MIAMI – As FIU football continues its 25 Moments in 25 Seasons chronological series in celebration of the program's upcoming 25th season in 2026, the first truly historic individual performance came on Oct. 31, 2002, when running back Rashod Smith rushed for a program-record 262 yards in a 39-6 victory over Jacksonville.
A SPOOKY PERFORMANCE
Entering its ninth game of the inaugural season, FIU was looking to snap a three-game losing streak as it returned home for a Thursday night matchup against Jacksonville. Smith, a Miami native and the Panthers' primary ball carrier during his redshirt sophomore campaign, delivered a performance that remains one of the most memorable in program history.
On Halloween night, Smith rushed for a school-record 262 yards on just 21 carries and scored two touchdowns. More than two decades later, the mark still stands as the highest single-game rushing total in FIU football history.
The Panthers received the opening kickoff, and Smith immediately made his presence felt with a 47-yard run on the second play from scrimmage. After FIU fell behind 6-3 in the second quarter, Smith took over the game. He broke free for a 40-yard rushing play to set up for a nine-yard rushing touchdown later in the quarter to give FIU a 10-6 advantage. He continued to fuel the offense with a 39-yard rush on the Panthers' next scoring drive, helping FIU take a 13-6 lead into halftime.
Smith's biggest moment came in the third quarter. With FIU leading 20-6 and 8:56 remaining in the period, he burst through the Jacksonville defense and raced 89 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the drive. The run remains the longest rush from scrimmage in program history and extended the Panthers' lead to 26-6.
By the final whistle, Smith had amassed 262 rushing yards and two touchdowns, leading FIU to a decisive 39-6 victory and improving the Panthers to 4-5 on the season.
The performance was remarkable in every sense. Smith recorded four rushing plays of at least 35 yards and averaged an astounding 12.5 yards per carry.
History was made that night, and Smith's place in the FIU record book remains secure. He finished his career having appeared in 25 games and rushed for 2,203 yards, a total that still ranks third in program history.
25th Season Celebration
The upcoming 2026 season for the Panthers officially marks FIU's 25th season of football competition, dating back to the Panthers' first-ever season in 2002. Over that time period, FIU has qualified for six bowl games, secured six Shula Bowl victories and produced countless NFL players, including Pro Bowlers T.Y Hilton and Jonnu Smith. The program has also seen many legendary coaches and outstanding players pass through the Panther facilities throughout its history, creating a litany of incredible moments experienced by Panther Nation.
Fans can be expected to be taken on a journey back to the inception of the program all the way up to the present day, recognizing the standard set by the first teams and acknowledging how many past Panthers have helped to build on that legacy. All of this will lead up and continue through the 25th official season in 2026, the second under head coach Willie Simmons, following one of the most historic seasons on record in his first year on the sidelines.
As the campaign begins with a variety of content in the coming weeks, a one-stop shop for the 25th Season will be housed on fiusports.com. In conjunction with this, fans are encouraged to follow along with the many highly-engaging pieces of content recognizing the past that will be released on FIU Football's social media channels, listed below.
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.
