FIU football facing a major challenge at national title contender Penn State
A victory at second-ranked Penn State on Saturday would be the greatest upset in FIU football history.
For starters, the Nittany Lions play their home games at Beaver Stadium, which can be an intimidating place with seating for 106,572 fans. Only Michigan Stadium has larger capacity.
“I can’t wait to play in that environment,” FIU quarterback Keyone Jenkins said.
Both teams are 1-0 headed into the noon start, but the expectations are vastly different. FIU was picked to finish last in Conference USA, and Penn State was predicted to end up first in the Big Ten, which has produced two straight national champs (Michigan and Ohio State).
The Nittany Lions have not won a national title since they defeated Miami, 14-10, in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 2, 1987, but Penn State is among the favorites to hold up the big trophy at the end of this season.
Here are five things to watch for on Saturday:
1. CAN JENKINS IMPROVE?
Panthers coach Willie Simmons said Jenkins was inconsistent in last week’s 42-9 season-opening win over Bethune-Cookman.
“Eye discipline wasn’t great,” Simmons said of Jenkins’ performance. “We’re going to watch film with him to understand why he was looking at some things …
“I think maybe it was first-game jitters. He was holding the ball too long, and he had happy feet back there at times even when it was a clean pocket.
“But now that he’s played in a game, we’re hoping he will do what he’s done for 25 practices, which is make the right reads, throw the ball on time and anticipate throws instead of waiting on guys to get open.”
Simmons made an analogy of Jenkins at the wheels of FIU’s offense.
“Just drive the car,” he said. “You have a nice car. You don’t have to put a sound system in or tint the windows. Just turn the car on and drive.”
2. CAN FIU CONTAIN PENN STATE QB?
Drew Allar, a leading Heisman Trophy candidate, is an elite passer. A third-year starter, Allar completed 66.5 percent of his passes for 3,327 yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions last season.
After the year, tight end Tyler Warren became a first-round pick, and Penn State will miss his 2024 production (104 catches, 1,233 yards and eight TDs).
The Nittany Lions responded by signing Trebor Pena, who had 84 catches for 941 yards and nine TDs for Syracuse last year.
Penn State’s other receivers include transfers Kyron Hudson (Southern Cal) and Devonte Ross (Troy). Pena, Hudson and Ross combined last year to catch 198 passes, including 23 for TDs.
In Penn State’s season-opening 46-11 win over Nevada on Saturday, Allar was brilliant, completing 22-of-26 passes for 217 yards, one TD and no interceptions.
3. A MILESTONE FOR OWENS
Panthers running back Kejon Owens needs just one yard to get to 1,000 career yards.
In last week’s season opener, Owens got 12 touches, including one reception. Backup Anthony Carrie had 11 touches, and third-stringer Devonte Lyons got nine.
Owens was asked if he likes the rotation or prefers more touches.
“Whatever it takes to win,” Owens said. “But I’ve always been that guy who the more I get the ball the more I get into my groove and the more damage I do.”
4. RUNNING GAME AND DEFENSE
While Owens is looking to get to 1,000 career rushing yards, Penn State returns two running backs who each ran for more than 1,000 last season. Those two are Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen.
The formula for Penn State this year will likely be running the ball, throwing as needed and then playing sound defense with the addition of coordinator Jim Knowles, formerly of Ohio State. In fact, Penn State has made Knowles the highest-paid defensive coordinator in college football.
Penn State will operate without defensive lineman Abdul Carter, the 2024 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and the third pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
5. CAN FIU KEEP IT SOMEWHAT CLOSE?
Penn State and FIU have only met once, with the Panthers losing 59-0 in 2007.
Speaking in generalities, Simmons said there’s a minimum expectation he has for his team.
“I want to see us play clean football,” Simmons said. “I’m probably one of the fiercest competitors you will ever see. But I can lose gracefully. If I’ve done my best but someone is better than me that night, I can sleep at night.
“But if we do uncharacteristic things that do not give us the best chance to win …”
In other words, watch to see if FIU can minimize or eliminate pre-snap penalties, post-whistle penalties and missed assignments.
This story was originally published September 4, 2025 at 6:00 AM with the headline "FIU football facing a major challenge at national title contender Penn State."