Excitement is building at Florida International University as the football team prepares for its home opener against Bethune-Cookman University on Friday. The event follows Monday’s F1RST NIGHT, an annual celebration marking the start of the school year that saw record attendance.
The game will mark the debut of head coach Willie Simmons, who joined FIU in December after eight winning seasons as a head coach and bowl experience. At his introductory pep rally, Simmons stated, “We’re ready to build on the history and the tradition of this program. We want to build on the 2010 first-ever bowl win in conference championships. We want to build teams . . . that have future NFL players [like alumni] T.Y. Hilton, Johnathan Cyprien . . . We want to build on the three consecutive bowl games from 2017 to 2019. And, of course, we want to build on the 2019 victory over University of Miami. We’re committed to being a team that produces NFL players who can ignite the entire country like [alumnus and current Pittsburgh Steeler] Jonnu Smith . . . I look forward to blazing the trail again to bring a new level of success and excellence to the 305.”
Ahead of his first game leading FIU’s Panthers under stadium lights, Simmons said earlier this week: “My team’s fired up. We can’t wait to get rolling.”
Several Panthers players have drawn attention for their preseason accolades. Junior quarterback Keyone Jenkins was named Conference USA’s 2025 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year by league coaches after passing for over 2,500 yards and throwing 22 touchdowns last season—second-best in his conference.
Kick returner C’Quan Jnopierre earned recognition as Conference USA’s Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year after averaging more than 28 yards per return during last season and receiving First Team honors from two major football publications.
Defensive back Brian Blades II received multiple preseason awards including Group of Five All-American and First Team All-Conference USA honors for his leadership and playmaking abilities.
Coach Simmons emphasized fan support as crucial: “We’re here to bring wins and championships to the 305,” he said. “We definitely need them.”
Freshman Jordan Markowitz echoed those sentiments following her experience at F1RST NIGHT: “Definitely, fan support is 100% key,” she said. Markowitz has attended many FIU games with her father Pete Markowitz—a physics professor—and plans now as a student herself to attend with friends: “When everyone is on their feet, everyone is shouting, chanting, everyone’s jumping around, cheering and clapping,” she said, “it just becomes so much more alive, so much more fun. That’s what you’re really there for.”
Students are admitted with their One Card and may request a free companion ticket at the box office; tailgating will be available along Tamiami Trail Promenade.
