2025 FIU Panthers football team

2025 FIU Panthers football
Conference	Conference USA
Record	2–2 (0–1 CUSA)
Head coach	Willie Simmons (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	Nick Coleman (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Spread
Defensive coordinator	Jovan Dewitt (4th season)
Base defense	3–4
Home stadium	Pitbull Stadium
Seasons ←  2024 2026 →

2025 Conference USA football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Louisiana Tech		2	–	0					4	–	1
Western Kentucky		2	–	0					4	–	1
Delaware*		1	–	0					3	–	1
Kennesaw State		1	–	0					3	–	2
Jacksonville State		1	–	0					2	–	3
FIU		0	–	1					2	–	2
New Mexico State		0	–	1					2	–	2
Missouri State*		0	–	1					2	–	3
Liberty		0	–	1					1	–	4
Middle Tennessee		0	–	1					1	–	4
UTEP		0	–	1					1	–	4
Sam Houston		0	–	1					0	–	4
Championship: December 5, 2025
* – Ineligible for postseason play due to FCS-to-FBS transition rules As of September 28, 2025

The 2025 FIU Panthers football team represents Florida International University (FIU) as a member of Conference USA (CUSA) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Panthers are led by Willie Simmons in his first year as the head coach. The Panthers play home games at Pitbull Stadium in Miami.

Offseason

Transfers

Outgoing

Player	Position	Destination
Daniel Ogundipe	OL	Albany
Ja'Coby Matthews	WR	Alcorn State
Nazeviah Burris	WR	Arkansas State
Travion Barnes	LB	Baylor
Jaden Williams	DB	Bethune–Cookman
Amari Jones	QB	Bethune–Cookman
Hezekiah Masses	DB	California
LaDarian Paulk	S	Central Missouri
Jamarrion Solomon	DL	Charlotte
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
Eddie Walls III	DE	Houston
JaDarious Lee	OL	Kennesaw State
JoJo Evans	S	Louisville
Naeer Jackson	OL	Louisville
Travis Burke	OL	Memphis
Shomari Lawrence	RB	Missouri State
Wyatt Lawson	OL	South Dakota
Jamari Holliman	DB	South Dakota State
John Bock II	OL	Tulane
Ajay Allen	RB	Tulsa
Antonio Ferguson	TE	UAB
Raheim Sexil	DB	UMass
Cole Gustafson	DL	UTEP
Bo Blanchard	OL	Valdosta State
CJ Christian	S	Washington
Marquez Tatum	DL	Unknown
Claude Larkins	DE	Unknown
Reggie Peterson	LB	Unknown
Ming Tjon	OL	Unknown
Rowdy Beers	TE	Unknown
Luby Maurice	WR	Unknown
Antoine Cobb	DL	Unknown
Landon Hale	DB	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Kejon Owens	RB	Withdrawn
Keyone Jenkins	QB	Withdrawn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	DB	Arizona
L'Cier Luter	DL	Ball State
Johnny Chaney Jr.	LB	Colorado
Trey Wilhoit	P	Florida A&M
Lamont Green Jr.	DE	Florida State
Dante Anderson	DE	Florida State
Anthony Carrie	RB	Georgia Tech
Alex Perry	WR	Hawaii
Joe Pesansky	QB	Holy Cross
Justin Wood	LS	Houston
Demetrius Hill	S	Illinois
Tar'Varish Dawson	WR	Jacksonville State
JoJo Stone	WR	Louisville
Su Agunloye	DL	Marshall
Ajay Allen	RB	Miami (FL)
Antonio Tripp	OL	Miami (FL)
Julius Pierce	OL	Middle Tennessee
Trent Sims	LS	Mississippi Valley State
Justin Cayenne	TE	Pennsylvania
Miguel Cedeno	OL	Rice
Aaron Armitage	DE	Stanford
Dallas Payne	TE	UAB
Tyderick Brown	DB	UAB
Zaire Flournoy	OL	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	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 29	7:00 p.m.	Bethune–Cookman *	Pitbull Stadium Miami, FL	ESPN+	W 42–9	18,034
September 6	12:00 p.m.	at No. 2 Penn State *	Beaver Stadium University Park, PA	BTN	L 0–34	103,817
September 13	6:00 p.m.	Florida Atlantic *	Pitbull Stadium Miami, FL (Shula Bowl)	ESPN+	W 38–28	17,638
September 20	6:00 p.m.	Delaware	Pitbull Stadium Miami, FL	ESPN+	L 16–38	11,705
October 4	3:30 p.m.	at UConn *	Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field East Hartford, CT	CBSSN
October 14	8:00 p.m.	at Western Kentucky	Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium Bowling Green, KY	ESPNU
October 21	7:00 p.m.	Kennesaw State	Pitbull Stadium Miami, FL	ESPN2
October 29	8:00 p.m.	at Missouri State	Robert W. Plaster Stadium Springfield, MO	CBSSN
November 8	3:00 p.m.	at Middle Tennessee	Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium Murfreesboro, TN	ESPN Networks
November 15	5:00 p.m.	Liberty	Pitbull Stadium Miami, FL	ESPN Networks
November 22	3:30 p.m.	Jacksonville State	Pitbull Stadium Miami, FL	CBSSN
November 29	1:00 p.m.	at Sam Houston	Shell Energy Stadium Houston, TX	ESPN Networks
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll - Released prior to game All times are in Eastern time

