FIU vs. Western Kentucky 2025 Recap: Panthers Stun in 24-6 Upset

After two straight losses, the FIU Panthers traveled into the home of Big Red and defeated the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, 24-6. It was a great performance on both sides of the ball for FIU, which was a great sign after two below-average performances against Delaware and UConn. The win moves FIU to 1-1 in Conference USA and to an overall record of 3-3. So with that in mind, let’s recap this 2025 matchup between FIU vs. Western Kentucky.

FIU vs. Western Kentucky 2025 Game Recap

Defense Shines Through

On the road, the Panthers did something that very few teams have done in 2025: shut down the Hilltoppers.

Over the course of four quarters, FIU only allowed six points to Western Kentucky and kept them under 350 total yards. The Panthers limited standout quarterback Maverick McIvor to 159 yards passing, severely limited the production of the WKU wideouts, and stymied the run game outside of Marvis Parrish. They also forced three interceptions over the course of the game.

A major aspect of this performance was the play of the FIU secondary, who saw Brian Blades II and Shamir Sterlin return to action. Both players provided great coverage and tackling when on the field. Sterlin was a missile downhill, while Blades was a vacuum that shut down any YAC opportunities on the rare occasions he was thrown at.

Most impressive, though, was the play of Mister Clark, Jessiah McGrew, and Victor Evans III.

Clark was everywhere for the Panthers on Tuesday night, recording four total tackles and one tackle for loss. He had an impressive interception, a deflection that led to another interception, and two other pass deflections. Clark has been the tip of the spear for FIU’s secondary in recent weeks; and even with players returning, he continues to play at a high level.

Evans was a force as a tackler, notching a tackle for loss and seven tackles. He keeps getting more comfortable as a player, which also includes the strides he is making in coverage. McGrew, a true freshman, looked so much more comfortable in this game for the Panthers. His instincts were on full display all game in coverage, including on his last interception of McIvor. McGrew also notched two tackles.

Outside of the coverage from the secondary, the linebackers and defensive line stepped up in this game. Xion Champman and Olasunkonmi Agunloye led the charge up front, with Chapman recording the team’s lone, yet key, sack late in the game. Johnny Chaney Jr. had six tackles, constantly making plays in the run game on early downs. Josiah Taylor and Percy Courtney Jr. also each recorded eight tackles in the game.

Overall, this unit for the Panthers is talented on multiple levels. They have shown the ability to compete with a wide array of teams, ranging from FAU to tonight against Western Kentucky. As long as the execution is at a high level, the Panthers will have a shot to shut down offenses every week with this unit.

Kejon Owens, World Beater

The FIU offense flows through Kejon Owens, and that was on full display tonight.

On his first touch of the game, Owens rumbled for an 84-yard gain. He darted through the hole and ran through and past defenders. From there, things only got better for the running back.

The senior ran with great power, vision, and burst all night. He churned out yardage for the Panthers, making WKU defenders look silly in the open while also struggling to bring him down. Owens constantly moved the chains, kept FIU drives ahead of the sticks, and put the Hilltoppers in a blender all night. He also got into the end zone once again, showcasing his full arsenal of abilities while doing so.

Ultimately, Owens finished with 195 yards on 22 attempts, good for a hefty 8.9 yards per carry. He also became the first FIU running back to rush for 100 yards twice in a season since 2021. He continues to be the centerpiece and main cog of the Panthers’ offense, and for good reason. FIU seems to roll their opponents whenever Owens truly gets unleashed in the run game.

Watching the Panthers and Owens at their best is truly a treat. And if the offense keeps improving as a whole, the unit powered by Owens could not only be one of the best in Conference USA, but one of the better offenses in the G6.

The Passing Game Rebounds

We emphasized the importance of the passing game this week in our game preview. If Keyone Jenkins did not get comfortable playing quarterback again, the Panthers were going to lose. Well, the Panthers ended up winning the game, and the play of their quarterback played a very key role.

Jenkins did not light the world on fire in this game. He did miss a handful of throws, with two of those being to wide-open Jackson Verdugo and Tyson Carter. He did not shatter the scoreboard, only recording 184 yards through the air.

However, the quarterback was accurate and confident all game. The hesitancy seen against Delaware and UConn evaporated. Jenkins was ripping wide-open throws to his players and making things happen on a consistent basis. The quarterback, on top of his standard throws, was aggressive with his escapability all game. Jenkins was the player who hunted the game-changing plays, not the other way around.

As a result, FIU consistently drove down the field. Alex Perry continued to look like the team’s No. 1 wideout, making multiple big-time plays for the unit and his quarterback. Maguire Anderson was reliable when called upon, while Jojo Stone showed great ability to get open down the field. Tyson Carer showed off great route running and speed, while tight end Jackson Verdugo showcased smoothness and strength, especially on his first-ever touchdown reception from Jenkins.

At long last, the Panthers finally seem back on track in the passing game. Jenkins looks comfortable, the overall unit is playing at a high level, and plenty of wideouts and tight ends seem to be ready to grow as the year marches on.

The key, now, is for the Panthers to build upon this momentum. FIU has a plethora of untapped potential as a passing attack this year; the more they tap into it in 2025, the better this season could be for them. How they attack reaching that potential will be a very fun sight to behold.

FIU vs. Western Kentucky: Other Notes

• Anthony Carrie is an awesome running back. I love that FIU keeps giving him more work as a runner, in addition to his passing game work. He will have a breakout game very soon, and he makes up a very dangerous duo with Owens.
• Noah Grant saved this game for the Panthers. The kicker was lights out all night long, including on a 51-yard field goal that he made with ease. A settled kicker position would be MASSIVE for the Panthers.
• Marvis Parrish is a fun running back for the Hilltoppers. He runs with great power and burst, never truly stopping his feet for anybody. He should help WKU win some close games down the stretch.

2026 NFL Draft: Stock Raisers

• Kejon Owens, RB, FIU: Kejon Owens looks like a legit early down back at the next level, and he has proved it against all types of competition. This is a player that needs an invite to the Shrine Bowl this season. If he does, NFL teams will truly fall for him as a player.
• Brian Blades II, CB, FIU: Everything Blades does screams professional. Not targeted the majority of the game, Blades made tackles and plays in coverage whenever his number was called. Outside of one missed tackle, the cornerback shut down plays before any chunk yardage and was sticky in every aspect of his game.

Looking Ahead

In Week 9, FIU continues their trend of Tuesday night games. They take on Kennesaw State in their “Vice Game” on October 21.