FIU Panthers football program represents Florida International University (FIU) in the sport of American football. The Panthers compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the East Division of Conference USA (CUSA). The Panthers' head coach is Willie Simmons. FIU has produced a Sun Belt Conference co-championship team in 2010, along with 3 postseason bowl appearances. The Panthers play their home games at Pitbull Stadium, which has a seating capacity of 20,000.
Contents
History
Don Strock era (2002–2006)
On 1 September 1999, after several years of contemplating the commencement of a football team, FIU moved a step closer by hiring Don Strock to be FIU's Director of Football Operations. One year later, Strock was named head coach with plans to lay the foundation for a college football team. Quarterback David Tabor was the first FIU football recruit after agreeing to play in 2001.
In February 2002, FIU found its star quarterback in high school, Jamie Burke from Cardinal Mooney High, Sarasota, Florida. Burke was the only player to ever throw for over 500 yards in a single game in Florida as well as led the state in touchdown passes in a season with 34. Burke was being recruited by the University of Florida but opted for FIU when Steve Spurrier left to coach the Washington Redskins. FIU had everything it needed to begin competing in NCAA Football. FIU was placed in the Division I-AA level as an Independent team.
FIU won its inaugural game on August 29, 2002, against Saint Peter's College (New Jersey), 27–3. The team played fairly well against the competition that season and managed to finish with a 5–6 record.
The Golden Panthers then hoped to build on that in the coming 2003 season. FIU signed to play more challenging teams of the division in hopes to get more recognition as a solid football team.
The opening game of the 2003 season started with a loss to Indiana State, and it led to a 0–8 start for the second-year team. They failed to reach the standard set the season before and fell to a 2–10 season.
The 2004 season followed with similar results, finishing with a 3–7 record.
After the 2004 season, FIU moved up to Division I FBS, formerly known as Division I-A, despite their relative lack of success in their first three seasons in Division I FCS. FIU became the fastest school in the history of college football to reach the highest level. This has since been eclipsed by multiple schools during the conference movement in 2012.
Mario Cristobal era (2007–2012)
In 2006, Barnes and Williams were both drafted to the NFL. That same year, the FIU Athletics Department hired a new athletic director Pete Garcia, and found a new head coach for the team, Mario Cristobal. Cristobal became the second youngest Division I-A coach at 37. Cristobal brought in a new coaching staff in hopes to turn the program around.
In 2007, FIU was the second-youngest team in Division I-A. 2/3 were underclassmen, mostly freshmen. During the 2007 season, FIU played its home games in the Miami Orange Bowl during the expansion of Riccardo Silva Stadium to 20,000 seats.
The Golden Panthers concluded the season with a win against North Texas 38–19. It was the last college football game ever played at the historic Orange Bowl prior to its demolition and the last home win at that stadium.
In September 2008, the Panthers inaugurated the expanded Riccardo Silva Stadium by hosting the South Florida Bulls with a crowd of over 16,000. FIU lost the game 17–9. The team would go on to win the next three games in a showing of a much improved team from the 2006 and 2007 team.
FIU struggled in its 2009 season, ultimately posting a 3-9 overall record. The Golden Panthers went 3-5 in the Sun Belt Conference. Their 3 victories came against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers 37-20, the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns 20-17 (1OT), and the North Texas Mean Green 35-28.
2010 season & First conference title
On Saturday, November 27, 2010, FIU led by Cristobal defeated Arkansas State 31–24 to clinch the program's first Sun Belt Conference Title. This earned the Panthers its first bowl berth in the short history of its football program.
Twenty-nine days later, on December 26, they became Little Caesars Champions. Fans brought signs saying, "¡Sí se puede!", Spanish for "Yes we can!"
FIU turned in a winning result for its 2011 campaign, notching a 8-5 overall record, with a 5-3 Sun Belt Conference result. This was Cristobal's second winning season in a row. On December 3, 2011, FIU accepted an invitation to play in the 2011 Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl, the school's second consecutive bowl game.
After going from an 8–5 season in 2011 to a 3–9 season in 2012, FIU Athletic Director Pete Garcia made the decision to fire Cristobal because "we’ve gone backwards over the last year and a half. Over the last 22 games, we've gone 11–14." Garcia openly coveted Butch Davis to replace Cristobal. The decision was heavily criticized.
Ron Turner era (2013–2016)
On January 3, 2013, FIU hired Ron Turner, former head coach at San Jose State and Illinois, as the program's third head coach. The Panthers failed to make a bowl game appearance during his tenure, posting a 1–11 record in 2013 followed by a 4–8 record in 2014 and a 5–7 record in 2015. After FIU suffered an 0–4 start to the 2016 campaign including blowout losses to Maryland and in-state rival UCF, Turner was fired on September 25, 2016. Ron Cooper replaced him as an interim head coach until the end of the season.
Butch Davis era (2017–2021)
On November 15, 2016, former Miami and North Carolina head coach Butch Davis, who was serving as a college football analyst at ESPN at the time, was named the fifth head coach of the Panthers. Coach Davis led the Panthers to three consecutive seasons of bowl eligibility. Notably, on November 23, 2019, FIU defeated the Miami Hurricanes by a score of 30–24, with FIU quarterback James Morgan throwing for two touchdown passes in the upset of their crosstown rival. However, after going a combined 1–16 in 2020 and 2021, FIU declined to renew Davis after 2021, ending his 5-year tenure.
Mike MacIntyre era (2022–2024)
On December 9, 2021, Memphis defensive coordinator Mike MacIntyre, formerly head coach at San Jose State and Colorado, was named the 6th head coach of the program.
Willie Simmons era (2024–present)
On December 7, 2024, Willie Simmons was named the 7th head coach in FIU Football history. Simmons previously held the Running Backs coach position at Duke University for the 2024 college football season. Prior to his time at Duke, Simmons held the head coaching job at Florida A&M University where he won the 2023 Celebration Bowl against the Howard Bison. Simmons holds a career head coaching record of 66-24 over 6 seasons at FAMU and Prairie View.
Conference affiliations
Independent (2002–2004)
Sun Belt Conference (2005–2012)
Conference USA (2013–present)
Conference championships
FIU has won one conference championship.
† Co-champions
Bowl games
FIU has played in six bowl games, compiling a record of 2–4.
Head coaches
There have been 7 different head coaching tenures at FIU.
† 10 wins later vacated due to NCAA sanctions, 15–41 record on-field.
‡ Interim head coach
Rivalries
Florida Atlantic
The Shula Bowl is the rivalry game against Florida Atlantic. It was first played in 2002, and has been played every year since then. The winner receives the Don Shula Award. The game and trophy are named after former Miami Dolphins head coach, Don Shula. The game is typically either in Boca Raton at Florida Atlantic University or University Park at Florida International University, though there have been meetings in other locations in the Miami metropolitan area. In total the two squads have met 17 times with Florida Atlantic holding a 16–5 lead as of the 2013 season conclusion. The 2005 game does not count with FIU having to vacate their victory due to NCAA violations and penalties.
Future non-conference opponents
Announced schedules as of May 7, 2026.