2025 FIU Panthers football team

2025 FIU Panthers football
Conference	Conference USA
Record	0–0 (0–0 C-USA)
Head coach	Willie Simmons (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	Nick Coleman (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Jovan Dewitt (4th season)
Home stadium	Pitbull Stadium
Seasons ←  2024 2026 →

2025 Conference USA football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Delaware*		0	–	0					0	–	0
FIU		0	–	0					0	–	0
Jacksonville State		0	–	0					0	–	0
Kennesaw State		0	–	0					0	–	0
Liberty		0	–	0					0	–	0
Louisiana Tech		0	–	0					0	–	0
Middle Tennessee		0	–	0					0	–	0
Missouri State*		0	–	0					0	–	0
New Mexico State		0	–	0					0	–	0
Sam Houston		0	–	0					0	–	0
UTEP		0	–	0					0	–	0
Western Kentucky		0	–	0					0	–	0
Championship: December 5, 2025
* – Ineligible for postseason play due to FCS-to-FBS transition rules As of March 8, 2025

The 2025 FIU Panthers football team will represent Florida International University (FIU) as a members of Conference USA (C-USA) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Panthers are expected to be led by Willie Simmons in his first year as the head coach. The Panthers play home games at Pitbull Stadium, located in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

Offseason

Transfers

Outgoing

Player	Position	Destination
Ja'Coby Matthews	WR	Alcorn State
Nazeviah Burris	WR	Arkansas State
Travion Barnes	LB	Baylor
Hezekiah Masses	DB	Cal
Rocky Beers	TE	Colorado State
Jackson Lee	LS	Florida Atlantic
Mike Jackson	WR	Florida Memorial
Eric Rivers	WR	Georgia Tech
Dean Patterson	WR	Georgia Tech
JaDarious Lee	OL	Kennesaw State
JoJo Evans	S	Louisville
Naeer Jackson	OL	Louisville
Travis Burke	OL	Memphis
Shomari Lawrence	RB	Missouri State
Amari Jones	QB	South Carolina State
John Bock II	OL	Tulane
Antonio Ferguson	TE	UAB
CJ Christian	S	Washington
Marquez Tatum	DL	Unknown
Claude Larkins	DE	Unknown
Reggie Peterson	LB	Unknown
Ming Tjon	OL	Unknown
Rowdy Beers	TE	Unknown
Kejon Owens	RB	Withdrawn
Keyone Jenkins	QB	Withdrawn

Incoming

Player	Position	Previous school
Reece Larson	WR	Appalachian State
Websley Etienne	S	Arkansas State
Jai-Ayviauynn Celestine	CB	Arizona
Johnny Chaney Jr.	LB	Colorado
Trey Wilhoit	P	Florida A&M
Lamont Green Jr.	DE	Florida State
Dante Anderson	DE	Florida State
Alex Perry	WR	Hawaii
Demetrius Hill	S	Illinois
Su Agunloye	DL	Marshall
Ajay Allen	RB	Miami (FL)
Antonio Tripp	IOL	Miami (FL)
Julius Pierce	IOL	Middle Tennessee
Trent Sims	LS	Mississippi Valley State
Aaron Armitage	DE	Stanford
Dallas Payne	TE	UAB

^{[1] [2]}

Coaching staff additions

Name	New Position	Previous Team	Previous Position	Source
Willie Simmons	Head coach	Duke	Running backs	[3]
Nick Coleman	Offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks	UAB	Quarterbacks	[4]
Kenneth Gilstrap	Special teams/Safeties	UAB	Secondary	[5]
Ryan Smith	Linebackers	Murray State	Defensive coordinator/Safeties	[5]
Frank Ponce	Associate head coach/Tight ends	Appalachian State	Offensive coordinator/Quarterbacks	[6]
Benedick Hyppolite	Running backs	Miami	Offensive analyst/Running backs	[6]
Edwin Pata	Offensive line	Miami	Offensive line	[6]
Jelani Berassa	Wide receivers	Youngstown State	Wide receivers	[6]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result
September 6	at Penn State *	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA
September 13	Florida Atlantic *	Pitbull Stadium Miami, FL (Shula Bowl)
September 20	Delaware	Pitbull Stadium Miami, FL
October 4	at UConn *	Rentschler Field East Hartford, CT
October 14	at Western Kentucky	Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY
October 21	Kennesaw State	Pitbull Stadium Miami, FL
October 29	at Missouri State	Robert W. Plaster Stadium Springfield, MO
November 8	at Middle Tennessee	Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium Murfreesboro, TN
November 15	Liberty	Pitbull Stadium Miami, FL
November 22	Jacksonville State	Pitbull Stadium Miami, FL
November 29	at Sam Houston	Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX
*Non-conference game

