The 2018 FIU Panthers football team represented Florida International University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Panthers played their home games at the Riccardo Silva Stadium in University Park, Florida as members of the East Division of Conference USA (C–USA). They were led by second-year head coach Butch Davis. They finished the season 9–4, 6–2 in C-USA play to finish in a tie for second place in the East Division. They were invited to the Bahamas Bowl where they defeated Toledo.
Spring Game
The 2018 Spring Game took place in University Park, on April 6, at 7 p.m.[1]
Offseason
Following the conclusion of the 2017 season, several Panthers were invited to participate in the Tropical Bowl, a postseason all star game held on January 14, 2018. Invitations include: Brad Muhammad (DB), Pharoah Mckever (TE) and Anthony Wint (LB).[3]
Departures
Notable departures from the 2017 squad included:
2018 NFL draft
Panthers who were picked in the 2018 NFL Draft:
Award watch lists
Listed in the order that they were released
Preseason All-CUSA team
Conference USA released their preseason all-CUSA team on July 16, 2018 with the Panthers having two players selected.[6]
Offense
Jordan Budwig – OL
Defense
Fermin Silva – DL
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Conference USA released their preseason media poll on July 17, 2018, with the Panthers predicted to finish in fourth place in the East Division.[7]
East Division
|
Predicted finish
|
Team
|
1 |
Florida Atlantic
|
2 |
Marshall
|
3 |
Middle Tennessee
|
4 |
FIU
|
5 |
Western Kentucky
|
6 |
Old Dominion
|
7 |
Charlotte
|
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
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September 1 | 7:00 p.m. | Indiana* | | CBSSN | L 28–38 | 17,082 |
September 8 | 7:30 p.m. | at Old Dominion | | beIN | W 28–20 | 19,243 |
September 15 | 7:30 p.m. | UMass* | - Riccardo Silva Stadium
- Miami, FL
| beIN | W 63–24 | 14,695 |
September 22 | 3:30 p.m. | at No. 21 Miami (FL)* | | ESPN2 | L 17–31 | 59,814 |
September 29 | 7:30 p.m. | Arkansas–Pine Bluff* | - Riccardo Silva Stadium
- Miami, FL
| ESPN+ | W 55–9 | 14,937 |
October 13 | 7:30 p.m. | Middle Tennessee | - Riccardo Silva Stadium
- Miami, FL
| beIN | W 24–21 | 16,002 |
October 20 | 7:30 p.m. | Rice | - Riccardo Silva Stadium
- Miami, FL
| ESPN+ | W 36–17 | 13,741 |
October 27 | 7:30 p.m. | at Western Kentucky | | beIN | W 38–17 | 15,138 |
November 3 | 7:30 p.m. | Florida Atlantic | | Stadium | L 14–49 | 18,478 |
November 10 | 7:00 p.m. | at UTSA | | ESPN+ | W 45–7 | 16,874 |
November 17 | 2:00 p.m. | at Charlotte | | ESPN3 | W 42–35 | 13,371 |
November 24 | 12:00 p.m. | Marshall | - Riccardo Silva Stadium
- Miami, FL
| Stadium | L 25–28 | 14,862 |
| 12:30 p.m. | vs. Toledo* | | ESPN | W 35–32 | 13,510 |
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Eastern time
|
- Schedule Source:[8]
Game summaries
Indiana
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Hoosiers
|
14
|
14
|
7
|
3 |
38 |
Panthers
|
7
|
7
|
7
|
7 |
28 |
At Old Dominion
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Panthers
|
0
|
14
|
14
|
0 |
28 |
Monarchs
|
7
|
13
|
0
|
0 |
20 |
UMass
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Minutemen
|
7
|
3
|
14
|
0 |
24 |
Panthers
|
14
|
28
|
14
|
7 |
63 |
At Miami (FL)
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Panthers
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
17 |
17 |
No. 21 Hurricanes
|
7
|
17
|
7
|
0 |
31 |
Arkansas–Pine Bluff
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Golden Lions
|
3
|
0
|
3
|
3 |
9 |
Panthers
|
17
|
21
|
17
|
0 |
55 |
Middle Tennessee
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Blue Raiders
|
0
|
14
|
7
|
0 |
21 |
Panthers
|
3
|
10
|
0
|
11 |
24 |
Rice
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Owls
|
7
|
3
|
7
|
0 |
17 |
Panthers
|
0
|
16
|
10
|
10 |
36 |
At Western Kentucky
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Panthers
|
7
|
7
|
14
|
10 |
38 |
Hilltoppers
|
0
|
3
|
0
|
14 |
17 |
Florida Atlantic
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Owls
|
7
|
7
|
7
|
28 |
49 |
Panthers
|
0
|
7
|
7
|
0 |
14 |
At UTSA
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Panthers
|
0
|
17
|
7
|
21 |
45 |
Roadrunners
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
7 |
7 |
At Charlotte
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Panthers
|
10
|
10
|
7
|
15 |
42 |
49ers
|
7
|
7
|
7
|
14 |
35 |
Marshall
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Thundering Herd
|
14
|
0
|
7
|
7 |
28 |
Panthers
|
3
|
7
|
0
|
15 |
25 |
Toledo (Bahamas Bowl)
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
Panthers
|
0
|
14
|
7
|
14 |
35 |
Rockets
|
10
|
0
|
7
|
15 |
32 |
References
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Home field | |
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Bowls & rivalries | |
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Culture & lore | |
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People | |
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Seasons | |
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