FIU Football Announces Updated 2026 Schedule

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The FIU Football team today announced its updated 2026 schedule now that Louisiana Tech is no longer in Conference USA. After making their first bowl game appearance since 2019, the momentum is strong heading into the upcoming season.

Schedule

September 5 – FIU at USF

September 12 – FIU vs Buffalo

September 19 – FIU at Florida Atlantic

September 26 – FIU vs LIU

October 7 – FIU vs New Mexico State

October 13 – FIU at Jax State

October 20 – FIU vs Middle Tennessee

October 31 – FIU at Liberty

November 7 FIU vs Missouri State

November 14 FIU at Delaware

November 21 FIU at Kennesaw State

November 28 FIU vs Sam Houston

Non-Conference Play

This will be the first time since 2008 that both programs will face each other. FIU is 0-2 all-time against the Bulls. Last season, South Florida finished 9-4 and was ranked as high as 18th in the nation but lost to Old Dominion in the Cure bowl.

Following the season, head coach Alex Golesh departed the program to take the head coaching position at Auburn. USF went out and hired Ohio State offensive coordinator Brian Hartline to lead the program. His first-ever game as an FBS head coach will be against the vet Willie Simmons and the Panthers.

The Bulls are coming off a disappointing 5-7 season, a year removed from their Bahamas Bowl championship.

The Panthers will then face a familiar foe two counties up north. The 24th edition of the Shula Bowl will take place in Boca Raton. FIU won last season 38-28 to reclaim the trophy for the first time since 2016.

FIU hasn’t won in Boca Raton since 2012. Last season, the Owls finished with a 4-8 record, their fifth consecutive losing season.

Back in Miami, the Panthers will play Long Island to conclude their non-conference play. FIU beat the Sharks 48-10 in 2021, their only matchup to date.

LIU finished this past season with an even 6-6 record, just their second non-losing season in program history.

Our final schedule for 2026 is locked in 🔒

🎟️: https://t.co/lFU9KifDxn pic.twitter.com/Tj9i01s1Uf

— FIU Football (@FIUFootball) April 29, 2026

Conference Play in October

After a bye week, the Panthers begin their CUSA play against New Mexico State for the first time in two seasons. In 2024, the Panthers defeated the Aggies 34-13. NM State went 4-8 in a season that saw them lose five games in a row at one point.

FIU’s first conference road game comes against Jacksonville State. They beat them last season 27-21 to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2019.

The Gamecocks reached the Conference USA championship last season against Kennesaw State, losing to the Owls. Their season ended with a Salute to Veterans Bowl championship over Troy, finishing the season with a 9-5 record.

FIU will host their second conference home contest against Middle Tennessee. Last season, the Panthers dismantled MTSU 56-30, marking the beginning of a four-game winning streak to cap off the regular season.

The Panthers will travel to Liberty on Halloween. They beat the Flames in last season’s slate, 34-27 in overtime, which snapped a previous three-game losing skid to them.

After six straight trips to bowl games, Liberty fell short of expectations, going 4-8. It was a season that saw them post two four-game losing streaks.

🚨NEW SCHEDULE🚨

Following the departure of Louisiana Tech, all Conference USA teams have a new conference schedule.#FIU #PawsUp #Panthers pic.twitter.com/2bBMjShzDk

— Paws Up Podcast (@PawsUpPodcast) April 29, 2026

The Final Stretch

FIU kicks off November by welcoming the Missouri State Bears in their first meeting in Miami. The Bears defeated the Panthers by a final score of 27-21 in the program’s first-ever matchup.

MO State ended the season with a 7-6 record, losing to Arkansas State in the Xbox Bowl. This is the fourth time in the last five years that the regular season concludes in Miami for the Panthers.

FIU travels to Delaware for the first time in program history and are seeking revenge. The Blue Hens won 38-16 at Pitbull Stadium in their first-ever matchup last year. A new addition to Conference USA, Delaware ended the season on a high note with a 7-6 record and a 68 Ventures Bowl championship against Louisiana.

The second of a back-to-back road contest, FIU plays the Kennesaw State Owls. FIU dropped last year’s home contest against the Owls 45-26 and has yet to beat them in program history.

Kennesaw State finished this past season with a 10-4 record and just one loss in conference play. They won the C-USA Championship over Jax State, but their season ended with a loss against Western Michigan in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.

The Panthers close the 2026 season at home against Sam Houston. Last year, the Panthers won 56-16 in a lopsided victory to close out the regular season.

The Bearkats posted a 2-10 record after opening the 2025 season with an eight-game losing streak under first-year head coach Phil Longo. It was a complete turnaround from being the New Orleans Bowl champions the season prior.

The kickoff and TV broadcasting information will be released at a later date.

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