FIU vs Sam Houston takes place today in the regular-season finale for the Florida International Panthers at 1 p.m. ET. The bowl-eligible Panthers seek a crucial victory to end their season on a high note.
🔥 Quick Facts
- FIU clinched bowl eligibility for the first time since 2019 with a victory over Jacksonville State on November 22
- The Panthers carry a 6-5 record into today’s matchup against struggling Sam Houston (2-9)
- First-year coach Willie Simmons has transformed FIU’s program in just one season at the helm
- Running back Kejon Owens broke the single-season rushing record with 1,174 yards this season
Panthers Ride Momentum in Search of Final Victory
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FIU enters this contest riding high after clinching bowl eligibility with their win over Jacksonville State.
The Panthers have won three straight games in Conference USA play and are surging at the right time.
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A victory today would give FIU their first-ever four-game winning streak in CUSA play since joining the conference in 2013.
Kejon Owens Leads Historic Offensive Charge
Running back Kejon Owens has been the driving force behind FIU’s offensive success this season.
Owens broke the single-season rushing record against Jacksonville State with 1,174 yards.
He averages 106.7 yards per game and has been instrumental in FIU’s recent winning streak.
| Team Metric | FIU | Sam Houston |
| Record | 6-5 | 2-9 |
| Conference Record | 4-3 CUSA | 1-6 CUSA |
| Streak | Won 3 straight | Lost 1 of last 3 |
| Venue | Shell Energy Stadium | Home |
Sam Houston Battles to Salvage Disappointing Season
The Bearkats started their 2025 season at 0-7 but have fought back recently.
Sam Houston won back-to-back games against Oregon State and Delaware before losing to Middle Tennessee on the road.
Quarterback Landyn Locke has started the Bearkats’ recent games and passed for over 200 yards in both contests.
Willie Simmons’ Historic First-Year Achievement
First-year head coach Willie Simmons has exceeded expectations in his inaugural season at FIU.
Simmons took over after serving as Duke’s running backs coach and previously led Florida A&M.
The achievement of reaching a bowl as a first-year head coach marks a remarkable turnaround for a program that hadn’t been bowl-eligible since 2019.
What Would a Win Mean for the Panthers’ Bowl Destination?
FIU’s postseason destination depends on how head-to-head records shake out across the FBS.
Clinching a potential 7-5 record with a win would enhance the Panthers’ bowl selection options.
More importantly, securing seven wins would be FIU’s first winning season since 2018 under the new coaching staff.
Sources
- ESPN – Live coverage and game information
- FIU Athletics – Official Panthers news and statistics
- Conference USA – Conference standings and records
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