The 2025 FIU Panthers football team represented Florida International University (FIU) as a member of Conference USA (CUSA) during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Panthers were led by Willie Simmons in his first year as the head coach. The Panthers played their home games at Pitbull Stadium in Miami.
With a win over Jacksonville State on November 22, 2025, the Golden Panthers clinched bowl eligibility for the first time since 2019. The following week, with a win over Sam Houston, they also clinched their first winning season since 2018.
Offseason Transfers Outgoing Daniel OgundipeOLAlbanyJa'Coby MatthewsWRAlcorn StateNazeviah BurrisWRArkansas StateTravion BarnesLBBaylorJaden WilliamsDBBethune–CookmanAmari JonesQBBethune–CookmanHezekiah MassesDBCaliforniaLaDarian PaulkSCentral MissouriJamarrion SolomonDLCharlotteRocky BeersTEColorado StateJackson LeeLSFlorida AtlanticMike JacksonWRFlorida MemorialEric RiversWRGeorgia TechDean PattersonWRGeorgia TechEddie Walls IIIDEHoustonJaDarious LeeOLKennesaw StateJoJo EvansSLouisvilleNaeer JacksonOLLouisvilleTravis BurkeOLMemphisShomari LawrenceRBMissouri StateWyatt LawsonOLSouth DakotaJamari HollimanDBSouth Dakota StateJohn Bock IIOLTulaneAjay AllenRBTulsaAntonio FergusonTEUABRaheim SexilDBUMassCole GustafsonDLUTEPBo BlanchardOLValdosta StateCJ ChristianSWashingtonMarquez TatumDLUnknownClaude LarkinsDEUnknownReggie PetersonLBUnknownMing TjonOLUnknownRowdy BeersTEUnknownLuby MauriceWRUnknownAntoine CobbDLUnknownLandon HaleDBUnknownKejon OwensRBWithdrawnKeyone JenkinsQBWithdrawn
Incoming Reece LarsonWRAppalachian StateWebsley EtienneSArkansas StateJai-Ayviauynn CelestineDBArizonaL'Cier LuterDLBall StateJohnny Chaney Jr.LBColoradoTrey WilhoitPFlorida A&MLamont Green Jr.DEFlorida StateDante AndersonDEFlorida StateAnthony CarrieRBGeorgia TechAlex PerryWRHawaiiJoe PesanskyQBHoly CrossJustin WoodLSHoustonDemetrius HillSIllinoisTar'Varish DawsonWRJacksonville StateJoJo StoneWRLouisvilleSu AgunloyeDLMarshallAjay AllenRBMiami (FL)Antonio TrippOLMiami (FL)Julius PierceOLMiddle TennesseeTrent SimsLSMississippi Valley StateJustin CayenneTEPennsylvaniaMiguel CedenoOLRiceAaron ArmitageDEStanfordDallas PayneTEUABTyderick BrownDBUABZaire FlournoyOLUAB
Coaching staff additions NameNew PositionPrevious TeamPrevious Position SourceWillie SimmonsHead coachDukeRunning backsNick ColemanOffensive coordinator/QuarterbacksUABQuarterbacksKenneth GilstrapSpecial teams/SafetiesUABSecondaryRyan SmithLinebackersMurray StateDefensive coordinator/SafetiesFrank PonceAssociate head coach/Tight endsAppalachian StateOffensive coordinator/QuarterbacksBenedick HyppoliteRunning backsMiami (FL)Offensive analyst/Running backsEdwin PataOffensive lineMiami (FL)Offensive lineJelani BerassaWide receiversYoungstown StateWide receivers
Schedule
Game summaries vs. Bethune–Cookman (FCS)
Statistics BCU FIU First downs 17 28 Plays–yards 69–346 73–456 Rushes–yards 30–105 38–223 Passing yards 241 233 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–39–0 22–35–0 Turnovers 1 1 Time of possession 27:59 32:01 Team Category Player StatisticsBethune–Cookman Passing Timmy McClain 18/28, 164 yards Rushing Marqui Johnson 9 carries, 76 yards Receiving Javon Ross 6 receptions, 109 yardsFIU 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
Statistics FIUPSU First downs 14 20 Plays–yards 72–290 64–409 Rushes–yards 39–141 31–209 Passing yards 149 200 Passing: –– 18–33–1 19–33–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 34:17 25:43 Team Category Player StatisticsFIU Passing Keyone Jenkins 15/28, 127 yards, INT Rushing Kejon Owens 15 carries, 78 yards Receiving JoJo Stone 1 reception, 27 yardsPenn 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)
Statistics FAUFIU First downs 24 17 Plays–yards 82–478 64–408 Rushes–yards 31–135 40–224 Passing yards 343 184 Passing: comp–att–int 33–51–3 18–24–0 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 26:05 33:55 Team Category Player StatisticsFlorida 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 yardsFIU 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
Statistics DEL FIU First downs 24 14 Plays–yards 66–358 69–363 Rushes–yards 31–140 34–160 Passing yards 218 203 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 23–35–1 22–35–2 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 30:31 29:29 Team Category Player StatisticsDelaware Passing Nick Minicucci 23/35, 218 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Jo Silver 13 carries, 66 yards, TD Receiving Sean Wilson 7 receptions, 78 yardsFIU Passing Keyone Jenkins 22/34, 203 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Kejon Owens 15 carries, 74 yards Receiving Alex Perry 5 receptions, 84 yards, TD
at UConn
Statistics FIU CONN First downs 18 22 Plays–yards 72–304 67–527 Rushes–yards 36–130 33–150 Passing yards 174 377 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22-36-3 24-34-0 Turnovers 5 1 Time of possession 30:27 29:33 Team Category Player StatisticsFIU Passing Joe Pesansky 7/12, 100 yards Rushing Kejon Owens 16 carries, 67 yards, TD Receiving Alex Perry 4 receptions, 32 yards Defense Victor Evans III 8 tacklesUConn Passing Joe Fagnano 22/28, 355 yards, 4 TD Rushing Cam Edwards 12 carries, 80 yards, TD Receiving Reymello Murphy 3 receptions, 78 yards, TD Defense Amir Renwick 10 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT
