GAME 10
FIU (3-6, 2-3 CUSA) at Jax State (6-3, 5-0 CUSA)

DATE
Saturday, November 16, 2024

KICKOFF
2 p.m. ET

STADIUM
AmFirst Stadium (22,500)
 
 

TV	ESPN+
AUDIO	Panther Online Network
LIVE STATS	Stats Link
FOLLOW US	Twitter | Instagram

 
THE COACHES
FIU                                                          
Head Coach: Mike MacIntyre (Georgia Tech '89)
Overall Record: 57-88 (12th season)
Record at FIU: 11-22 (3rd season)
 
Jax State
Head Coach: Rich Rodriguez
Overall Record: 187-128-2 (27th season)
Record at JSU: 24-9 (3rd season)
 
QUICK HITS

• FIU will be facing Jax State for the second consecutive season and the third time overall.
• Saturday's contest will mark the first time the programs have met in Alabama.
• The Panthers will be looking for their first win over the Gamecocks after losses in 2020 and 2023.

PANTHERS RETURN TO ROAD FOR KEY CLASH AT JAX STATE
The Panthers return to Saturday action following four consecutive weeknight contests when they square off in a key Conference USA clash on Saturday afternoon against CUSA leader Jax State.
 
FIU currently has three victories and will be looking for wins in each of its final three regular season games as they look to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2019.
 
Saturday's game will be aired on ESPN+ and called by Eli Gold (pxp) and Bill Clark (analyst).
 
The audio broadcast can be heard on The Panther Online Network with AJ Ricketts (pxp) and Jackson McDonald (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.
 
HOME STRETCH OF REGULAR SEASON BEGINS
Saturday's game marks a return to the traditional schedule for the Panthers after playing each of their last four games on either Tuesday or Wednesday night.
 
Following Saturday's clash with the Gamecocks, FIU will play its second consecutive road game at Kennesaw State on Nov. 23 before closing out the regular-season schedule on Saturday, Nov. 30 at South Dade Kia Field at Pitbull Stadium beginning at 2 p.m. ET.
 
The Panthers will be looking to secure wins in their final three games as they look to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2019.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action on Saturday, Nov. 23 in a 3 p.m. ET kickoff at Kennesaw State.  The game will air on ESPN+.
 
SCOUTING JAX STATE
Jax State enters Saturday's meeting with FIU leading Conference USA with a perfect 5-0 league mark as well as a 6-3 overall record.  The Gamecocks are 3-1 overall in home contests with the lone loss coming in the season opener against Coastal Carolina by a score of 55-27.
 
Jax State has won each of its last six games after opening the season with losses in each of its first three contests, including a 31-21 win over defending CUSA champion Liberty on Oct. 30.
 
The Gamecocks are averaging 39.2 points per game and allowing an average of 29.2 to their opponents.  Jax State leans on its rushing attack offensively as they boast an average total of 260.9 rushing yards per game – which ranks fourth nationally and leads CUSA.
 
Tre Stewart paces the Jax State rushing attack with 1,083 yards and 17 touchdowns.  The 1,083 yards ranks as the eighth-best total nationally and tops in CUSA, while the 17 scores are sixth-best among all FBS players and also best in the league.  Tyler Huff adds 826 yards on the ground – which sits 32nd nationally and third among conference leaders.
 
Signal caller Huff also leads the passing offense for the Gamecocks with 1,701 yards and 10 touchdowns.  His top receiver is Cam Vaughn who has tabbed 517 yards and three touchdowns.
 
Defensively, the Gamecocks have forced 18 turnovers for a plus seven margin and have totaled 17 sacks over the first nine games of 2024.
 
LAST MEETING VS. JAX STATE
FIU junior quarterback Grayson James entered the game in the third quarter and led a strong comeback attempt by completing seven of his first nine passes, along with a rushing and passing score, before the Panthers came away with a 41-16 setback vs. Jacksonville State on Oct. 25, 2023.
 
Jax State (7-2, 5-1 CUSA) opened the game with touchdowns on each of its opening three possessions to build a 21-0 advantage that proved to much for the Panthers to overcome, despite a furious push in the third quarter that saw it get within 11 points at 27-16 with 2:29 left in the third.
 
The Panthers rallied to outscore the Gamecocks 13-3 in the third quarter and had a chance to get even closer before a call on a muffed punt by Jax State nullified a FIU fumble recovery inside the Jax State 40 and trailing by nine with just over 12 minutes left in regulation.
 
James finished 12-for-20 overall through the air for 200 yards and a touchdown.  He also rushed for a score after replacing freshman Keyone Jenkins as the signal caller in the third quarter.
 
Junior wide receiver Kris Mitchell logged 109 yards and a touchdown on five receptions.
 
Quarterback Zion Webb paced the Jax State offense with 125 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns on 20 carries.  He also completed 9-of-19 passes for 105 yards and tossed one TD pass in the win.
 
RIVERS HAS RECORD-SETTING NIGHT VS. NM STATE
FIU junior wide receiver Eric Rivers hauled in 11 passes for a record-setting 295 yards as the FIU football team posted a 34-13 victory over New Mexico State on Oct. 29 in Miami.
 
Rivers' 295 receiving yards marked the second-highest total by any FBS player this season.  113 of Rivers' 295 receiving yards came after the catch.
 
Rivers' 295 receiving yards  marked the highest single-game total in FIU annals, surpassing the previous record of 201 set by both Kris Mitchell (2023) and Tyrese Chambers (2022).
 
