FIU vs. Missouri State 2025 Recap: Mistakes Doom the Panthers Again in 28-21 Loss

Once again, the FIU Panthers could not get out of their own way.

Thanks to a bevy of self-inflicted errors, FIU dropped a very winnable game to the Missouri State Bears, 28-21. The Panthers looked like the better team for stretches of the game, but they simply could never prevail. Missouri State, on the other hand, took advantage of FIU’s mistakes and built a lead that FIU could not surmount within regulation. With that in mind, let’s dive into this FIU vs. Missouri State 2025 game recap.

FIU Panthers vs. Missouri State Bears: 2025 College Football Game Recap

Penalties, Turnovers, and Mistakes Ruin the Day

When the Panthers have lost this season, it is usually from self-inflicted wounds. And against Missouri State, that was the case once again.

In terms of turnovers, the Panthers stumbled into a hold early in the game. Keyone Jenkins had the ball drop out of his hands on FIU’s first drive of the game, killing all momentum on what looked to be a great drive for the Panthers. Punter returner C’Quan Jnopierre muffed a punt quickly after that, immediately setting up Missouri State’s first touchdown of the night.

The mistakes did not stop there, though. The Panthers committed nine penalties on the night, with eight of them being accepted. Two of them occurred on special teams, one occurred on defense, and five occurred on offense. Defensively, Jessiah McGrew was tagged for a pass interference penalty in the first quarter, which helped set up the first score of the game for the Bears. It was, in a sense, the only penalty that felt remotely acceptable in this game.

On special teams, FIU was dealt a holding penalty on the kickoff after the first Missouri State touchdown, while the kick catch interference call helped set up the Bears on what ended up being their second scoring drive of the night. And on offense… well, I will just lay it out for you.

• False Start (Q1)
• Delay of Game (4th & 2, Q2, 14:15)
• Unsportsmanlike Conduct on Kyle McNeal (3rd & 4, Q3)
• Delay of Game (4th & 19, Q3)
• Delay of Game (3rd & 10, Q4, 13:38)

These penalties, paired with multiple missed assignments on both sides of the ball, truly sealed the deal for the Panthers tonight. No matter all of the good they did in the game, the Panthers could not overcome themselves when it truly mattered.

As we’ve said before, there have been plenty of successes in Year 1 of the Willie Simmons era at FIU. But the biggest struggle has been the self-inflicted wounds. FIU, more than their opponent beats them, beats itself in a variety of ways. Once the Panthers fix this area, they may truly take off under Simmons. Until then, inconsistencies may continue to be an issue.

Two Questions, Two Standouts: Offense Edition

Question #1: What is the FIU QB situation?

Should this even be a discussion? No, not in the slightest. However, the starter at the quarterback position may not be as “set it and forget it” as once previously thought.

After a solid start to the game, Keyone Jenkins was seemingly banged up on a scramble, and never really looked the same afterwards. However, he did remain in the game until the fourth quarter, where he was replaced by veteran Joe Pesansky.

Pesansky was not perfect, but he looked very comfortable pushing the ball down the field and running the offensive scheme. He was the quarterback responsible for making it a one-score game. He hit multiple chunk throws before firing a laser to Jojo Stone for a touchdown. Pesansky was not only decisive but seemed very willing to push the ball down the field vertically, something that has not always been the case this year for FIU.

After the game, HC Willie Simmons said that Jenkins was removed due to injury, but did say that Pesansky “gives us a little bit more in the passing game, just being able to see things and distribute the ball.”

Is benching Jenkins the correct move? Well, that truly depends. Jenkins has put together some very solid performances as a passer. He is getting through his reads better while also doing a better job attacking vertically. However, he is sometimes too hesitant in his decision-making, which is something that Pesansky thrives at. Additionally, Pesansky keeps the offense on schedule consistently, while Jenkins uses his ability to create big off-platform plays.

Both players have the talent and skill to be productive quarterbacks in this offense. And in all honesty, it’s hard to say the Panthers are in a rush to move away from Jenkins. But unlike previous weeks, it did not feel like the door was slammed shut on a move. For that reason alone, this entire situation bears watching going forward.

Question #2: Can FIU increase the aggressiveness of its offense?

Going hand-in-hand with the first question, it’ll be curious how the Panthers can develop a more “aggressive” offense.

In neutral and positive game scripts, the FIU offense is a very fun watch. Relying heavily on the run game at its foundation, the Panthers utilize motions, shifts, and play action to keep defenses off guard and to hit big plays. In turn, this opens up the run game for Kejon Owens and Anthony Carrie, who are also able to then create big plays.