^[7]

Game summaries

at Penn State

See also: 2025 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

Game One – FIU Panthers (0–0) at Penn State Nittany Lions (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	0	0	0	0	0
Nittany Lions	0	0	0	0	0

at Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA

• Date: Saturday September 6, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	FIU	PSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
FIU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Penn State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. Florida Atlantic (Shula Bowl)

See also: 2025 Florida Atlantic Owls football team and Shula Bowl

Game Two – Florida Atlantic Owls (0–0) at FIU Panthers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Owls	0	0	0	0	0
Panthers	0	0	0	0	0

at Pitbull Stadium • Miami, FL

• Date: Saturday September 13, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	FAU	FIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Florida Atlantic	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
FIU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. Delaware

See also: 2025 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team

Game Three – Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens (0–0) at FIU Panthers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Fightin' Blue Hens	0	0	0	0	0
Panthers	0	0	0	0	0

at Pitbull Stadium • Miami, FL

• Date: Saturday September 20, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	DEL	FIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Delaware	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
FIU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at UConn

See also: 2025 UConn Huskies football team

Game Four – FIU Panthers (0–0) at UConn Huskies (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	0	0	0	0	0
Huskies	0	0	0	0	0

at Rentschler Field • East Hartford, CT

• Date: Saturday October 4, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	FIU	CONN
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
FIU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
UConn	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Western Kentucky

See also: 2025 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team

Game Five – FIU Panthers (0–0) at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	0	0	0	0	0
Hilltoppers	0	0	0	0	0

at Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium • Bowling Green, KY

• Date: Tuesday October 14, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	FIU	WKU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
FIU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Western Kentucky	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. Kennesaw State

See also: 2025 Kennesaw State Owls football team

Game Six – Kennesaw State Owls (0–0) at FIU Panthers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Owls	0	0	0	0	0
Panthers	0	0	0	0	0

at Pitbull Stadium • Miami, FL

• Date: Tuesday October 21, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	KENN	FIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Kennesaw State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
FIU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Missouri State

See also: 2025 Missouri State Bears football team

Game Seven – FIU Panthers (0–0) at Missouri State Bears (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	0	0	0	0	0
Bears	0	0	0	0	0

at Robert W. Plaster Stadium • Springfield, MO

• Date: Wednesday October 29, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	FIU	MOST
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
FIU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Missouri State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Middle Tennessee

See also: 2025 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team

Game Eight – FIU Panthers (0–0) at Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	0	0	0	0	0
Blue Raiders	0	0	0	0	0

at Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium • Murfreesboro, TN

• Date: Saturday November 8, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	FIU	MTSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
FIU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Middle Tennessee	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. Liberty

See also: 2025 Liberty Flames football team

Game Nine – Liberty Flames (0–0) at FIU Panthers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Flames	0	0	0	0	0
Panthers	0	0	0	0	0

at Pitbull Stadium • Miami, FL

• Date: Saturday November 15, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	LU	FIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Liberty	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
FIU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

vs. Jacksonville State

See also: 2025 Jacksonville State Gamecocks football team

Game Ten – Jacksonville State Gamecocks (0–0) at FIU Panthers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Gamecocks	0	0	0	0	0
Panthers	0	0	0	0	0

at Pitbull Stadium • Miami, FL

• Date: Saturday November 22, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	JSU	FIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Jacksonville State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
FIU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Sam Houston

See also: 2025 Sam Houston Bearkats football team

Game Eleven – FIU Panthers (0–0) at Sam Houston Bearkats (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	0	0	0	0	0
Bearkats	0	0	0	0	0

at Bowers Stadium • Huntsville, TX

• Date: Saturday November 29, 2025
• Game time: TBA
• TV announcers (TBA): TBA

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	FIU	SHSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
FIU	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Sam Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

References

1. "FIU Football Transfer Portal". ON3.
2. "FIU Golden Panthers 2025 College Football Transfer Portal". 247Sports.
3. "Willie Simmons Named FIU Football Head Coach". fiusports. December 7, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
4. "FIU Football Announces Offensive and Defensive Coordinators". fiusports. January 7, 2025. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
5. "FIU Football Finalizes Defensive Staff". fiusports. January 10, 2025. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
6. "FIU Football Finalizes Offensive Staff". fiusports. January 14, 2025. Retrieved February 8, 2025.
7. "2025 FIU Football Schedule". FBSchedules. Retrieved December 28, 2024.