FIU Football Preview 2026: Willie Simmons to Make a Conference USA Push

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FIU Football Preview 2026: Willie Simmons to Make a Conference USA Push

Pete Fiutak

Sun, May 31, 2026 ·

8 min read

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FIU has been playing major college football for just over two decades, and it hasn't had a whole lot of success.

There were two bowl wins, one nine-win season, and just four winning campaigns in the 21 years before Willie Simmons took over.

FIU Football Is Building Something Real in the 305

Oct 4, 2025; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; FIU Panthers head coach Willie Simmons watches from the sideline as they take on the UConn Huskies at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field.

© David Butler II-Imagn Images

Fantastic at Florida A&M, he was way overdue for a next-step-up job, and he stepped in at FIU and gave the program its fifth-ever winning season.

That was good, but there's room to do so much more, and that's what 2026 is for.

Simmons should be a hot coach on the carousel with another good campaign, the 305 branding was terrific - that's the Miami area code, by the way - and music superstar Pitbull has the naming rights to the stadium.

All that's missing is a conference championship.

FIU Quick Hits

Head Coach:Willie Simmons (2nd year at FIU, 7-6; 10th season overall, 73-30)
Best Case / Worst Case:FIU wins the CUSA title/Injuries strike in a seventh losing season in eight years
Key Player:JJ Kohl, QB Jr.
2025 Record:7-6
Biggest Question:Can the offense score and keep on scoring?

FIU Key 2025 Stats

Rushing Yards Per Carry: FIU 4.9, Opponents 4.7
Turnovers: FIU 21, Opponents 20
Blocked Kicks/Punts: FIU 3, Opponents 3

- Conference USA Win Total Predictions

Offense

So that's what an offense looks like?

FIU's attack couldn't get to 4,000 yards in 2022 or 2023, showed some spark in 2024, and then last year it all took off.

Head coach Willie Simmons is an offensive-minded head man, Nick Coleman is back as the offensive coordinator, and they got more parts through the transfer portal to build on a good base of veterans.

You're going to need to score to keep up with this bunch.

What's Working

The running game stepped up.The passing attack was fine, but the main difference was a ground attack that produced once the new coaching staff took over.

The 2024 Panthers averaged just 3.6 yards per carry, even though they stepped up late in the Conference USA season.

Last year's ground game averaged close to five yards per pop and went 6-1 when running for more than 160 yards.

There's a deep group of backs to try replacing the main man.Kejon Owens was terrific, running for 1,334 yards and 11 touchdowns, but he's done.

Former Georgia Tech transfer Anthony Carrie ran for 469 yards and should be a lead option, but he's not alone with a good array of options.

The receiving corps can move.Top target Alex Perry left for Illinois, but there's enough returning experience to be fine. It was more of a midrange passing game last season, but Kyle McNeal has No. 1 man potential, and the staff spent last year building this group up.

What Needs Work

The passing game was fine, but it could be better.There were some good performances, but the 14 interceptions between former quarterbacks Keyone Jenkins and Joe Pesansky were too much.

In steps JJ Kohl, a former Iowa State backup who threw 12 touchdown passes and just two picks for App State.

Turnovers were a massive issue, especially late in the season.The Panthers turned it over multiple times in seven games and lost five of them. The passing game wasn't explosive enough to have so many mistakes - that's where Kohl has to improve the situation.

The offensive line will still need work in fall camp.There are enough options to come up with an okay starting five, but last year's line was a strength. It can't afford to take a step back.

Four starters have to be replaced around right guard Antonio Tripp, but it's a thin group - the portal wasn't kind.

Player to Watch

Anthony Carrie, RB Jr.
It's asking too much for him to do what Owens was able to, especially behind a patchwork offensive line, but he has a great blend of skills and should shine with more work.

He won't have to be a 25-carry workhorse, but he'll be fine as long as he's averaging over five yards per pop.

Defense

The Panther defense under Jovan Dewitt will once again give up plenty of yards, and lots of points, but it'll also be a terror in the opposing backfield and generate a slew of big plays.

There might not be a ton of returning starters, but there's plenty of experience in the system, and lots of new parts are coming in through the portal.

What's Working

The pass rush.Dewitt's D led Conference USA in sacks, finishing up with 31 on the season after generating just 35 over the previous two seasons combined.

