A look at where FIU is expected to finish in conference in Willie Simmons’ first season

Lindy’s magazine predicts FIU will finish in last place this year in Conference USA’s 12-team football standings.

Athlon is a bit kinder to FIU, picking the Panthers ninth.

Willie Simmons, FIU’s new coach, doesn’t agree with either prognostication.

“I think we’re going to surprise people this year,” Simmons said on Tuesday at C-USA’s Media Day in Frisco, Texas.

The outside pessimism regarding FIU is understandable considering the fact that the Panthers have suffered through five straight losing seasons.

Over the past four years, the Panthers are 9-32 overall and 3-24 in league play.

In addition, FIU lost most of its top players from last season, including wide receivers Eric Rivers and Dean Patterson, who both transferred to Georgia Tech after combining for 112 catches in 2024.

In fact, only four FIU starters return from last season: quarterback Keyone Jenkins; left guard Jaheim Buchanon; defensive end Keegan Davis; and cornerback Brian Blades II.

Lindy’s magazine doesn’t have any FIU player listed as a preseason first-team All-C-USA selection. Jenkins, Buchanon and punter Trey Wilhoit are on the second team.

In addition, Jenkins is named as the “best scrambler” in the league.

Athlon’s – again – holds FIU in a bit higher regard. For example, Buchanon, Blades and kick returner C’Quan Jnopierre made their first-team list.

Also, ex-Miami Edison and current FIU running back Sterling Joseph was named as the league’s eighth-best freshman recruit. FIU’s recruiting class overall was ranked fifth in the conference.

Meanwhile, with FIU’s players set to report on Monday and its first fall practice of the year scheduled for July 31, Simmons used the word “excited” or “exciting” four times in his first 20 seconds on the Media Day stage in Frisco.

“We’ve had an amazing seven-plus months with these guys, building the roster and putting the coaching staff together,” Simmons said. “We’re excited to get to work next week.”

Simmons also admitted that FIU’s resources aren’t the biggest. But he’s not fazed by what FIU may lack.

“Being at low-resource institutions before, you learn the value of efficiency and how to maximize your time,” Simmons said. “We don’t have unlimited resources. That means everyone doing extra work, being unselfish, and that’s a quality that breeds success.

“Whether it was at Prairie View, FAMU, even Duke last year or now at FIU – when you don’t have the most, you have to make the most of what you do have.”