Willie Simmons knows what it takes to rebuild a program. The new Florida International head coach had to do it at his last two stops.
Simmons was the head coach at Florida A&M from 2018 to 2023. The Rattlers posted six straight seasons with a losing record before he got there. Simmons went 45-13 at Florida A&M, and he led the program to HBCU National Championships in 2019 and 2023 and a SWAC title in 2023.
The same was true at Prairie View A&M. He took over a struggling program and became the first head coach in 55 years to post three straight winning seasons there.
Simmons has his work cut out for him at Florida International, which hasn’t finished a season with a winning record since 2018. The Panthers have won a combined 13 games since 2020, and they haven’t won more than four games in a season since 2019.
The good news is they have a lot of experience back at key positions this year, including quarterback, where Keyone Jenkins returns after starting 23 games the past two seasons. He’ll get some help from a packed backfield, but the defense must improve in a major way if Florida International is going to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2019.
New Customer Offers at BetMGM
Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Add’l Terms
Florida International Football’s Conference USA Title Betting Odds
Florida International’s odds to win Conference USA are +2000, via BetMGM.
Florida International Football’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
- Florida International’s win total Over/Under is 5.5 games.
- Under 5.5 is at -135.
- Over 5.5 is at +110.
Florida International Football’s 2025 Schedule
Aug. 29 vs. Bethune-Cookman
Sept. 6 @ Penn State
Sept. 13 vs. Florida Atlantic
Sept. 20 vs. Delaware
Oct. 4 @ UConn
Oct. 14 @ Western Kentucky
Oct. 21 vs. Kennesaw State
Oct. 29 @ Missouri State
Nov. 8 @ Middle Tennessee
Nov. 15 vs. Liberty
Nov. 22 vs. Jacksonville State
Nov. 29 @ Sam Houston
Bold indicates Conference USA games
Key Florida International Football Returners
2024 All-Conference USA 2nd Team
KR C’Quan Jnopierre
Florida International Football Season Preview
The transfer portal was not kind to FIU this year. Most of the Panthers’ All-Conference USA picks decided to transfer, including lead receivers Eric Rivers and Dean Patterson, both of whom landed at Georgia Tech. They lost leading tackler Travion Barnes to Baylor and starting defensive back JoJo Evans to Louisville.
Fortunately for the Panthers, they have one of Conference USA’s top quarterbacks back in the fold and they have what should be one of the conference’s top rushing attacks. They just need more from a defense that gave up 191.3 rushing yards a game last season.
QB Jenkins In Line For A Special Year
Jenkins initially tested the waters in the transfer portal, but he decided to return for his third season as the starter at FIU. He’s the Preseason Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year after he racked up 2,557 passing yards last season and 22 passing touchdowns, which is No. 2 in FIU single-season history.
The 6-foot, 190-pounder enters his junior season with 4,971 yards and 33 touchdowns through the air. He has also added eight touchdowns on the ground.
Jenkins has a strong, accurate arm, and he’s athletic enough to hurt teams with his legs when he needs to. He cut down on his turnovers last season, throwing eight interceptions after having 11 passes picked off in 2023. If he can further improve on those numbers, he could be looking at a special season.
Jenkins will be throwing to a mostly rebuilt group of wide receivers. His top four options from a year ago are gone.
JuJu Lewis is the leading receiver back after catching five passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns last fall. He’s joined by all-conference kick returner C’Quan Jnopierre and transfers Alex Perry (Hawaii), Tar’varish Dawson (Jacksonville State), and JoJo Stone (Louisville).
Running Back By Committee?
The Panthers have no shortage of options in the backfield. Leading rusher Keyon Owens is back after he finished with 392 yards and five touchdowns last season. He’s joined once again by Devonte Lyons, who was No. 3 on the team last fall with 288 yards and two scores.
They’re joined by a pair of newcomers: Georgia Tech transfer Anthony Carrie and freshman Sterling Joseph, who is from Miami. Carrie was a four-star recruit and the No. 9 running back in the nation, according to Rivals, in 2023. Joseph was Dade County’s leading rusher as a senior at Edison Senior High in Miami. He finished his high school career with 4,586 yards and 41 touchdowns on the ground.
The Secondary Should Be A Strength
FIU’s pass defense ranked No. 16 in the nation last season, and many of its contributors are back.
Brian Blades II and Victor Evans III are back at cornerback. Blades played in all 12 games last season and finished with 29 tackles and an interception. Evans played in nine games but has a chance to be a full-time starter this year. They’re joined by Arizona transfer Jai-Ayviauynn Celestine.
Transfer safeties Websley Etienne (Arkansas State) and Demetrius Hill (Illinois) should come in and make an immediate impact. Etienne finished with 56 tackles and two interceptions last season at Arkansas State.
Who Will Emerge In The Front Seven?
FIU had five players with at least 79 tackles last season. All five are gone. Linebacker Percy Courtney Jr. should move into a starting role, next to Colorado transfer Johnny Chaney Jr.
Keegan Davis is back at defensive end after he led the team with 3.5 sacks last season. He’s joined by veteran tackles Germaine Carter and Quaylen Hill.
The Panthers also hit the portal in hopes of improving their pass rush, adding Dante Anderson and Lamont Green from Florida State and Aaron Armitage from Stanford.
FIU Football Season Prediction
I predict Florida International will not win the Conference USA Championship and will win fewer than 5.5 games.
Jenkins and the rushing attack should be solid. If a No. 1 receiver emerges, the offense could be pretty good. The defense is still the problem. There is some experience on the defensive line and in the secondary, and a couple of transfers should make immediate impacts. But it’s hard to imagine the Panthers losing the kind of defensive star power they did and improving on that side of the ball.
