25 MOMENTS IN 25 SEASONS
Moment 1 | FIU Announces Football Program - 5.17.00 | Video
FIU Football’s first moment in its 25 Moments in 25 Seasons series celebrates the official birth of the program, which was approved by the Florida Board of Regents on May 17, 2000. The push for football gained momentum throughout the 1990s, highlighted by the famous “FIU Football…Still Undefeated” banner that flew over the Orange Bowl in 1998 and sparked overwhelming support from alumni and the South Florida community. The Board’s approval set the stage for FIU’s inaugural season in 2002 and marked the realization of a long-held dream for the university.
With the program officially established, FIU turned to former Miami Dolphins quarterback and Super Bowl champion Don Strock to build the foundation. Named the program’s first head coach in September 2000, Strock immediately began recruiting, signing quarterback David Tabor as FIU Football’s first recruit and eventual first signee.
Moment 2 | The First Game - 8.29.02 | Video
Following the announcement of FIU Football in 2000, the program spent two years building its foundation under first head coach Don Strock, holding its first official practice in August 2001 and preparing for competition through public scrimmages and simulated game-day environments. After a year of anticipation, FIU finally took the field on Aug. 29, 2002, in front of a sellout crowd of 17,314 at FIU Community Stadium for the first game in program history.
The Panthers quickly seized the moment, scoring four first-half touchdowns behind quarterback Jaime Burke to take a 27-0 lead into halftime. FIU's defense added to the historic night with the program's first interceptions, including one by Nick Turnbull, helping secure a 27-3 victory over St. Peter's. The win marked the successful debut of FIU Football and the beginning of a new era in university athletics.
Moment 3 | Rashod Smith Sets Program Record with 262 Rushing Yards - 10.31.02 | Video
One of the program's first iconic individual performances came on Oct. 31, 2002, when running back Rashod Smith rushed for a school-record 262 yards in a 39-6 victory over Jacksonville. The Miami native carried the ball just 21 times, averaging 12.5 yards per rush while scoring two touchdowns, including an 89-yard touchdown run that remains the longest rush from scrimmage in program history. Smith's dominant effort helped FIU snap a three-game losing streak and improve to 4-5 in its inaugural season.
More than two decades later, Smith's 262-yard performance still stands as the FIU single-game rushing record. He finished his career with 2,203 rushing yards, which continues to rank among the top totals in program history, cementing his place as one of the foundational stars of FIU Football.
Moment 4 | FIU's First FBS Win - 11.5.02
The fourth moment celebrates the program's first-ever FBS victory, a 31-29 road win over Louisiana-Monroe on Nov. 5, 2005. In FIU's inaugural FBS season and first year in the Sun Belt Conference, quarterback Josh Padrick threw for 235 yards and three touchdowns, while the Panthers' defense forced three turnovers, including a fumble return touchdown by Nick Turnbull. FIU built a 24-9 lead before withstanding a late ULM rally in a tense fourth quarter.
The Panthers preserved the historic victory when the Warhawks missed a potential game-winning field goal with 12 seconds remaining. The win marked FIU's arrival at the FBS level and helped spark a three-game winning streak to close the regular season.
Moment 5 | FIU's First Shula Bowl Victory - 11.26.05 | Video
The program celebrates its first-ever Shula Bowl victory, a dominant 52-6 win over Florida Atlantic on Nov. 26, 2005. The rivalry, named after legendary Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula, began in 2002 between South Florida's two emerging football programs. FIU controlled the game from start to finish, building a 24-0 halftime lead before rolling to one of the most lopsided victories in series history.
The Panthers' defense made history with four interception returns for touchdowns, a program record that remains tied for the NCAA single-game record. The victory secured FIU's first Shula Bowl trophy and marked a defining moment in the program's early years at the FBS level.
Moment 6 | Barnes, Williams Become FIU's First NFL Draft Picks - 4.29.07 | Video
FIU looks back at a historic milestone as Antwan Barnes and Chandler Williams became the first Panthers selected in the NFL Draft in 2007. Both Miami natives enjoyed standout careers at FIU, earning multiple All-Sun Belt honors while establishing themselves among the program's all-time greats. Barnes finished his career as FIU's all-time leader in sacks and tackles for loss before impressing scouts with a remarkable performance at the 2007 NFL Combine.
He became the first Panther ever drafted when the Baltimore Ravens selected him in the fourth round, while Williams followed later in the seventh round to the Kansas City Chiefs. Their selections marked a defining moment for FIU Football and helped establish the program's credibility on the national stage.