at Western Kentucky
Statistics FIU WKU First downs 21 18 Plays–yards 70–453 64–341 Rushes–yards 39–249 23–116 Passing yards 204 225 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 20–31–0 27–41–3 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 34:38 25:22 Team Category Player StatisticsFIU Passing Keyone Jenkins 17/25, 184 yards, TD Rushing Kejon Owens 22 carries, 195 yards, TD Receiving Alex Perry 3 receptions, 86 yardsWestern Kentucky Passing Maverick McIvor 20/31, 159 yards, 3 INT Rushing Mavis Parrish 9 carries, 74 yards Receiving Matthew Henry 2 receptions, 58 yards
vs. Kennesaw State
Statistics KENN FIU First downs 20 23 Plays–yards 58–498 73–518 Rushes–yards 41–214 37–222 Passing yards 284 296 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 12–17–0 22–36–0 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 25:39 34:21 Team Category Player StatisticsKennesaw State Passing Amari Odom 10/15, 205 yards, TD Rushing Alexander Diggs 11 carries, 69 yards, TD Receiving Gabriel Benyard 5 receptions, 97 yardsFIU Passing Keyone Jenkins 22/36, 296 yards, TD Rushing Kejon Owens 20 carries, 166 yards, TD Receiving Alex Perry 7 receptions, 75 yards
at Missouri State
Statistics FIU MOST First downs 23 18 Plays–yards 71–346 64–369 Rushes–yards 35–115 37–206 Passing yards 231 163 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 22–36–0 16–27–0 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 32:01 27:59 Team Category Player StatisticsFIU Passing Keyone Jenkins 15/24, 147 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kejon Owens 18 carries, 63 yards Receiving C'quan Jnopierre 3 receptions, 57 yardsMissouri State Passing Jacob Clark 16/27, 163 yards, 2 TD Rushing Shomari Lawrence 14 carries, 104 yards, 2 TD Receiving Makai Cope 2 receptions, 52 yards
at Middle Tennessee
Statistics FIU MTSU First downs 22 18 Plays–yards 66–401 78–364 Rushes–yards 38–144 24–33 Passing yards 257 331 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–28–2 33–54–1 Turnovers 2 3 Time of possession 28:27 31:33 Team Category Player StatisticsFIU Passing Joe Pesansky 17/28, 257 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT Rushing Kejon Owens 15 carries, 68 yards, 2 TD Receiving Alex Perry 5 receptions, 71 yards, 2 TDMiddle Tennessee Passing Nicholas Vattiato 26/37, 242 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Jekail Middlebrook 8 carries, 30 yards Receiving Cam'Ron Lacy 5 receptions, 108 yards, TD
vs. Liberty
Statistics LIB FIU First downs 25 22 Plays–yards 73–378 73–375 Rushes–yards 41–160 39–169 Passing yards 218 206 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–32–2 24–34–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 29:49 30:11 Team Category Player StatisticsLiberty Passing Ethan Vasko 17/31, 218 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Evan Dickens 28 carries, 106 yards, TD Receiving Donte Lee Jr. 5 receptions, 79 yards, TDFIU Passing Joe Pesansky 24/34, 206 yards, 2 TD Rushing Kejon Owens 18 carries, 84 yards, TD Receiving Alex Perry 8 receptions, 88 yards, TD
vs. Jacksonville State
Statistics JVST FIU First downs 23 19 Plays–yards 77–449 69–398 Rushes–yards 46–251 41–202 Passing yards 198 196 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–31–0 14–28–2 Turnovers 2 3 Time of possession 28:22 31:38 Team Category Player StatisticsJacksonville State Passing Caden Creel 17/30, 198 yards, 2 TD Rushing Cam Cook 25 carries, 138 yards, TD Receiving Deondre Johnson 3 receptions, 49 yards, TDFIU Passing Joe Pesansky 14/28, 196 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Kejon Owens 21 carries, 135 yards, TD Receiving Alex Perry 4 receptions, 109 yards, TD
at Sam Houston
Statistics FIU SHSU First downs 24 19 Plays–yards 64–594 71–359 Rushes–yards 40–303 38–196 Passing yards 291 163 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–24–1 16–33–2 Turnovers 1 4 Time of possession 30:41 29:19 Team Category Player StatisticsFIU Passing Keyone Jenkins 15/24, 291 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Kejon Owens 15 carries, 124 yards Receiving Alex Perry 7 receptions, 140 yards, 2 TDSam Houston Passing Landyn Locke 14/30, 121 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Elijah Green 11 carries, 98 yards Receiving Grady O'Neill 8 receptions, 70 yards, TD
vs. UTSA (First Responder Bowl)
Statistics FIU UTSA First downs 22 25 Plays–yards 78–255 71–481 Rushes–yards 29–79 40–186 Passing yards 176 295 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–49–2 18–31–0 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 28:54 31:06 Team Category Player StatisticsFIU Passing Joe Pesansky 11/31, 102 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Kejon Owens 8 carries, 36 yards Receiving Jojo Stone 4 receptions, 28 yardsUTSA Passing Owen McCown 18/28, 295 yards, 3 TD Rushing Will Henderson III 14 carries, 59 yards, 2 TD Receiving Devin McCuin 6 receptions, 73 yards, TD
References