^[7]

Game summaries

vs. Bethune–Cookman (FCS)

See also: 2025 Bethune–Cookman Wildcats football team

Game One – Bethune–Cookman Wildcats (FCS) (0–0) at FIU Panthers (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats (FCS)	3	3	0	3	9
Panthers	7	21	7	7	42

at Pitbull Stadium • Miami, FL

• Date: Friday August 29, 2025
• Game time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
• Game attendance: 18,034
• Referee: Reed Brotherton
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Steve Goldstein (play-by-play) and Kim Bokamper (analyst)

Game information

First quarter BCU – Juan Dominguez 35-yard field goal, 11:46. Wildcats 3–0. Drive: 7 plays, 62 yards, 3:10. FIU – Kejon Owens 2-yard run (Robert Czeremcha kick), 8:34. Panthers 7–3. Drive: 7 plays, 67 yards, 3:07. Second quarter FIU – Kejon Owens 6-yard run (Robert Czeremcha kick), 14:49. Panthers 14–3. Drive: 15 plays, 89 yards, 7:04. FIU – Keyone Jenkins 6-yard run (Robert Czeremcha kick), 9:43. Panthers 21–3. Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:36. FIU – Devonte Lyons 35-yard run (Robert Czeremcha kick), 5:17. Panthers 28–3. Drive: 5 plays, 70 yards, 2:12. BCU – Juan Dominguez 22-yard field goal, 1:29. Panthers 28–6. Drive: 12 plays, 70 yards, 3:48. Third quarter FIU – Keyone Jenkins 4-yard run (Robert Czeremcha kick), 12:44. Panthers 35–6. Drive: 3 plays, 12 yards, 1:00. Fourth quarter BCU – Juan Dominguez 28-yard field goal, 12:12. Panthers 35–9. Drive: 12 plays, 62 yards, 4:32. FIU – Anthony Carrie 2-yard run (Robert Czeremcha kick), 7:01. Panthers 42–9. Drive: 10 plays, 76 yards, 5:06.

Statistics	BCU	FIU
First downs	17	28
Total yards	346	456
Rushing yards	105	223
Passing yards	241	233
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	23–39–0	22–35–0
Time of possession	27:59	32:01

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Bethune–Cookman	Passing	Timmy McClain	18/28, 164 yards
	Rushing	Marqui Johnson	9 carries, 76 yards
	Receiving	Javon Ross	6 receptions, 109 yards
FIU	Passing	Keyone Jenkins	18/30, 187 yards
	Rushing	Kejon Owens	11 carries, 71 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Eric Nelson	2 receptions, 47 yards

at No. 2 Penn State

See also: 2025 Penn State Nittany Lions football team

Game Two – FIU Panthers (1–0) at No. 2 Penn State Nittany Lions (1–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Panthers	0	0	0	0	0
No. 2 Nittany Lions	7	3	10	14	34

at Beaver Stadium • University Park, PA

• Date: Saturday September 6, 2025
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: Rainy, cloudy, 64 °F (18 °C)
• Game attendance: 103,817
• Referee: Tim ODey
• TV announcers (BTN): Guy Haberman (play-by-play), Yogi Roth (analyst), and Rhett Lewis (sideline reporter)

Game information

First quarter PSU – Khalil Dinkins 9-yard pass from Drew Allar (Ryan Barker kick), 3:54. Nittany Lions 7–0. Drive: 10 plays, 87 yards, 3:54. Second quarter PSU – Ryan Barker 41-yard field goal, 0:50. Nittany Lions 10–0. Drive: 8 plays, 13 yards, 3:06. Third quarter PSU – Ryan Barker 34-yard field goal, 9:56. Nittany Lions 13–0. Drive: 12 plays, 60 yards, 5:04. PSU – Devonte Ross 42-yard pass from Drew Allar (Ryan Barker kick), 4:44. Nittany Lions 20–0. Drive: 5 plays, 88 yards, 2:09. Fourth quarter PSU – Kaytron Allen 67-yard run (Ryan Barker kick) 3:29. Nittany Lions 27–0. Drive: 1 play, 67 yards, 0:11. PSU – Nicholas Singleton 5-yard run (Ryan Barker kick), 1:19. Nittany Lions 34–0. Drive: 1 play, 5 yards, 0:03.