When trailing, though, things feel a bit more difficult. The running lanes are not always open, and defenses crowd the line of scrimmage. As a result, the Panthers frequently fall out of their rhythm. In these situations, it feels like the quarterback loses his synchronization with the wideouts, causing plays to not function in their proper format.

Going forward, it’ll be interesting to see what FIU will do to remedy this. The Panthers could rely on more RPOs, which were very successful at times tonight. They could utilize different wideouts, which may increase the separation and space on the field. They may also introduce more vertical-based plays or go to a quarterback who is more comfortable executing in the 15-yard or more window. Whatever their potential answer is, though, they will need it to have a chance at winning most of their games down the stretch.

Standout #1: Jojo Stone, WR

Jojo Stone, a Louisville transfer, racked up 48 yards on six receptions, one of which was his first career touchdown. Stone not only displayed great route-running and athletic ability, but a toughness on the field that very much fits into what the Panthers are trying to be. He fought for yards, lowered his shoulder, and grinded in the middle of the field when needed. He also succeeded out in space, which is where he snagged his touchdown.

Stone looks to have earned some trust from this coaching staff and rewarded them with his performance against the Bears.

Standout #2: Alex Perry

Alex Perry is very good at wideout.

On the game, Perry notched 53 yards and a touchdown on three receptions. He showed smooth route running, strong hands, and great contested catch ability. Perry’s touchdown was the perfect display of this, as he showcased everything that makes him a great wideout for the Panthers.

For a team with some inconsistencies across the board, Perry has been a relatively stable presence for FIU. Over the rest of the year, expect Perry to keep producing and making big plays for the Panthers in big games.

The Defense Does Some Fun Things

Yes, the FIU defense allowed some big chunk plays in this game, especially in the run game. Yes, the Panthers struggled with tackling at times in this game, bit too hard on some play action plays, and struggled to stop the quarterback run. Despite this, though, FIU’s defense was a major reason this game was not out of hand early in favor of the Bears.

In the secondary, the majority of the unit played at a very high level. Shamir Sterlin was everywhere for FIU, recording ten total tackles, a tackle for loss, and a pass breakup. The defensive back not only showed great athletic ability but also upper-tier instincts that allowed him to dominate on the field.

Mister Clark was dominant in coverage again, notching two more pass breakups to continue his standout 2025 season. Brian Blades II was sticky in coverage whenever targeted. Jessiah McGrew was critical, too; not only did he prevent a touchdown run in the later stages of the game, but he also forced a fumble to give the FIU defense another shot to get a stop. Jai-Ayviauynn Celestine also had a pass breakup and a tackle for loss.

On the defensive line, a variety of players stood out at times. Germiane Cater and Kenton Simmons had multiple great pass-rushing reps, and each player was credited with at least a half-sack. Olasunkonmi Agunloye was a force in the run game and as a pass rusher. Outside of the chunk plays, he played a huge role in limiting the Missouri State offense. Keegan Davis, while not lighting up the stat sheet, also played a decent role in contributing in this game.

It is clear that FIU has the talent to shut down defenses on a play-by-play basis, but they seem to struggle when it comes to the chunk plays. Those plays make the performances look worse and, frankly, prevent the unit from getting the credit they deserve.

If the chunk plays get eliminated, the Panthers could have a ton of success down the stretch, regardless of what the FIU offense looks like. And, more importantly, the defense could help power this FIU team to victories.

2026 NFL Draft: Stock Raisers

Brian Blades II, CB, FIU: The numbers are not eye-popping, but Blades is constantly putting out great tape at defensive back. He provides sticky coverage, is a sound tackler, and limits big plays on the rare occasion he allows receptions. Outside of the random one-handed catch on a free play, Blades was a net positive for the Panthers tonight. He, alongside Shamir Sterlin and Mister Clark, provides the foundation for this FIU secondary.

Shomari Lawrence, RB, Missouri State: The revenge game always, or mostly always, pays off. Lawrence ran with great speed, power, and strength against the Panthers tonight. He made the linebackers miss on countless occasions and showed that he can be the centerpiece of the Bears’ backfield when healthy. He looks to have the ability needed to play at a professional level, but needs to prove it in the next coming weeks.

Looking Ahead

The Panthers travel to the home of the Blue Raiders next weekend, as they are set to face off against Middle Tennessee.