Miami, FL.- The Florida International Panthers look to build on breakthrough 2025 season as they travel to Tampa for Saturday night matchup with the University of South Florida Bulls. A year ago, FIU entered the season opener with plenty of questions surrounding a program beginning a new era. Now, the Panthers head into their 2026 opener with something different: expectations.
FIU travels to Tampa on Saturday night to face USF at Raymond James Stadium, opening its 25th season of football and the second season under head coach Willie Simmons. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
The Panthers are coming off one of their more successful seasons in recent years. Simmons led FIU to a 7-6 record in his first season, a bowl appearance for the first time since 2019 and a four-game winning streak to close the regular season. FIU also went undefeated in November and picked up notable road victories over Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee while ending a lengthy drought against Florida Atlantic in the Shula Bowl.
The challenge now is proving FIU can turn last year’s momentum into sustained success.
Kohl Takes Over
Perhaps the biggest storyline entering the opener is at quarterback.
JJ Kohl will make his first career start for FIU after transferring from Appalachian State. The 6-foot-7 quarterback started six games for the Mountaineers in 2025, throwing for 1,465 yards and 12 touchdowns while completing 61.6 percent of his passes. Before arriving at App State, Kohl began his college career at Iowa State as a highly regarded four-star recruit.
For FIU, Saturday represents the first real test of what its offense can look like with Kohl directing it. The Panthers will need him to handle the pressure of his first start while operating an offense facing a USF defense eager to make life difficult for a new quarterback. How quickly Kohl settles in could determine how long FIU can stay in the game.
The Panthers do have familiarity around him, including several players returning to the Tampa area for the opener. Running back Anthony Carrie is a Tampa native who attended Carrollwood Day before playing at Georgia Tech. Wide receiver Greg Gaines III is a Tampa Bay Tech product, while wide receiver Maguire Anderson is from nearby Lutz. For those players, the trip home comes with the added opportunity to help FIU begin its season with an upset.
A Defense Built Around Playmakers
If FIU is going to leave Raymond James Stadium with a victory, its defense will likely have to play a major role. One of the Panthers’ keys returning pieces is defensive back Shamir Sterlin. Sterlin emerged as one of FIU’s most productive defenders as a freshman in 2025, recording 65 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions in 12 games. He finished fourth on the team in tackles and earned All-CUSA Freshman Team and honorable-mention All-CUSA recognition. His development gives Simmons a proven playmaker in the secondary as FIU prepares to face a USF offense operating under a first-year head coach.
The Panthers will also have to account for the Bulls’ talented transfer additions. USF’s 2026 transfer class was rated the top Group of Six transfer class entering the season, meaning FIU will be facing a roster with significant new talent of its own. That creates an intriguing parallel between the two programs. Both are trying to blend new pieces into teams with aspirations of taking the next step.
Another Close Chapter?
History offers little separation between these programs.
FIU and USF have played only twice, with the Bulls winning both meetings. But neither game was decided by more than one score. USF escaped with a 21-20 victory in Tampa in 2006 before winning 17-9 in Miami in 2008. Saturday marks the first meeting between the programs since that 2008 matchup.
For FIU, that history provides another reason to view the game as an opportunity rather than simply a difficult road assignment.Simmons is also no stranger to USF. While at Florida A&M, his teams faced the Bulls twice, losing both contests. He is now 2-0 against Florida programs as FIU’s head coach after defeating Bethune-Cookman and FAU last season. Saturday gives Simmons another chance to establish FIU as a program capable of competing with and beating its in-state opponents.
The Bigger Picture
The opener is only the first step in what could be an important season for FIU. After USF, the Panthers return home for their Sept. 12 opener against Buffalo before traveling to FAU for the Shula Bowl on Sept. 19. FIU will remain in Florida throughout its September schedule. But none of that matters until Saturday.
The Panthers spent last season building belief. Now they must protect it. A road game against a USF team coming off nine wins is hardly an easy way to begin a season, especially with both programs breaking in new pieces and USF beginning the Brian Hartline era.
For FIU, though, that is exactly what makes the matchup valuable. Simmons has already shown he can change the direction of the program. His first season produced a bowl berth, seven wins and a strong finish. Year Two begins with a chance to show what comes next.
Under the lights in Tampa, FIU will get its first answer.