Statistics	FIU	PSU
First downs	14	20
Total yards	290	409
Rushing yards	141	209
Passing yards	149	200
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	18–33–1	19–33–0
Time of possession	34:17	25:43

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
FIU	Passing	Keyone Jenkins	15/28, 127 yards, INT
	Rushing	Kejon Owens	15 carries, 78 yards
	Receiving	JoJo Stone	1 reception, 27 yards
Penn State	Passing	Drew Allar	19/33, 200 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Kaytron Allen	16 carries, 144 yards, TD
	Receiving	Devonte Ross	3 receptions, 61 yards, TD

vs. Florida Atlantic (Shula Bowl)

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

Pregame line	Over/under
FIU–1.5	56.5

Game Three – Florida Atlantic Owls (1–1) at FIU Panthers (1–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Owls	7	14	0	7	28
Panthers	7	10	21	0	38

at Pitbull Stadium • Miami, FL

• Date: Saturday September 13, 2025
• Game time: 6:00 p.m. EDT
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 80 °F (27 °C) • Wind: E at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)
• Game attendance: 17,638
• Referee: Scott Hardin
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Steve Goldstein (play-by-play) and Kim Bokamper (analyst)

Game information

First quarter (5:43) FIU – Kejon Owens 4-yard run, Robert Czeremcha kick (Drive: 8 plays, 48 yards, 4:24; FIU 7–0) (3:43) FAU – Caden Veltkamp 10-yard run, Garrison Smith kick (Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 2:00; Tied 7–7) Second quarter (14:56) FIU – Kejon Owens 1-yard run, Robert Czeremcha kick (Drive: 3 plays, 49 yards, 0:33; FIU 14–7) (9:36) FAU – Easton Messer 23-yard pass from Caden Veltkamp, Garrison Smith kick (Drive: 6 plays, 41 yards, 2:16; Tied 14–14) (3:32) FIU – Robert Czeremcha 39-yard field goal (Drive: 12 plays, 56 yards, 6:50; FIU 17–14) (0:57) FAU – Xavier Terrell 32-yard pass from Caden Veltkamp, Garrison Smith kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 2:35; Florida Atlantic 21–17) Third quarter (11:31) FIU – Keyone Jenkins 4-yard run, Robert Czeremcha kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:29; FIU 24–21) (9:04) FIU – Alex Perry 26-yard pass from Keyone Jenkins, Robert Czeremcha kick (Drive: 3 plays, 55 yards, 1:11; FIU 31–21) (4:55) FIU – Anthony Carrie 1-yard run, Robert Czeremcha kick (Drive: 5 plays, 85 yards, 2:39; FIU 38–21) Fourth quarter (7:45) FAU – Jarvis Johnson 4-yard blocked punt return, Garrison Smith kick (FIU 38–28)

Statistics	FAU	FIU
First downs	24	17
Total yards	478	408
Rushing yards	135	224
Passing yards	343	184
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	33–51–3	18–24–0
Time of possession	26:05	33:55

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Florida Atlantic	Passing	Caden Veltkamp	33/50, 343 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT
	Rushing	Gemari Sands	14 carries, 105 yards
	Receiving	Jayshon Platt	5 receptions, 90 yards
FIU	Passing	Keyone Jenkins	18/24, 184 yards, TD
	Rushing	Kejon Owens	19 carries, 173 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Maguire Anderson	5 receptions, 81 yards

vs. Delaware

See also: 2025 Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens football team

Game Four – Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens (2–1) at FIU Panthers (2–1) – 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: 6:00 p.m. EDT
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Steve Goldstein (play-by-play) and Kim Bokamper (analyst)

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 Five – FIU Panthers (2–2) at UConn Huskies (3–2) – Game summary

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

at Pratt & Whitney Stadium 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 Six – 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 Seven – 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 Eight – 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 Nine – 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 Ten – 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	LIB	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 Eleven – 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	JVST	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 Twelve – 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 Shell Energy Stadium • Houston, 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.