MIAMI – As FIU football concludes its 25 moments in 25 seasons series, presented by Miccosukee Casino and Resort, we look back at one of the most historic plays of the 2025 season.
Maguire Anderson returned a punt 97 yards for a touchdown in the Panthers' postseason matchup against UTSA, marking the longest punt-return touchdown in college football bowl history.
Back in the Postseason
In the first season under head coach
Willie Simmons, FIU closed the regular season on a four-game winning streak, highlighted by an undefeated November, to finish with a 7-5 record.
Following the regular season, the Panthers earned a postseason berth and traveled to Dallas, Texas, to face UTSA in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl on Dec. 26, 2025.
The matchup marked the fifth all-time meeting between the two programs and their first since 2022. For FIU, it was the program's sixth bowl appearance, with the Panthers looking to secure their first postseason victory since 2018.
Take it to the House
FIU wasted no time making its presence felt, scoring on its opening drive when quarterback
Joe Pesansky connected with wide receiver
Kyle McNeal for a 19-yard touchdown pass, giving the Panthers a 7-0 lead with 12:17 remaining in the first quarter.
After FIU's defense forced a three-and-out, UTSA was forced to punt, setting the stage for Anderson.
Anderson, who had appeared in every game leading into the bowl matchup and served as FIU's primary punt returner, fielded the punt at the Panthers' own three-yard line.
With three UTSA defenders closing in, Anderson quickly navigated through the initial pressure before finding open space down the field. Once he broke into the open field, Anderson raced untouched the rest of the way for a 97-yard touchdown, extending FIU's lead to 14-0.
The return marked the longest punt-return touchdown in college football bowl history and the longest punt-return touchdown in Conference USA history.
Anderson's 97-yard return also tied the FIU program record for the longest punt return for a touchdown, matching the mark previously set by T.Y. Hilton against Florida Atlantic in 2011.
The electrifying return provided one of the defining moments of FIU's return to the postseason.
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.