Moment 7 | FIU Defeats North Texas in the Last College Game at the Orange Bowl - 12.1.07 | Video
Located in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood, the Orange Bowl was one of the most iconic venues in college football history. The stadium hosted five Super Bowls, 16 college football national championship games, and the annual Orange Bowl game for decades. During the 2007 season, FIU called the Orange Bowl home while FIU Stadium underwent major expansion and renovations. The season also marked the beginning of a new era for Panther football under first-year head coach Mario Cristobal.
The Panthers produced a dominant result in one of the cathedrals of college and professional football, racking up 38 points in a 38-19 win over North Texas. As the final seconds ticked off the clock, the Orange Bowl's storied history came to a close—with FIU forever etched into its legacy as the final college football winner at the famed venue.
Moment 8 | T.Y. Hilton’s Punt Return TD on his First Touch as a Panther - 8.30.08
FIU legend and NFL Pro Bowler T.Y. Hilton’s delivered a 74-yard punt return touchdown at 14th-ranked Kansas on Aug. 30, 2008 for his first-ever touch in a Panther uniform. Following a third down stop from the FIU defense with 4:40 left in the second quarter, Hilton jogged his way onto the field to return the first official punt return of his career. A high-arching punt took Hilton back a few yards to his own 26-yard line and, after a clean catch, he was shot out of a cannon from there. The dynamic freshman pressed the space upfield and made one cut to the sidelines, racing past the entirety of the Jayhawk defense for a 74-yard ‘house call’.
Hilton’s punt return proved to be the lid-lifter on what would be one of the best freshman seasons in all of college football. The do-it-all freshman was recognized as a Freshman All-American as both a punt and kick returner along with earning honorable mention Freshman All-America status.
Moment 9 | FIU Clinches the Sun Belt Conference Title - 11.27.10 | Video
On a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Miami, the Panthers completed one of the most memorable comebacks in program history. In a back-and-forth affair at ‘The Cage’, FIU used a late touchdown drive, of which was capped by a 42-yard touchdown reception from T.Y. Hilton with 1:42 to go, to move to 6-1 in Sun Belt Conference (SBC) play and secure a share of the SBC Title.
As the clock hit zero, FIU secured its first-ever bowl berth and claimed at least a share of its first Sun Belt Conference championship, marking a watershed moment for a program that had begun competition just eight years earlier. The victory remains one of the most important wins in FIU football history and stands as a defining chapter in the program's rise under Mario Cristobal.
Moment 10 | FIU Downs Toledo in 'Instant Classic' 2010 Little Caesars Bowl - 12.26.10 | Video
The historic nature of the 2010 campaign continued for the Panthers after securing the program’s first-ever conference title with FIU’s first-ever bowl trip, heading up north to the Little Caesars Bowl in Detroit, Michigan. The Panthers erased a 24-7 deficit with 24 unanswered points in the second half to go up, 31-24 with 3:18 left, but Toledo responded with a drive to regain the lead with just 1:14 remaining.
FIU marched down the field on one of the biggest, and most improbable, drives in program history as FIU converted a fourth and 17 courtesy of a hook-and-ladder play to keep its bowl victory hopes alive. Downing the ball at the 17-yard line with just four seconds to go, Griffin’s name was called on again in a critical moment. Griffin, with ice in his veins, etched his name into Panther lore forever with a perfect kick from 34 yards out to seal the win in walk-off fashion. As the clock hit zero, raucous celebrations ensued in stands and on the sidelines. FIU had finally arrived. The Panthers and coach Mario Cristobal ended 2010 with a conference championship and a bowl game victory, setting a new standard for the program.
Moment 11 | Hilton Stars in 24-17 Win at Louisville - 9.9.11 | Video
The program celebrates one of the greatest individual performances in school history as T.Y. Hilton led the Panthers to a 24-17 victory over Louisville on Sept. 9, 2011. Hilton recorded a program-record 201 receiving yards and two long touchdown catches, helping FIU earn its first-ever win over a BCS automatic-qualifying conference opponent.
Quarterback Wesley Carroll threw for 248 yards and two touchdowns, while Winston Fraser's interception return for a touchdown and a strong defensive effort helped secure the historic road victory. Hilton's performance earned him National Player of the Week and Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors, cementing the game as one of the defining moments in FIU Football history.
