FIU Football Preview: The Panthers Host Kennesaw State for Vice Night

Coming off of a huge victory against Western Kentucky, the FIU Panthers welcome Kennesaw State to Miami for Vice Night. Both teams are surging in Conference USA, as the Owls are coming off of a throttling of Louisiana Tech to move to 2-0 in conference play. The game has much higher stakes than most people would have thought, as the winner of the game will likely control their own destiny for the C-USA Championship game. For FIU, a win in this game will also make bowl eligibility a much more likely reality in 2025. With that in mind, let’s break down this FIU vs. Kennesaw State 2025 preview.

FIU Panthers vs. Kennesaw State Owls: Game History and Quotes

With both programs being so young, there is not an extensive game history between FIU and Kennesaw State.

In their one historical matchup against each other, the Owls defeated the Panthers by a score of 27-26 in 2024. Keyone Jenkins threw for three touchdowns, while Devonte Lyons ran for 99 yards on 6.2 yards per carry. Current Georgia Tech wideout Eric Rivers Jr. had a big game, too, notching 123 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, current Louisville Cardinal Jojo Evans led the team with five solo tackles and had eight total tackles.

FIU vs. Kennesaw State 2025 Game Preview

Key Players for FIU

On offense, it is obvious that FIU is going to rely on the run game early and often against the Owls. Meanwhile, the Panthers have ran the ball at a high level and put defenses in a huge bind. However, they cannot do that without the passing game having some form of production, and that is where Perry comes into play.

The Hawaii transfer has not posted absurd numbers, but he is the main target for the Panthers in the passing game. Alex Perry gets open down the field, makes people miss, and displays great route running. He has a great rapport with quarterback Keyone Jenkins, which allow them to make plays out of structure on a consistent basis.

To beat the Kennesaw State, FIU needs to have its offense clicking on all cylinders. It needs to be more adjacent to what happened against Florida Atlantic and Western Kentucky, rather than Delaware and UConn. For the better outcome to occur, though, FIU will need Perry at his best.

Additionally, FIU will need their offensive line to be at its best, specifically on the interior. That highlights Antonio Tripp, a transfer from the University of Miami. Tripp has gotten better and better each week, culminating in last week’s game where he posted an elite 86.7 PFF pass blocking grade. He has great feet, athleticism, and power, which also translates to the run game. Kennesaw State has some fun players in the trenches, but if Tripp and company do their job, the Panthers will be more than ok.

On defense, Mister Clark is a key player, and for good reason. Tied for third in the country for passes defended, Clark constantly provides sticky coverage and does not let receivers create any separation in the slot. He also brings the boom as a tackler and in the run game, with 15 defensive stops this season.

Kennesaw State will likely look to feed Gabriel Beynard in this game, as he primarily lines up in the slot for the Owls. As a result, Clark will have the toughest test of the game for the Panthers.

Key Players for Kennesaw State

For the Owls, two key players are wide receiver Gabriel Beynard and defensive lineman Tylon Dunlap.

Beynard, a fifth-year player, has been lethal in the slot for the Owls this season. The wideout has 398 yards, three touchdowns, three contested catches, and six missed tackles forced. He also only has two drops on 43 targets.

Beynard will likely draw Mister Clark for a large portion of this game, who is one of the best cornerbacks in the conference and the country this season. How the wideout fares in this matchup will not only affect his stat line, but also how Kennesaw State fares in this game.

On defense, Dunlap has been very productive for the Owls this season. The defensive lineman has 18 pressures, four sacks, 11 stops, and only two missed tackles. Dunlap is also coming off of his best game of the season, as he recorded six pressures, a sack, and three stops in Kennesaw State’s win over Louisiana Tech.

To slow down the Panthers’ rushing attack and overall offense, Dunlap needs to be at his best. It will take a full unit to shut down FIU, but Kennesaw State will need their standout player to spearhead that effort.

2025 Game Preview: How FIU wins vs. Kennesaw State in Week 9

For the Panthers to secure the win on “Vice Night,” here is what they need to accomplish.

Stick to the Identity

FIU has had success at the highest level when they have stuck to their identity. Specifically, this means running the ball and playing lockdown defense on the backend. Kennesaw State is not good enough on its own to take FIU away from its identity; only mistakes and miscues will do that to the Panthers. If FIU plays a clean game on both sides of the ball and does not do too much, they should win this one.

Get the Young Players Rolling

A huge part of FIU’s success this season has been the emergence of young players on both sides of the ball. The defense has led the way in this regard, with players like Mister Clark, Jessiah McGrew, Shamir Sterlin, and Victor Evans III. Against Kennesaw State, this needs to expand to the offense.

Tight end Jackson Verdugo should be involved early and often. He has the ability and potential to be a matchup nightmare for defenses. Jojo Stone and Tyson Carter have showed some of the best separation in the wide receiver room and have started to pop in games. FIU should work to get these players settled and comfortable in the game, no matter what their role is. If they do so, the Panthers will have a lot of success in this game.

Don’t Get Overzealous

The energy should be high on Tuesday night for FIU. The Panthers must stay disciplined on the field. Otherwise, it can lead to penalties and other mistakes. FIU will need to play with energy, but also with control and discipline. If they do so, the Panthers will have a great night.