After becoming the first 300-yard passer in the Willie Simmons era, FIU Panthers quarterback JJ Kohl turned it up a notch in the Panthers first home game and win of the season. The Panthers defeated the Buffalo Bulls by a final score of 30-22. FIU is now the only Conference USA team with a win against an FBS opponent this season.
FIU vs Buffalo 2026 Recap
Kohl made his first start at Pitbull Stadium in Week 2, completing 21 passes for 367 yards and three touchdowns. It marked his third career 300-yard passing game, and his second at FIU. His 367 passing yards is also a career high. Kohl has now thrown for the second-most passing yards in Conference USA, trailing only Jacksonville State’s Caden Creel.
Maguire Anderson once again was his main target, leading the team with five receptions for 99 yards and two scores. For Anderson, it’s his first career multi-touchdown game and he topped his career-high in receiving yards from just a week before at USF.
Anderson, who now has 13 receptions for 186 yards and two touchdowns, is fourth in Conference USA in receiving yards and is one of six receivers in the conference who have scored multiple touchdowns.
First Quarter Dominance
In the first quarter, with just under five minutes to play, Kohl handed the ball off to Devonte Lyons, who then handed it to Jojo Stone. He connected with Kohl for a 19-yard pass, extending the lead for FIU, 14-3. For Kohl, he became the first quarterback in FIU history to record a receiving touchdown. FIU attempted this play last season on the road against Western Kentucky but failed to convert. Under a year later, they made history.
“Didn’t draw it up the way that we had practiced it,” head coach Willie Simmons said. “JoJo was supposed to throw it on the line, and JJ was open, but for whatever reason he threw a balloon ball there. It hung in the air for about 10 seconds. It felt like their guy saw it and was gonna make a play at it, but there are some benefits to having a six-foot-seven man at quarterback. Thank God he is that high. Not often do you get mossed by a quarterback.”
Kohl now becomes the first quarterback since Arch Manning (11/22/2025 vs. Arkansas) to record a receiving touchdown in a game.
The aforementioned Stone had himself a career night, hauling in four receptions for 98 yards and a score. It marked a career-high in receiving yards for the second-year Panther. Of those 98 yards, 81 of them came after the catch, primarily on his 68-yard touchdown in the third quarter, extending the FIU lead, 27-14.
Through two games, FIU’s offense is at the top of Conference USA, averaging 460.5 yards per game.
Defensive Burst
Defensively, Elisha Baldridge and DeeJay Holmes Jr. were the top two-rated pass rushers in Conference USA per Pro Football Focus. Baldridge, who made his first start at the FBS level, totaled six tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles. He is the 13th-ranked pass rusher in the country on PFF. As for Holmes, he had four total tackles a forced fumble and sack.
“He’s played with that type of motor since he stepped foot on this campus, and I’m so excited for him,” Simmons said on Baldridge. “The guys feed off of him and Elisha is gonna be a heck of a ball player for us.”
In the fourth quarter, Jai-Ayviauynn Celestine had the Panthers’ first interception of the season.
As a unit, the Panthers limited Buffalo to 302 yards of total offense (249 pass/53 rush). Buffalo’s 53 rushing yards is the fewest rushing yards FIU has surrendered in program history.
“I think they have the chance to be one of the top units in the country. They just have to keep cleaning up a few little things on the back end. Happy with the overall effort, but like I said, we’ve got to go back to work and clean some things up, because obviously next week’s rivalry.”
With the win, FIU now has a third straight home win dating back to last season. Simmons is now 5-2 at home and is now 4-0 in non-conference home games. The Panthers will take the road once again, but remain in Florida for its rivalry week. The Florida Atlantic Owls, who are coming off a win over Navy, will host the Panthers for the 24th edition of the Shula Bowl. Instead of fighting to regain the trophy, FIU will be defending it for the first time since 2017.
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