Not only is FIU just three years removed from a 1-11 campaign, but the Panthers also haven’t finished above .500 in six years.
In Mike MacIntyre’s first two seasons, the Panthers went 4-8 both years finishing last in Conference USA last year and tied for last in 2022. The third-year FIU head coach has been in this situation before, though.
During head coaching stints with San Jose State and Colorado, MacIntyre struggled in the first few seasons before guiding his teams to double-digit wins. He did this in his third season at SJSU after going 1-12 in Year 1. While at Colorado, MacIntyre’s squads won a combined 10 games in his first three years before going 10-4 in Year 4.
The coach has experience turning programs around and has taken on tough jobs in the past. We’ll see if he can keep that track record with this year’s FIU squad.
FIU Football’s Conference USA Title Odds
FIU’s odds to win CUSA are +12500, via BetMGM.
FIU Football’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
FIU’s win total Over/Under is 4.5, with the Over at +135 and the Under at -165.
FIU Football’s 2024 Schedule
8/31 at Indiana
9/7 vs Central Michigan
9/14 at FAU
9/21 vs Monmouth
9/28 vs Louisiana Tech
10/8 at Liberty
10/16 at UTEP
10/22 vs Sam Houston
10/29 vs New Mexico State
11/16 at Jacksonville State
11/23 at Kennesaw State
11/30 vs Middle Tennessee
Bold indicates CUSA contests
Key FIU Football Returners
2023 All-CUSA 2nd Team
PR/WR Dean Patterson
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QB Keyone Jenkins Set For Breakout Season With FIU Football
There was a brief quarterback competition at the start of 2023 for the Panthers. After Grayson James won the job and started Week 1, he was benched early and Keyone Jenkins went on to start FIU’s remaining 11 games as a freshman. He finished with 2,422 passing yards and 11 touchdowns to go with six rushing TDs.
Jenkins showed plenty of potential while there were also some of those mistakes that a young QB will make. Even with Jenkins and all-conference wideout Kris Mitchell, the Panthers still struggled to score and were third-to-last in the conference with 20.1 points per game and second-to-last in total offense with 319.6 yards per game.
They should be much improved this season.
Not only will Jenkins have had one season as a starter under his belt, but the offensive line is also more experienced and returns four starters. This O-line struggled last season and gave up 46 sacks — the most in the league by 14. If this group can play at least decently, then Jenkins and the Panthers running backs could make some things happen.
The Panthers’ running back room is deep and talented. Shomari Lawrence, Lexington Joseph, and Kejon Owens should all see a good amount of totes. Lawrence led the team with 566 yards last year and added four touchdowns while Owens rushed for 453 yards and five scores. Joseph missed last season after tearing his ACL in the spring but led the Panthers in rushing in 2022 with 536 yards.
This rushing attack should take some pressure off Jenkins. Wideout Dean Patterson provides big-time play-making ability as well.
The Panthers have a veteran defense, which can also help in making things easier for Jenkins. If they’re not allowing 430 yards and 31 points per game again this fall like they were last year, then the Panthers offense won’t be playing catch-up so often.
Led by linebacker Reggie Patterson and nickelback Jamal Potts, this defense will mainly have upperclassmen on the field. The defensive line should be more effective than it was last year, especially with Bethune-Cookman transfer Eddie Walls arriving after recording 14.5 tackles for loss and four sacks. The junior will provide some much needed pressure that FIU was missing last year. Patterson’s 104 tackles were sixth most in the league in 2023.
Potts and the rest of FIU’s defensive backs have experience, they’ll just need to take their play up a notch this season.
2024 FIU Football Season Prediction
FIU won’t win Conference USA or make it to a bowl game, but I do think they have a legitimate chance of winning five games and going Over 4.5 wins.
While their only shot at a non-conference victory will come against Monmouth, I think there are six conference games on the Panthers’ schedule that they could very well win — Louisiana Tech, UTEP, Sam Houston, New Mexico State, Kennesaw State, and Middle Tennessee. This means the only league game I don’t see them winning is against Liberty. They were lucky not to draw Western Kentucky this year.
Especially since four of those contests are at home, I wouldn’t count out MacIntyre’s squad to come alive in those matchups. The Over 4.5 wins may be a good bet in my opinion, especially at plus-money. The Panthers will be better than what the odds suggest.
