MIAMI — As FIU football continues its 25 Moments in 25 Seasons chronological timeline in celebration of the program's upcoming 25th season in 2026, the next moment in the series features FIU's 35-32 victory over Toledo in the 2018 Bahamas Bowl.
A SEASON OF SUCCESS
The Panthers had their second-consecutive bowl-eligible campaign under Butch Davis in 2018, posting a 6-2 record in Conference USA (CUSA) play and 9-4 overall. FIU started the season strong with a 6-2 record, of which included a four-game winning streak, boasting defeats over CUSA-rivals Middle Tennessee and WKU.
FIU's success continued as the Panthers finished the year with eight wins, narrowly missing out on the CUSA title. FIU's 8-4 record earned the Panthers a berth to the 2018 Bahamas Bowl, further showing the program's consistency and new standard of success.
A BATTLE ON THE BEACH
The 2018 Bahamas Bowl pitted FIU against Toledo at Thomas A. Robinson Stadium in Nassau on Dec. 21. Toledo raced its way to a 10-0 lead, but FIU answered with two touchdowns before halftime, taking a 14-10 lead into the break.
The Rockets responded with a score on their opening drive of the third quarter, re-taking the lead, 17-14. Anthony Jones then scored his second touchdown of the day in the third quarter with a 30-yard run, putting FIU ahead, 21-14. The momentum swung further in the Panthers favor on their first drive of the fourth quarter as Maurice Alexander scampered into the end zone from 16 yards out to give FIU a commanding 28-17 lead, capping a nine-play, 88-yard drive orchestrated by Christian Alexander-Stevens.
The back-and-forth nature of the game continued as Toledo struck for a touchdown and two-point conversion, getting within three points of FIU with just 7:21 left. The Panthers delivered the knockout blow in the closing moments with a 13-play, 83-yard drive to seal the win, of which was capped by Jones' third rushing touchdown with 41 seconds to go.
In FIU's 35-32 win, Jones finished the day with 92 rushing yards and three scores on just 15 carries. Alexander-Stevens passed for 209 yards and a touchdown, adding 83 yards on the ground. Alexander showed his versatility with 12 rushing yards, 30 receiving yards and a pass completion for 14 yards.
The victory signified more progress for FIU's budding program, which had now achieved bowl eligibility in back-to-back seasons for the second time in the 2010s. Additionally, a bowl win for Butch Davis cemented his coaching tenure as one of the best 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, visit our one-stop shop for the 25th Season Celebration. 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.
