MIAMI — FIU's football program takes on Sam Houston on the road in Conference USA (CUSA) play on Saturday in its final regular season game of the 2025 campaign.
The bowl-eligible Panthers (6-5, 4-3 CUSA) match up with the Bearkats (2-9, 1-6 CUSA) at 1 p.m. ET / Noon CT on Saturday afternoon at Shell Energy Stadium in downtown Houston. FIU will then await its postseason fate after securing six wins for the first time since 2019.
BOWL BOUND
Led by first-year head coach
Willie Simmons and our talented student-athletes, coaches and staff, the Panthers are set to represent FIU on a national stage. Bowl specifics will be announced in the coming weeks, and we will share ticket, travel and celebration information as it becomes finalized.
In the meantime, please complete the
short interest form so you do not miss any communication regarding bowl information, game tickets, travel packages, alumni tailgate and more events. Additionally, bookmark
FIUSports.com/Bowl for all your postseason information.
GAME SPONSOR
FIU's final game sponsor is GEICO. For real service and real savings, visit
geico.com.
SERIES HISTORY
Series Record: Tied 1-1
Last Matchup: Sam Houston def. FIU, 10-7 (Oct. 22, 2024)
Willie Simmons vs. Sam Houston: 0-1
HOW TO FOLLOW
Fans can follow along with the game on variety of platforms. The matchup will air live on ESPN+ and also be available via audio stream on
fiusports.com/listenlive. Live stats will also be available on
fiusports.com/FBStats.
BROADCAST TEAMS
ESPN+
Play-by-Play: Matt Pedersen
Analyst: Jorge Vargas
Sideline: Brooke Kirchhofer
fiusports.com Audio Stream
Play-by-Play: Corey Brooks
Analyst:
Darin Yrigoyen
MATCHUP NOTES
⁃ This is the third overall meeting between the Panthers and the Bearkats, all as Conference USA members.
⁃ FIU is surging at the right time in what has been a 'November to Remember' with three-straight CUSA victories, clinching bowl eligiblity for the program for the first time since 2019.
⁃
Kejon Owens became the new single-season rushing yard record holder in the Panthers' last game vs. Jax State, eclipsing Kedrick Rhodes' mark of 1,159 yards from 2011.
⁃
Alex Perry scored a game-changing 64-yard TD against Jax State, of which was tied for FIU's longest play of the season and is the longest scoring play of 2025. Perry has now scored in four consecutive games, all in CUSA play.
⁃
Chad Staley, who became the first-ever Offensive Lineman in school history to catch a TD pass in FIU's win over Jax State, was named CUSA Offensive Lineman of the Week.
⁃
Mister Clark is currently third in the nation in passes defended per game.
⁃ As a team, the Panthers are currently tied-ninth in the nation in explosive run plays (20+ yards) with 25 explosive rushes this season. FIU is also 11th in the nation in runs of 30+ yards.
⁃ Owens is 7th in the nation in rushing yards per game, averaging 106.7 yards per contest. He's also 20th in yards per carry, averaging 6.2 YPC. Owens, who broke the single season rushing record against Jax State, currently has 1,174 yards for the season.
⁃ A win would be FIU's first-ever four-game winning streak in CUSA play since joining the league in 2013.
⁃ The Panthers won a thrilling double overtime game in their first-ever meeting with the Bearkats in 2023, claiming a 33-27 win in Huntsville.
Kejon Owens had 60 rushing yards and a touchdown to lead the FIU offense while
Keyone Jenkins passed for 190 yards and a touchdown, also adding a rushing TD in OT.
⁃ This will be FIU's first-ever game at Shell Energy Stadium, the home of the MLS' Houston Dynamo and Sam Houston's home for the 2025 season while their on-campus stadium undergoes renovations.
SAM HOUSTON
⁃ After an 0-7 start to the season, Sam Houston has won 2-of-3 heading into this matchup with FIU, defeating Oregon State and Delaware in back-to-back games before losing to Middle Tennessee on the road in its last competition.
⁃ Landyn Locke has started the last two games for the Bearkats at Quarterback and passed for over 200 yards in both contests. Locke had a solid outing in the loss at MTSU, going 25-for-40 with two touchdowns and one interception.
⁃ Chris Reed, who spent time with
Willie Simmons at Florida A&M, is the leading receiver for Sam Houston and is the Bearkats' big play threat on the outside. He has five touchdowns and 411 yards on just 26 receptions, averaging 15.8 yards per catch.
⁃ On defense, Antavious Fish is 12th in the conference with 7.1 tackles per game and CJ Brown is 14th in the league with 6.4 tackles per game.
FIU ATHLETICS APP
Fans are encouraged to download the Official FIU Athletics App for all FIU Athletics News and Digital Content, of which can be found searching 'FIU Athletics' in the App Store on both Android and iOS-based devices. Inside the app, fans will find the Panther Rewards program, of which rewards fans for attending FIU Athletics event with points that can be used for prizes.
WEEKLY MEDIA AVAILABILITIES
BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA
THE WILLIE SIMMONS COACH'S SHOW
The Panthers will partner with Twin Peaks Doral, one of the highest-grossing restaurants in the entire franchise, for a weekly show with first-year Head Coach
Willie Simmons and other special guests. Host Corey Brooks will sit down with Coach Simmons to discuss all facets of Panther football, with an emphasis on recapping the previous week's match-ups and previewing the upcoming game. For more information, click here.
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.
