Throughout the 2025 season, Nittany Sports Now will give you a profile of each opponent.
Opponent: Florida International University Golden Panthers
History: Penn State won their only matchup 59-0 in 2007. Quarterback Anthony Morelli threw for 295 yards and had three touchdowns. Penn State racked up five rushing touchdowns on the day led by Austin Scott (2), with Dan Lawlor, Rodney Kinlaw, and Evan Royster each scoring.
Conference: Conference USA
Home Field: Pitbull Stadium (capacity 20,000)
Construction started in 1994 to house FIU football and soccer teams. The original collaboration was between FIU, Miami-Dade Public Schools, community, and youth organizations.
The original capacity was at 7,500 and eventually grew to its current capacity of 20,000.
Notable Football Alumni and Moments
Despite being less than a quarter-century old, there have been some notable head coaches that have been on the sideline.
The program’s first head coach was Don Strock.
Strock spent 15 seasons as a backup quarterback for the Miami Dolphins and was a member of the Dolphins Super Bowl VIII team.
Strock’s playing claim to fame was coming in relief for David Woodley in the legendary “Epic In Miami” clash with the San Diego Chargers during the 1982 AFC Divisional Playoff.
Current Miami Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal coached the program from 2007 to 2012, guiding FIU to the program’s first conference championship (Sun Belt – 2010) and bowl win (Beef O’Brady’s – 2010).
Other notable head coaches were former Illinois Fighting Illini and Chicago Bears head coach Ron Turner (2013-2016) and former Miami Hurricanes and Cleveland Browns head coach Butch Davis (2017-2021).
FIU’s notable football player to reach the NFL is former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton.
Hilton was a four-time first team All-Sun Belt performer before making four Pro Bowls and leading the NFL in receiving yards in 2016.
In 2006, FIU’s infamous moment was their brawl with the Miami Hurricanes dubbed “The Miami Brawl.”
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.In what was supposed to be the first of many in what was called “The City Line Series,” the trash talking escalated to a point that players fought after an extra point. 31 players from both teams were handed suspensions for their roles in it.
They Said It.
“Obviously, have a tough task this week, Penn State, arguably the number one team in the country, first road trip going to the Happy Valley, one of the most intimidating places to play in the country. So got our hands full, but looking forward to the opportunity, and with a great week of preparation, want to give ourselves the best chance to go up there and make history.”
First-year head coach Willie Simmons about facing Penn State in Beaver Stadium.
Simmons won his first game against FCS Bethune-Cookman 42-9.
