MIAMI — Behind a dominant defensive display, FIU's football program notched a 20-3 win over LIU at Pitbull Stadium on Saturday night in its final non-conference game of the 2026 season.
The Panthers closed out their non-conference slate at home and secured their fourth-straight home victory, allowing just three points to the Sharks on a field goal in the second quarter. Offensively, JJ Kohl found Tyson Carter to open the scoring with a 48-yard touchdown pass in the opening quarter, putting FIU ahead for good. Maguire Anderson found the end zone as well in the first half before the Panthers tacked on two Robert Czeremcha field goals in the final 30 minutes to secure the result.
FIU's defense shut out LIU in the second half and was paced by another stellar outing from the defensive line. Kenton Simmons posted two sacks while DeeJay Holmes Jr. added a sack of his own. Defensively, FIU had a combined eight tackles for loss and DeAndre Boykins nabbed a critical interception on his own goal line. Percy Courtney Jr. and Wesley Miller each had five tackles to lead the defensive unit. On special teams, Ryan Gadson blocked a punt in the third quarter.
Kohl finished with 135 passing yards and one touchdown with one interception, all in the first half, before being relieved by Zach Marker in the second half. Marker completed six passes for 92 yards, leading the Panthers on an important 91-yard scoring drive in his first action of the season. On the ground, FIU gained a season-high 167 rushing yards led by Anthony Carrie's 71 yards. Five different running backs featured for the Panthers as Jayden Ford and Nate Henry both received their first carries of the season late in the fourth quarter.
Matchup Notes
- Carter's touchdown was the first of his career and his 54 yards are a new career-high.
- Anderson, who recovered a fumble in the end zone, now has three combined TDs in four games.
- Boykins interception was the first of his FIU career and his first since 2022, when he was as North Carolina.
- The win for Willie Simmons is the 75th of his career and now completes his second-consecutive undefeated season at home in non-conference play.
- Czeremcha's two made field goals match his season-high, of which was recorded vs. Buffalo.
- FIU has now won four-straight home games, a streak that extends back to the Panthers' last home loss on Oct. 21, 2025.
25th Season Celebration, Presented by Miccosukee Casino and Resort
The 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.