Moment 12 | FIU Defeats UCF at Home, 17-10, in 2011 - 9.17.11 | Video
The program looks back at its 17-10 victory over UCF on Sept. 17, 2011, which secured the Panthers' first-ever 3-0 start. Coming off a historic road win over Louisville, FIU relied on a dominant defensive performance that included six sacks, two fumble recoveries and a game-changing 51-yard fumble return touchdown by Isame Faciane as the first half expired.
The Panthers added the go-ahead score early in the third quarter after recovering a muffed punt, while the defense held UCF to just three points over the final 40-plus minutes. The victory marked another signature win during one of the most successful stretches in program history.
Moment 13 | Johnathan Cyprien Becomes FIU's Highest Ever Draft Pick - 4.26.13
The program honors one of the greatest defensive careers in school history as Johnathan Cyprien became FIU's all-time leading tackler during the 2012 season. The South Florida native finished his career with a program-record 365 tackles, surpassing the previous mark against No. 18 Louisville before earning First Team All-Sun Belt Conference honors.
Cyprien capped his senior season with 93 tackles and four interceptions, solidifying his legacy as one of the nation's top defensive backs. He later became the highest NFL Draft pick in FIU history when the Jacksonville Jaguars selected him with the 33rd overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. More than a decade later, Cyprien's 365 career tackles remain the FIU program record.
Moment 14 | Jonnu Smith Erupts for 140 Yards, Three TDs in Win Over Middle Tennessee - 11.15.14 | Video
Jonnu Smith delivered a record-setting performance by a tight end in FIU football history on Nov. 15, 2014, hauling in eight receptions for 140 yards and a program-record three touchdown catches to lead the Panthers to a 38-28 Conference USA victory over Middle Tennessee. Smith fueled FIU's comeback from an 18-point deficit with a spectacular Hail Mary touchdown before halftime and a heads-up fumble recovery for another score in the second half.
The performance highlighted a standout sophomore season that earned Smith First Team All-Conference USA honors after leading all FBS tight ends in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches. Smith went on to become a third-round NFL Draft pick in 2017 and has since built a successful professional career, earning his first Pro Bowl selection following the 2024 season.
Moment 15 | Three Consecutive Seasons of Bowl Eligibility from 2017-19 - 2017-19
FIU Football enjoyed one of the most successful stretches in program history under head coach Butch Davis, earning three consecutive bowl berths from 2017-19 while totaling 23 victories. Davis guided the Panthers to an 8-5 record and a Gasparilla Bowl appearance in his first season before following with a 9-4 campaign and a Bahamas Bowl victory in 2018. FIU secured its third straight bowl appearance in 2019 after a memorable 30-24 victory over Miami, one of the biggest wins in program history, before advancing to the Camellia Bowl. The three-year run established a culture of sustained success and remains the only stretch of three consecutive bowl appearances in FIU Football history.
Moment 16 | Program Record 63 Points vs. UMass - 9.15.18 | Video
On Sept. 15, 2018, FIU Football overwhelmed UMass, 63-24, tying the program record for most points scored in a single game. The Panthers exploded for 42 points in the first half, matching the school record for most points in a half, behind two rushing touchdowns from Shawndarrius Phillips and scoring plays from Napoleon Maxwell, Sterling Palmer and Maurice Alexander. Quarterback James Morgan finished 16-of-23 for 207 yards and two touchdowns, while Alexander added a 69-yard punt return touchdown and freshman linebacker Rocky Jacques-Louis returned an interception 59 yards for another score. Maxwell added his second touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter as FIU matched the 63-point mark set against UMass the previous season. The offensive outburst provided an early glimpse of FIU's successful 2018 campaign.
Moment 17 | Football Wins the 2018 Bahamas Bowl over Toledo, 35-32 - 12.21.18 | Video
FIU capped its 2018 season with a 35-32 victory over Toledo in the Bahamas Bowl on Dec. 21, earning its first bowl win under head coach Butch Davis. After falling behind 10-0, the Panthers rallied to take a 14-10 halftime lead before Anthony Jones and Maurice Alexander helped FIU build a 28-17 advantage in the second half. Toledo responded to cut the deficit to three points, but FIU sealed the victory with a 13-play, 83-yard drive capped by Jones' third rushing touchdown with 41 seconds remaining. Jones finished with 92 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries, while Christian Alexander-Stevens accounted for 292 total yards. The victory capped a 9-4 season and further established FIU's emerging culture of sustained success under Davis.
