MIAMI — FIU's football program takes to the road for its penultimate Conference USA (CUSA) road clash, facing off with Middle Tennessee on Saturday afternoon.
The Panthers (3-5, 1-3 CUSA) take on the Blue Raiders (1-7, 0-4 CUSA) at 3 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. CT on Saturday, Nov. 8 inside Johnny 'Red' Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
SERIES HISTORY
Series Record: FIU trails 14-6
Last Matchup: FIU def. MTSU, 35-24 (Nov. 30, 2024)
Willie Simmons vs. Middle Tennessee: First-Ever Meeting
HOW TO FOLLOW
Fans can follow along with the game on variety of platforms. The matchup will air live on CBS Sports Network 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: Jake Rose
Analyst: Jeremy Kellem
Sideline: Justin Beasley
fiusports.com Audio Stream
Play-by-Play: Corey Brooks
Analyst:
Nick Garrido
MATCHUP NOTES
• This will be the 21st-ever meeting between the Blue Raiders and Panthers, a matchup that dates back to 2005. FIU and MTSU have played in every season since 2005.
• Many members of FIU's coaching staff have spent time in Murfreesboro, both as coaches and players. Coaches
Willie Simmons,
Nick Coleman,
Kenneth Gilstrap and
Matt Hickmann all spent time with the Blue Raider program. Offensive Lineman
Julius Pierce, who was first at FIU, spent two seasons at MTSU before returning to Miami for his final year of college football.
• The Blue Raiders have lost five-straight since defeating Nevada in Reno, 14-13, on Sept. 13 while FIU has lost two-straight since notching a road CUSA win over Western Kentucky, 25-6, on Oct. 14.
• This is a matchup of two veteran Florida-based quarterbacks as FIU's
Keyone Jenkins (MIami) and MTSU's Nicholas Vattiato (Plantation) both are three-year starters and call the Sunshine State home.
• Nicholas Vattiato is the veteran quarterback for the Blue Raiders, set to make his 39th career start. Vattiato is currently third in CUSA in passing yards per game, averaging 238.5 yards per contest.
• In FIU's last road victory at MTSU in 2011, the two sides featured familiar faces, but some who were in different places at the time. FIU head coach
Willie Simmons was the MTSU Offensive Coordinator and Running Backs Coach while Safeties/Special Teams Coordinator
Kenneth Gilstrap was a defensive back for the Blue Raiders (had one tackle in the game). Coach
Frank Ponce was the wide receivers coach in his first stint at FIU while
Edwin Pata was serving as a graduate assistant on FIU's staff.
MTSU NOTES
• MTSU has lost its first four Conference USA contests (in order: Kennesaw State, Missouri State, Delaware, Jacksonville State) but all of them were decided by eight points or less. Additionally, the Blue Raiders' last three games have all been decided by three points or less.
• On offense, Nahzae Cox is Vattiato's featured option, sitting eighth in CUSA with 53.0 receiving yards per game and five touchdowns, of which is tied for the CUSA lead.
• Defensively, Parker Hughes ranks fifth in CUSA with 64 total tackles, an average of 8.0 stops per game.
• MTSU has struggled to run the ball, averaging just 85.5 yards rushing per game, second-worst in CUSA.
• The Blue Raiders rank fourth in CUSA as a team in both passing offense (243.9) and passing defense (231.8).
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.
WEEKLY MEDIA AVAILABILITIES
Willie Simmons
Jojo Stone
Julius Pierce
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.
TICKETS
For more information on FIU Football tickets, including season tickets, single game and multi-game package tickets, 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.
