FIU finds positives despite 19-9 loss at USF

The FIU Panthers walked into Raymond James Stadium on Saturday night to face Florida rival USF.

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The Panthers fell 19-9 to the Bulls in their season opener, but the final score does not tell the full story. For much of the night, FIU looked like the more aggressive and, at times, more composed team. The defense kept USF’s offense in check, the offensive line gave quarterback JJ Kohl plenty of time to operate, and head coach Willie Simmons repeatedly showed his willingness to be aggressive with nine fourth-down attempts.

But drops, penalties and turnovers repeatedly stalled FIU’s momentum and ultimately proved too costly to overcome.

“Overall, I’m disappointed with the outcome but I’m also encouraged because everything we messed up tonight is fixable,” Simmons said.

USF entered the game in front of 41,847 fans, marking the Bulls’ largest home-opening crowd since 2021, which created an electric atmosphere inside Raymond James Stadium. Yet it was the Panthers who came out looking ready for the moment.

FIU showed promise on its opening drive, driving into USF territory after starting at its 1-yard line. The drive ultimately stalled when Greg Gaines dropped a pass on fourth down, foreshadowing the missed opportunities that would follow throughout the night.

While FIU struggled to finish drives, USF’s offense was equally underwhelming. Bulls quarterback Michael Van Buren finished with just 100 passing yards on 18 attempts as head coach Brian Hartline relied heavily on the running game and conservative play calling.

FIU’s defensive coordinator Jovan Dewitt kept USF uncomfortable with an aggressive game plan. Run blitzes consistently disrupted the Bulls, while FIU’s defense remained disciplined enough to force several stalled possessions.

The biggest positive takeaway from FIU’s season opener came from the unit that struggled most a year ago.

After allowing more than 160 rushing yards per game last season, the Panthers held USF to 108 rushing yards on 38 carries, an average of 2.9 yards per carry. The Bulls finished with only 208 total yards, keeping FIU within striking distance throughout the night.

Simmons was emphatic about his defense’s performance.

“That’s an A+ effort from our defense, if we continue to play like that, I think we have a chance to be one of the best defenses in America,” Simmons said.

Unfortunately, the Panthers could not match that consistency offensively.

Holding penalties repeatedly erased positive plays, including a major third-down conversion by Kohl that was wiped away. Another holding penalty killed a promising drive late in the first half, sending FIU into the locker room trailing 6-0.

The Panthers responded coming out of halftime. FIU broke through on a fourth-down read option by Kohl, who kept the drive alive before the Panthers eventually settled for a field goal to cut the deficit to 6-3.

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USF then opened the half with a three-and-out, and the home crowd responded with boos. At that point, FIU appeared to have seized control of the game.

But once again, self-inflicted mistakes were their downfall.

Wide receiver Kyle McNeal dropped a catch-and-run opportunity that could have resulted in a significant gain, while tight end Jackson Verdugo and Gaines had already dropped passes earlier in the game. Two illegal substitution penalties further added to FIU’s growing list of mistakes.

Then came the turning point.

USF cornerback Tayvion Beasley jumped an attempted screen pass that he appeared to see coming from a mile away.

The Bulls wasted no time capitalizing on the first turnover of the game, turning it into a touchdown drive that extended their lead to 13-3.

From there, everything unraveled.

Kohl committed turnovers on FIU’s next two drives, including another interception and a fumbled snap on an attempted tush push. The Panthers turned the ball over on three consecutive possessions, allowing USF to take control without having to consistently move the ball offensively.

Still, Simmons believes the performance showed FIU can compete with a team of USF’s caliber.

“A lot of encouraging things to take away from this game, almost 400 yards of offense against arguably the most talented team we’ll play all season so it’s a lot to build upon,” Simmons said.

Down 19-3, FIU finally found the end zone on its final drive. Kohl connected with tight end James Resar for the first passing touchdown of his FIU career as time expired, making the final score 19-9.

The late touchdown did little to erase the frustration, but it reinforced the larger taheme from the night: FIU had enough opportunities to win.

The Panthers had an aggressive game plan, strong pass protection and a defense that held USF to just 208 total yards. Kohl showed flashes of poise and arm talent, while the improved run defense provided perhaps the clearest indication that FIU’s defense has the potential to be among the best in Conference USA.

Simmons expressed confidence in what his squad can accomplish moving forward.

“All in all, when you look at how we battled tonight and the encouraging things that we saw, I’m really optimistic about what this team can become.”

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Now, the Panthers have to turn that optimism into results.