GAME 6
FIU (2-3, 1-0 CUSA) at Liberty (4-0, 2-0 CUSA)

DATE
Tuesday, October 8, 2024

KICKOFF
7 p.m. ET

STADIUM
Williams Stadium (25,000)
 
 

TV	CBS Sports Network
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 6 – at LIBERTY
FIU football head coach Mike MacIntyre, along with senior place kicker Alejandro Prado and redshirt freshman tight end Antonio Ferguson, met with the media on Thursday afternoon in advance of a critical Conference USA battle at Liberty – which is slated for a 7 p.m. ET kickoff on Tuesday, Oct. 8.
 
WATCH HERE

 
THE COACHES
FIU                                                          
Head Coach: Mike MacIntyre (Georgia Tech '89)
Overall Record: 56-85 (12th season)
Record at FIU: 10-19 (3rd season)
 
LIBERTY                                  
Head Coach: Jamey Chadwell
Overall Record: 115-58 (15th season)
Record at LU: 17-1 (2nd season)
 
QUICK HITS

• FIU will be facing Liberty for the third time in program history and for the second straight season when they meet on Tuesday in Lynchburg.
• FIU will be playing their first game outside of South Florida since the season opener at Indiana on Aug. 31.
• FIU is looking to open CUSA play 2-0 for first time since 2018.

 
PANTHERS HEADS NORTH TO BATTLE LIBERTY
The Panthers head to Lynchburg, Va., for their first conference road game of the season and the first of four consecutive weeknight clashes when they face Liberty on Tuesday, Oct. 8 in a 7 p.m. ET kickoff.
 
Saturday's game will be aired on CBS Sports Network and called by Jordan Kent (pxp) and Donte Whitner (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.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers will play their second consecutive road game when they head to the Sun Bowl to battle UTEP in another nationally-televised CBS Sports Network telecast on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 9 p.m. ET.
 
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.
 
HEADED OUT OF SOUTH FLORIDA
FIU will be playing its first game outside of South Florida since the season opener at Indiana on Aug. 31 when it travels to meet defending CUSA champion Liberty on Tuesday night.
 
The Panthers lone road contest over the last four weeks was a short trip to meet Florida Atlantic on Sept. 14.
 
FIU played three home games during the stretch against Central Michigan (Sept. 7), Monmouth (Sept. 21) and Louisiana Tech (Sept. 28).

BARNES NAMED CUSA DEFENSIVE POW
Junior linebacker Travion Barnes was honored as the Conference USA Defensive Player of the Week, for the period ending Sept. 28.
 
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.
 
The Altamonte Springs, Fla., native has led the Panthers in tackles in four of five games this season and has recorded three double-digit tackle efforts. 
 
He currently ranks fourth nationally in solo tackles, with an average of 6.4 per game and sits eighth among FBS players in total stops – registering 10.8 per contest through five games.
 
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.

SCOUTING LIBERTY
Liberty enters Tuesday night's meeting with the Panthers sporting a perfect 4-0 mark - which includes a 2-0 mark in CUSA action following wins over New Mexico State and UTEP.
 
The Flames also boast previous wins over Campbell and East Carolina.  Their most recently scheduled contest at Appalachian State was cancelled due to Hurricane Helene.
 
Liberty has not dropped a regular season game since losing to New Mexico State (49-14) on Nov. 26, 2022 in Lynchburg.
 
Liberty is led by Jamey Chadwell, who is in his second season at the helm of the Flames' program and boasts a record of 17-1 during his time in Lynchburg.
 
The Flames are averaging 33.5 points over the first four games and have posted a well-balanced average of 240.3 passing yards and 218.5 rushing yards on the offensive side.
 
Treon Sibley leads the Liberty receiving corps with 16 catches for 357 yards and a touchdown.
 
Directing the Flames' offense is quarterback Kaiden Salter, who is in his second full season under center.  He has completed 66-of-103 pass attempts for 949 yards and seven TDs over four games.  He has only tossed one interception.
 
Last season he passed for 2,876 yards and 32 touchdowns.
 
Defensively, the Flames are allowing 20.5 points per game in 2024.  They have surrendered an average of 112.8 yards on the ground and 200 through the air.  They have posted nine sacks in the first four games and forced six turnovers.
 
The Bulldogs are minus eight (-8) in the turnover battle so far this season.  La Tech has tossed five interceptions and lost five fumbles over the opening three games and have only managed two takeaways defensively.
 
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.
 
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.
 
OTHER TAKEWAYS FROM LA TECH WIN

• Junior wide receiver Eric Rivers caught his third touchdown of the season in the first quarter.
• A roughing the passer call against Louisiana Tech early in the second quarter negated a interception return for a touchdown by the Bulldogs' defense.
• FIU's 13-play, 84-yard drive in the first quarter marked its longest in terms of both plays and yardage this season.
• FIU's defense forced a key fumble with 13 seconds left in the third quarter.  Junior Hezekiah Masses stripped the ball and junior JoJo Evans recovered at the FIU 41.
• Senior Alejandro Prado connected on a 25-yard field goal in the fourth quarter – his first made field goal as a member of FIU.
• The FIU defense held Louisiana Tech scoreless for each of the final four possessions and the final 17:43 seconds of regulation.
• Junior linebacker Travion Barnes totaled a game-high 14 tackles – his third double-digit tackle performance over the last four games.  He also recorded 2.5 TFLs and a sack.

 
BARNES SETS INT RETURN RECORD
FIU junior linebacker Travion Barnes returned an interception 85 yards for a touchdown with 9:53 left in the first quarter of the Sept. 21 game vs. Monmouth – breaking the record for the longest interception return in FIU history. 
 
The 85-yard pick six bested the previous long of 82 yards by Marshall McDuffie vs. Florida Atlantic on Nov. 26, 2005.


DEFENSIVE SCORES
The FIU defense ranks tied for fifth nationally with a pair of defensive touchdowns through the opening four games of 2024.
 
The Panthers have run back two interceptions for scores this season - one by Brian Blades against Central Michigan and a second by Travion Barnes vs. Monmouth.
 
DEFENSIVE PICKS
The FIU defense also ranks eighth nationally and leads Conference USA in passes intercepted with six through four games.
 
Six different players have intercepted a pass for the Panthers this season - two of which have been run back the distance for touchdowns.
 
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 fourth among all FBS players in solo tackles with an average of 6.4 per game - which is also tops in Conference USA.
 
In addition, Barnes sits eighth among FBS leaders and first in CUSA with an average of 10.8 total tackles per contest through the opening five games of 2024.
 
BIG PLAY RIVERS
Junior wide receiver Eric Rivers is averaging 18.58 yards per catch through the opening five games of 2024 - which ranks sixth in CUSA and 42nd among all FBS players.
 
Rivers has notched a total of eight catches of at least 20 yards or more in 2024.
 
OTHER FIU NAMES IN CUSA/NCAA LEADERS
Quarterback Keyone Jenkins
32nd NCAA/1st CUSA: Passing TDs (32)
37th NCAA/2nd CUSA: Passing Yards (1,104)
40th NCAA/3rd CUSA: Points Responsible For (62)
57th NCAA/3rd CUSA: Passing Yards Per Game (220.8)
 
Defensive back JoJo Evans
32nd NCAA/3rd CUSA: Passes Defended (1.2 pg)
 
Defense
35th NCAA/3rd CUSA: Red Zone Defense (0.857)
21st NCAA/2nd CUSA: Passes Intercepted (6)
6th NCAA/1st CUSA: Defensive TDs (2)
 
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.