MIAMI — As FIU football continues its 25 Moments in 25 Seasons, presented by Miccosukee Casino and Resort, chronological timeline in celebration of the program's upcoming 25th season in 2026, the next moment features Eric Rivers' record-setting performance in a 34-13 win over New Mexico State on Oct. 29, 2024.
Record-Setting Performance
Rivers racked up 295 yards on 11 catches and scored three touchdowns against the Aggies, carrying the Panthers to a victory at Pitbull Stadium. His 295 receiving yards smashed the previous record of 201, of which was shared by Kris Mitchell, Tyrese Chambers and T.Y. Hilton. The three touchdown catches matched the FIU record, which he now shares with three other Panthers, including legend Jonnu Smith. Additionally, his 11 catches ranked second all-time for most in a single game, trailing T.Y. Hilton's school record of 12, set on Oct. 8, 2011 against Akron.
Downfield Dominance
Rivers' first touchdown catch came with 13 minutes to go in the second quarter as quarterback Keyone Jenkins found the junior receiver for a 52-yard score. With 7:49 left in the third quarter, the Jenkins-Rivers deep ball connection stuck again, this time for 51 yards. Late in the fourth quarter, Jenkins found Rivers again for the longest touchdown of the day, linking up for a 62-yard strike that put the bow on FIU's 34-13 win. In total, Rivers' three touchdowns went for 52, 51 and 62 yards, accounting for 165 of his 295 yards on just those three plays.
Standout Season
Overall, Rivers finished his junior season with a school-record 1,172 receiving yards overall, earning Third Team All-American honors from the AP. Rivers became the first AP All-American in school history.
He also racked up 12 receiving touchdowns, setting another school record. His five 100-yard receiving games also tied for the best mark in program history. Rivers went on to be signed as a free agent by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is currently competing for a roster spot.
25th Season Celebration, Presented by Miccosukee Casino and Resort
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.
