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 impressive run of three-straight bowl qualifications from 2017-19 under Butch Davis.
AN ERA OF EXCELLENCE
FIU's vertical climb as a program reached a new peak under Davis, who brought high-level experience as both a major college and NFL coach to the '305'. Davis had instant success upon taking over the program in 2017, leading the Panthers to three-consecutive bowl games from 2017-19 and 23 combined victories.
2017: LAYING THE FOUNDATION
With Davis at the helm, FIU opened his first season winning six of its first eight games. Overall, the Panthers finished 2017 with an 8-5 overall record and 5-3 mark in Conference USA (CUSA) play, advancing to the Gasparilla Bowl, FIU's first bowl game since the 2011 season.
FIU finished the 2017 season 6-1 at home, completing a dramatic turnaround from a 4-8 overall record in 2016. Davis and the Panthers proved their arrival on the mid-major scene immediately, setting the stage for unprecedented success in Year Two.
2018: BUILDING A BRAND
The Panthers built on a solid 2017 season with a nine-win campaign in 2018, of which included a 6-2 mark in CUSA action. In CUSA play, FIU downed longtime-rivals Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky, also notching conference victories over Rice, UTSA and Charlotte.
FIU's 9-4 season culminated with a trip to the Bahamas Bowl, taking on Toledo on Dec. 21, 2018. In a back-and-forth battle, the Panthers secured a 35-32 win behind a three touchdown performance from running back Anthony Jones.
2019: CULTURE OF CONSISTENCY
FIU's 2019 season saw the Panthers produce six wins, going 6-1 at home in Davis' third season. 2019's biggest moment came on Nov. 22, 2019 as FIU faced off with Miami at Marlins Park.
The Panthers pulled off a remarkable victory over ACC-foe and crosstown-rival Miami, winning 30-24 over the Hurricanes. This secured FIU its bowl eligibility for the third-straight season and sent shockwaves through the college football community. The 2019 season culminated with a berth in the Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., cementing Davis' status as one of the best coaches 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.