Moment 18 | FIU Stuns Miami in Battle for the 305 - 11.23.19
FIU football secured the biggest victory in program history on Nov. 23, 2019, defeating crosstown rival Miami, 30-24, at Marlins Park for its first-ever win over the Hurricanes and first victory against an ACC opponent. The Panthers dominated early, taking a 13-0 halftime lead behind three takeaways and strong defensive play before extending the advantage to 16-0 in the third quarter. Miami mounted a late comeback, cutting the deficit to 23-17, but Anthony Jones delivered the defining play with a 37-yard touchdown run to push FIU's lead back to 30-17. The Panthers recovered Miami's ensuing onside kick after a late Hurricanes touchdown to secure the historic victory. The win also made FIU bowl eligible for the third consecutive season and cemented one of the most significant moments in program history.
Moment 19 | FIU Announces Stadium Naming Rights Deal with Pitbull - 8.6.24
FIU Football made history on Aug. 6, 2024, when FIU announced a partnership with international superstar and entrepreneur Armando Christian Pérez, better known as Pitbull, that included naming rights for the football stadium. The agreement officially made FIU's home Pitbull Stadium, the first athletics venue in the world to carry the naming rights of a recording artist. The landmark partnership brought together FIU, Pitbull and the spirit of the 305, elevating the university's brand on a global stage. Pitbull officially committed to a 10-year partnership with FIU, creating a collaboration designed to inspire the community and expand opportunities for Panthers for years to come. The historic announcement marked the beginning of a new era for FIU Athletics and its connection to Miami's global culture.
Moment 20 | FIU Wins Pitbull Stadium Debut, 52-16 - 9.7.24
FIU football made its debut at the newly named Pitbull Stadium on Sept. 7, 2024, erupting for a 52-16 victory over Central Michigan. The Panthers jumped out to a 28-0 halftime lead, forcing four turnovers before the break and finishing the night with six total takeaways, including five interceptions. Keyone Jenkins accounted for three touchdowns, while Brian Blades II added a 21-yard interception return for a score. FIU continued to dominate after halftime with touchdown runs from Kejon Owens and Lexington Joseph, securing its highest-scoring game since 2018. The victory marked FIU's fourth consecutive home-opening win and the beginning of a new era at Pitbull Stadium.
Moment 21 | Eric Rivers Sets the Program Record with 295 Receiving Yards - 10.29.24
Eric Rivers delivered a record-setting performance on Oct. 29, 2024, hauling in 11 catches for a program-record 295 yards and three touchdowns in FIU's 34-13 victory over New Mexico State. Rivers broke the previous single-game receiving record of 201 yards, while his three touchdown catches matched the FIU record. His three scores came on plays of 52, 51 and 62 yards, accounting for 165 of his 295 receiving yards. Rivers went on to finish the 2024 season with a school-record 1,172 receiving yards and 12 touchdown catches, earning Third Team All-American honors from the Associated Press and becoming the first AP All-American in program history. He later signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent.
Moment 22 | FIU Dominates FAU in Willie Simmons' First Shula Bowl - 9.13.25
FIU Football reclaimed the Shula Bowl Trophy on Sept. 13, 2025, defeating Florida Atlantic, 38-28, in the 23rd meeting between the two programs. The victory snapped a seven-game losing streak to the Owls and marked FIU's first win over FAU since 2016. After trailing 21-17 at halftime, the Panthers erupted in the second half, scoring 21 unanswered points behind touchdowns from Keyone Jenkins, Alex Perry and Anthony Carrie. Kejon Owens led the way with 173 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Jenkins accounted for 184 passing yards, a passing touchdown and a rushing score. The win also marked Willie Simmons' first FBS victory as FIU's head coach and brought the Shula Bowl Trophy back to the 305.
Moment 23 | Joe Pesansky Makes History with Five TD Performance - 9.13.25
Joe Pesansky delivered a historic performance on Nov. 8, 2025, accounting for five touchdowns in FIU's 56-30 road victory over Middle Tennessee. Making his first career start as a Panther, Pesansky threw four touchdown passes and added a rushing score, becoming the first player in program history to account for five touchdowns in a single game. He finished with 257 passing yards and tied the FIU single-game record with four touchdown passes, while the Panthers' 56 points marked the third-most in program history. The victory sparked a four-game winning streak to close the regular season, helping FIU finish 7-5 and earn its first bowl appearance since 2019. Pesansky's record-setting performance proved to be a defining moment in FIU's late-season surge.