Rivers leads Conference USA with eight touchdown receptions, including a career-high three in the win over New Mexico State.  He tabbed scoring grabs of 52, 51 and 62 yards in the win over the Aggies.
 
His three touchdown catches also marked a career best and he is the first FIU player with three TD catches in a game since Rivaldo Fairweather vs. Middle Tennessee (2022).
 
RIVERS NAMED TO BILETNIKOFF AWARD WATCH LIST
FIU junior wide receiver Eric Rivers has been added to the 2024 Biletnikoff Award Preseason Watch List, it was announced by The Tallahassee Quarterback Club (TQC) Foundation, Inc., the Florida-based creator and sponsor of the prestigious Biletnikoff Award announced.
 
The Chattanooga, Tenn., native leads Conference USA with eight touchdown receptions this season and ranks ninth among all players in FBS.  His 876 receiving yards on the season also sit tops in CUSA and ranks ninth nationally.  Rivers is averaging 97.3 receiving yards per game – which leads the league and is the ninth-best total in FBS.
 
He has recorded a total of 12 catches that have went for over 30 yards this season – including six touchdown grabs that went for more than 30 yards.
 
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 600 prominent college football journalists, commentators, announcers, Biletnikoff Award winners, and other former receivers. Foundation trustees do not vote and have never voted.
 
Rivers was one of two players added to the list, which now totals 70 candidates for the prestigious honor.
 
Recently, the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation opened the 2024 FanVote. Every fan may vote once daily on the Biletnikoff Award FanVote page. The aggregate fan tally will be counted as one official vote to determine semi-finalists, finalists (three receivers), and the winner.
 
RIVERS NAMED CUSA CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
FIU junior wide receiver Eric Rivers has been selected as the Conference USA Co-Offensive Player of the Week for the period ending Nov. 2, conference officials announced.
 
Rivers, who shared the weekly honor with Jacksonville State running back Tre Stewart, hauled in 11 passes for a FIU single-game record 295 yards and three touchdowns in the Panthers' 34-13 victory over New Mexico State on Oct. 29 in Miami.
 
The 295 receiving yards represented the second-highest total among all players in FBS this season and each of his three touchdown catches came from distances of 51 yards or longer.  He tabbed scoring grabs of 52, 51 and 62 yards in the win over the Aggies and 113 of his 295 yards came after the catch.
 
Rivers' weekly CUSA honor marks the fourth overall for FIU this season and he is one of three Panthers to be recognized with a weekly conference honor in 2024, joining Travion Barnes, who has earned the Defensive Player of the Week honor twice this season and Keyone Jenkins, who was selected as CUSA Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 9.
 
JENKINS NAMED TO MANNING STARS OF THE WEEK
FIU sophomore quarterback Keyone Jenkins was honored as one of eight players selected as the Manning Award Stars of the Week following the Panthers' win over New Mexico State on Oct. 29.
 
Jenkins completed 18-of-27 pass attempts for 338 yards and matched a school-record with four touchdown passes in a 34-13 win over New Mexico State.  Three of his four touchdown tosses came from over 50 yards with scoring passes that stretched 62, 52 and 51 yards respectively.
 
The sophomore currently sits in sole possession of sixth place on the program's career touchdown pass list with his current total of 25.
 
The Manning Award was created by the Allstate Sugar Bowl in 2004 to honor the college football accomplishments of Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning. It is the only quarterback award that includes the candidates' bowl performances in its balloting. Since the Manning Award started recognizing Stars of the Week in 2011, 563 different quarterbacks from 135 schools have been recognized. Sixty-six players were honored during the 2023 season and 61 quarterbacks have been recognized so far in 2024.
 
The other eight members of this edition of the Manning Stars of the Week included Kaden Anderson (Wyoming), Zeon Chriss (Houston), Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss), Jalen Kitna (UAB), Maddux Madsen (Boise State), LaNorris Sellers (South Carolina) and Cam Ward (Miami).
 
CLOSE CALLS
FIU has posted an even scoring margin with its opponents over the first nine games with the Panthers scoring a total of 224 points and allowing 224.
 
The Panthers six losses have come by a combined total of 63 points and three of their last four defeats have come by seven points or less.
 
JENKINS MOVES UP CAREER TD CHART
FIU sophomore quarterback Keyone Jenkins tossed his 25th career touchdown pass in the Panthers' game vs. New Mexico State on Oct. 29 - which placed him in 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.	25	Keyone Jenkins	2023-pres.

 
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.
 
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 third 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 5.7 solo tackles per contest through the opening nine games of 2024.
 
BIG PLAY RIVERS
Junior wide receiver Eric Rivers is averaging 20.37 yards per catch through the opening nine games of 2024 - which ranks first in CUSA and 10th among all FBS players.
 
Rivers has notched a total of 16 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 (14)
73rd NCAA/3rd CUSA: Passing Yards (1,776)
63rd NCAA/4th CUSA: Points Responsible For (98)
76th NCAA/4th CUSA: Passing Yards Per Game (197.3)
 
Kick Returner C'Quan Jnopierre
2nd NCAA/1st CUSA: Kickoff Returns (29.1)
 
Defense
18th NCAA/3rd CUSA: Red Zone Defense (0.743)
36th NCAA/3rd CUSA: Passes Intercepted (7)
15th NCAA/1st CUSA: Defensive TDs (2)
 
Team
35th NCAA/3rd CUSA: Fewest Penalty yards (415)
8th NCAA/2nd CUSA: Kickoff Returns (25.9)

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.