Paws Up Preview – FIU Football vs UTEP

MIAMI, FL – At one point in this season, the FIU Panthers were 3-1 and said to be a dark-horse candidate in Conference USA. Then, two straight losses have set the Panthers back down to 3-3 with six games to go.

It’ll take three more wins for FIU to be considered bowl-eligible, and the month of October still looks to be the best month for them to get it done opponent-wise. That starts back home against the 1-5 UTEP Miners on Wednesday night.

With all of the hype surrounding this game in the offseason thanks in part to the pastel pink and neon blue that the Panthers will be donning, FIU will also have a perfect opportunity to secure what might be the easiest win of the season against one of the worst programs in FBS.

What We Learned From New Mexico State

Pretty much all of the criticisms I had against FIU from their 38-6 loss to Liberty are translated once again to their 34-17 loss to the Aggies, but a bit more defined because this was a game that the Panthers really should have won.

Once again, FIU’s defense started strong with three forced punts and a pick by CJ Christian. But once again, the Panthers’ offense found no rhythm in the second half and as a result, didn’t spend much time on the field.

The defense then had to spend most of their time on the field, becoming fatigued and letting Diego Pavia and the Aggies run all over them.

This is a very frustrating trend that’s hurt an FIU team that has shown glimpses of offensive prowess, ultimately wasted because a football game lasts 60 minutes, not 30.

In the first half, quarterback Keyone Jenkins looked promising, moving the ball down the field both with his arm and legs. The Jenkins to Kris Mitchell connection still looked sharp, and the running back duo of Kejon Owens and Shomari Lawrence looked to have a masterclass game.

In the second half, New Mexico State’s defense adjusted and the running game was never the same. Combine that with a pair of crucial interceptions and a dwindling offensive line that gave QB1 no time in the pocket, and the Aggies were able to score 21 unanswered.

It’s worth noting that Jenkins suffered a concussion at the end of the game from a hit to the helmet as he was sliding. Head coach Mike MacIntyre told the media on Friday that Jenkins entered concussion protocol and is still expected to start on Wednesday.

On To The UTEP Miners

In came the University of Texas-El Paso Miners, better known as UTEP. Don’t let their 1-5 record fool you, they had a decent season last year going 5-7, barely missing out on a bowl game. They also handily defeated FIU by a score of 40-6.

But there’s no doubt the 2023 UTEP squad is very different from last year, and not in a good way. While they beat Incarnate Word, an FCS school, they have lost to Jacksonville State, Northwestern, Arizona, UNLV, and LA Tech.

The Miners remind me of the Maine Black Bears in the sense that A LOT of their team from last year is gone, either through graduation or the transfer portal.

One player that remained is quarterback Gavin Hardison, who was their leading passer in both 2022 and 2023. However, it’s not 100% certain if he’ll be playing, as he suffered an elbow injury that sat him out of last week’s game vs LA Tech. Their backup, Jake McNamara, is also dealing with a concussion.

If Hardison can’t recover in time, quarterback duties might fall to either Kevin Hurley or Cade McConnel, their third and fourth-string quarterbacks. In any event, FIU’s defense has to take advantage of the situation and pressure them all night.

UTEP does have two reliable runners in Deion Hankins and Torrance Burgess Jr. who have carried their offense at times. Their receiving room has not been great, with their leading receiver, Kelly Akharaiyi, only having 290 total passing yards.

Still, the Miners have the second-worst offense in the conference when it comes to overall scoring and efficiency in the passing game, only surpassing Sam Houston State – another team FIU pays this month.

Their defense has also been relatively mediocre, only recording two interceptions and one fumble recovery in six games. (FIU has five and five, respectively) Their leading tackler is Tyrice Knight with 76 total, the most in the conference. Regardless, this UTEP team has given up 169 points, edging out FIU with 162.

Jake’s Prediction

It’s the first Wednesday night game at home this season, and with all the festivities pregame and a solid T-shirt giveaway during the game, the fans should be out in full force. Miami loves their Vice colors, there’s no doubt about that.

I think FIU is coming into this game with the advantage in almost every position. UTEP’s running game might prove troublesome, but the Panthers’ defense has done a great job in the first half against these groups.

It all comes down to the offense and their ability to adjust their playcalling and protect their quarterback AFTER HALFTIME. But I feel like they’ll finally get this done and play a full 60 minutes.

Expect some points scored by their defense, by the way, thanks in part to a potential rookie quarterback. Whoever it is, you might see their best performance against an offense all season.

Ultimately, the Panthers HAVE to win this game. The competition won’t get much easier than this in C-USA. They’re at home. They’re gonna be decked out in vice gear. They’re playing UTEP. I think they get it done.

FIU – 35

UTEP – 10