Top pass rusher Kenton Simmons is back on one end, and he's not alone. Dante Anderson and Robert Williams were part of the rotation and should play bigger roles.

The Panthers have safeties to build around.Shamir Sterlin was fourth on the team with 65 tackles, and enough parts of last year's rotation are back to go along with DeAndre Boykins from Oklahoma State, Vontae Floyd from Duke, and Wesley Miller from South Alabama.

Don't get ripped apart, and good things happen.The offense will usually be just strong enough to take care of its side.

As long as the defense can hang on, FIU will win. Last year, it was 7-1 when allowing fewer than 34 points.

What Needs Work

To be basic,yes, the FIU defense was better, and it has a slew of positives, but there's room to be a whole lot better. By Conference USA standards, the Panther D wasn't awful, but it got hit for well over 5,000 yards on the season and 412 per game.

The playmaking defensive backs.Losing Mister Clark and his 13 broken-up passes to Purdue was bad, and Victor Evans III going to Nebraska doesn't help. Safety Jessiah McGrew led the team with four picks and was third with 68 tackles - and now he's at Arizona State.

Keep attacking and keep forcing turnovers.Yes, the offense will be good, and the defense will be fine at times, but the team has to win the turnover battle. FIU was 6-0 when coming up with multiple takeaways, and 1-6 when it didn't.

Player to Watch

Josiah Taylor, LB Jr.He's built like a safety, but the 6-0, 220-pounder bulked up a little over the last few seasons. Coming off a 72-tackle, two-sack, 6.5 tackle for loss season, he's the playmaker to build the linebacking corps around.

Keys to the Season

Score, score, and score more.

The defense will have its moments, but it still has a lot of work to do just to be okay. The offense has the firepower to be even more dangerous, and that's what works for FIU football.

In 22 years of existence at the FBS level, FIU has just six seasons of six wins or more. All six of them came when it scored 325 points or more - that's not asking for the world.

Player Who Needs To Shine

JJ Kohl, QB Sr.
This should be fun.

Kohl's a massive 6-7, 250-pound passer who can push the ball all over the field. Last year, he showed off in eight games at App State, and was great when he was healthy.

Accurate, tough, and with the ability to power away when needed, it should be his offense to run.

Biggest Concern

The offensive lineThe starting five will eventually come together and be fine, but even with a loaded roster of blockers - the recruiting class has plenty of big options to build around - there's a big problem if injuries kick in early on.

Biggest Game

at Kennesaw State, November 21
FIU can win the Conference USA title, but it probably can't do it without pulling off a win over the Owls.

Last year, the Panther defense wasn't even close in the 45-26 loss. This time around, it's the last road game of the season before hosting Sam Houston.

Transfer Portal

All things considered, it was a great haul of talent - players want to be a part of what Willie Simmons is putting together.

As expected, the top stars got picked off by the Power Four programs, but there are more than enough good players coming in to fill out the starting 22, and even upgrade at a few spots.

Best Signing

Greg Gaines , WR (Rhode Island)
He might not be the highest-ranked transfer by the various services, but along with JJ Kohl, he should make one of the biggest impacts.

After starting out at Iowa State, the 6-3, 200-pound veteran found a niche at Rhode Island with 115 catches over the last two years with over 1,000 yards last season.

Biggest Loss

Mister Clark, S (Purdue)For a defense that can't afford to lose a ton of key playmakers, it's a problem that Purdue grabbed a veteran who made 63 tackles with three picks and a Conference USA-high 13 broken up passes last season.

Other Names to Know

Brayshawn Littlejohn, LB (App State)
RJ Moss Jr., DT (South Alabama)
DeAndre Boykins, S (Oklahoma State)

CFN Season Prediction

The offense will score more than 325 points, the defense will have a few games with enough production to survive, and the coaching staff will settle in with a more productive season overall.

It just won't be even - there won't be a lot of winning runs.

CFN Prediction: 6-6

The Panthers will likely drop the two Florida road games at USF and Florida Atlantic, but they'll have a great chance at taking down anyone and everyone else on the schedule.

They miss Western Kentucky, but conference road games against Jacksonville State, Liberty, Delaware, and Kennesaw State all lean the wrong way.

It'll be a six-win season, but if the Panthers can take down a few road games, it will be so much more.

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