the ground with 60 yards and a score.  Three different Panthers, including Owens, Jenkins and Shomari Lawrence.
 
CLOSE CALLS
FIU has only been outscored this season by a total of 18 points through the first seven games - despite a 2-5 record.
 
The Panthers have lost their last three games by a combined total of 19 points - with the most recent loss at UTEP coming by the widest margin at nine points.
 
JENKINS MOVES UP CAREER TD CHART
FIU sophomore quarterback Keyone Jenkins tossed his 21st career touchdown pass in the Panthers' game at UTEP on Oct. 16 - which placed him in a tie for sixth all-time among FIU career leaders.
 
MOST PASSING TDS - CAREER

Rnk	TDs	Player	Years
1.	65	Alex McGough	2014-17
2.	42	Josh Padrick	2003-06
3.	40	James Morgan	2018-19
4.	34	Paul McCall	2007-09
5.	30	Wes Carroll	2010-11
6.	21	Max Bortenschlager	2020-21
	21	Keyone Jenkins	2023-pres.

 
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.
 
JOJO EVANS POSTS 19 TACKLES AT UTEP
FIU junior defensive back JoJo Evans tabbed a career-best 19 tackles at UTEP on Oct. 16 - which ranked tied for the third-highest single game total in FIU history.
 
He also forced a fumble and added a QB hurry and pass breakup in game vs. Miners.
 
MOST TACKLES - SINGLE GAME

Rnk	No.	Player vs. Opp.	Date
1.	21	John Haritan at Youngstown State	9/11/04
2.	20	Keyonvis Bouie at Alabama	10/28/06
3.	19	Michael Dominguez vs. Louisiana	11/17/07
	19	Keyonvis Bouie at ULM	11/5/06
	19	JoJo Evans at UTEP	10/16/24

 
JONES FILLS IN AT UTEP
Sophomore quarterback Amari Jones saw his first extended playing time in the Panthers' game at UTEP on Oct. 16.
 
Jones entered the game after starting signal caller Keyone Jenkins was injured in the first quarter and completed his first collegiate TD pass on a 33-yard strike to Eric Rivers in the second quarter.
 
Jones entered the contest with one career completion – he finished 6-of-11 for 92 yards and a touchdown.
 
SALLA SNAGS FIRST PICK AT UTEP
FIU junior Bobby Salla Jr. hauled in the first interception of his career with 43 seconds left in the third quarter on Oct. 16 at UTEP.
 
He promptly returned it 32 yards to set up a FIU touchdown one play later.
 
UTEP NOTES

• FIU freshman Josiah Taylor blocked a punt at the 13:07 mark of the first period – it was the first of his career.
• FIU junior JoJo Evans forced a fumble which was recovered by senior CJ Christian at the 3:56 mark of the first quarter – setting FIU up at the UTEP 38.
• FIU junior Eric Rivers caught his team-leading fourth TD catch in the second quarter.
• The game featured a total of five lead changes.

 
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.
 
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 12.1 per game - which is also tops in Conference USA.
 
In addition, Barnes sits fifth among FBS leaders and first in CUSA with an average of 5.9 solo tackles per contest through the opening seven games of 2024.
 
BIG PLAY RIVERS
Junior wide receiver Eric Rivers is averaging 18.59 yards per catch through the opening seven games of 2024 - which ranks fifth in CUSA and 33rd among all FBS players.
 
Rivers has notched a total of 12 catches of at least 20 yards or more in 2024.
 
OTHER FIU NAMES IN CUSA/NCAA LEADERS
Quarterback Keyone Jenkins
52nd NCAA/2nd CUSA: Passing TDs (10)
62nd NCAA/3rd CUSA: Passing Yards (1,422)
66th NCAA/4th CUSA: Points Responsible For (74)
70th NCAA/5th CUSA: Passing Yards Per Game (203.1)
 
Defense
40th NCAA/6th CUSA: Red Zone Defense (0.800)
37th NCAA/2nd CUSA: Passes Intercepted (7)
10th NCAA/1st CUSA: Defensive TDs (2)
 
Team
35th NCAA/2nd CUSA: Fewest Penalty yards (321)
18th NCAA/2nd CUSA: Kickoff Returns (25.0)
 
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.