Paws Up Preview – FIU Football vs Kennesaw State

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DATE – Tuesday, October 21st

TIME – 7:00 PM EST

OPPONENT – Kennesaw State Owls (Conference USA)

VENUE – Pitbull Stadium (Miami, FL)

HOW TO WATCH – ESPN2

ODDS – N/A

After one of the most impressive wins in program HISTORY, FIU Football enters Tuesday night’s game with momentum to spare. But first off, time to put on some shades and hit the neon. It’s Vice Night at Pitbull Stadium.

Under the lights on another nationally televised game, the Panthers will look to replicate their performance against Western Kentucky. They looked near-perfect on both sides of the ball, especially considering the caliber of the opponent they took on. Now, they’re 3-3 halfway through the season with winnable matchups everywhere you look.

“If we don’t turn the ball over and bust coverages, we can play with anybody in America,” said head coach Willie Simmons. “Those guys showed that this past Tuesday with a big win against Western. We have a 24-hour rule. We celebrated it. We came back the next day. We talked about what we did well and what we needed to improve upon. We put it to bed and got back to work. Kennesaw State is playing as good football as anybody in the conference, and so it’ll be a big game for us.”

ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴡᴇ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ɪꜱ ɪɴ ꜰʀᴏɴᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴜꜱ. 💯

FIU vs WKU | Cinematic Recap 🎥
#PawsUp | @BaptistHealthSF pic.twitter.com/RivPs5KrJg

— FIU Football (@FIUFootball) October 18, 2025

It’s one thing to take down the #1 team in Conference USA. Now, FIU will have to do it again to start a winning streak. The Kennesaw State Owls still have questions to be answered about them. Nothing immediately stands out about them, except for the fact that they know how to win close games.

Call up Crockett and Tubbs. We have drama at Pitbull Stadium worthy of primetime television.

Beating WKU Isn’t For Everyone

What FIU did against Western Kentucky was nothing short of unexpected. Unlike the last two games, they were 100% ready to go against WKU, and came out swinging on their first drive and never let up.

On offense, their running game exposed one of the weakest parts of the Hilltoppers – their rush defense. Kejon Owens did just about whatever he wanted to do, racking up 195 yards and a score. The synergy between him and the offensive line was off the charts, with gaps so wide they would put Big Red to shame.

Effort. Hustle. Touchdown. @kejon_owens https://t.co/c27N1NNV8w pic.twitter.com/eSBfPnn36o

— FIU Football (@FIUFootball) October 15, 2025

Keyone Jenkins had one of his best games of the season, with 185 passing yards and a touchdown to Jackson Verdugo. He made smart decisions all night, got the ball out quickly at times to avoid pressure, and even battled through an injury with minutes to go in the first half, playing all but one snap in the second.

FIU’s defense limited the best offense in Conference USA – and one of the best on the G6 – to six points. Their red zone defense forced two interceptions and only allowed two field goals. WKU did not score once in the second half, as their QB, Maverick McIvor, only threw 159 passing yards and THREE interceptions.

Overall, this was a statement win for the Panthers, and a much-needed one. It sent a message that FIU can go toe-to-toe with anyone in CUSA, and being on the road is no longer a problem for them.

A Rebound For The Ages

Here comes the Kennesaw State Owls, currently 4-2 this season. To say this has been a rebound season for them has been a massive understatement, going 2-10 in 2024. Their only two losses have been on the road against Wake Forest and Indiana to start 2025. Since then, they’ve taken down Merrimack, Arkansas State, MTSU, and LA Tech – the last one in blowout fashion.

Even with a first-place record in Conference USA, you’d be hard-pressed to find many exceptional playmakers. They have a confusing quarterback situation, with Amari Odom shouldering more games, with 754 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception.

A night to remember.#SeeUs | #HootyHoo pic.twitter.com/O5e9LAkxEz

— Kennesaw State Football (@kennesawstfb) October 11, 2025

However, Dexter Williams II made his first start since the season opener last week, and dropped 290 yards and four touchdowns against one of the best defenses in CUSA. Regardless, FIU will have to prepare for either passer to make the start on Tuesday.

Coleman Bennett has been a reliable running back with 365 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and Gabriel Benyard has been their go-to receiver with 398 yards and three touchdowns. Still, this is an offense that’s middle-of-the-pack in total offensive yards per game (363) and points per game (22). At least they don’t give up many turnovers. Their two interceptions are the lowest in CUSA.

Kennesaw State’s defense is equally middle-of-the-pack, giving up 386.3 pards per game. They don’t give up many points – only 20.5 this season, the second-least in CUSA behind Louisiana Tech. Linebacker Baron Hopson is responsible for 57 total tackles, while Tylon Dunlap is the defensive threat up front with 3.5 sacks.

Who Wins – FIU or Kennesaw State?

I guess it’s worth noting the FIU is 0-2 when rocking Vice uniforms in football. But when it comes to the seriousness of the matchup for the Panthers, this one takes the cake.

Plain and simple, if FIU is capable of taking down the #1 seed in back-to-back weeks, they can run the table the rest of the way. Kennesaw State’s stout rush defense will be a major test for the running game for the Panthers. Even then, FIU’s passing game is due for a big game, and this could be one for them.

Defensively, the Panthers enter this game with major momentum, and dare I say the advantage over KSU’s offense. Regardless of who’s the QB for the Owls, FIU proved they can go toe-to-toe with the most accurate passers in G6.

The FIU faithful are due for a big win in vice colors. If the Panthers can play consistently on both sides of the ball for a full 60 minutes, they’ll get it.

FIU – 35

KENNESAW STATE – 17

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