Five things to watch ahead FIU’s annual Shula Bowl rivalry game vs. FAU

In a sense, FIU’s 2025 football season starts on Saturday.

Technically, FIU (1-1) has already played two games. However, anyone with even a slight knowledge of college football could’ve predicted that the Panthers would defeat FCS opponent Bethune-Cookman and then lose at Penn State, which was favored by 41½ points.

But Saturday’s home game against FAU (1-1) is not as obvious. True, FAU has won seven straight games in the nearly-annual “Shula Bowl” series, but the Panthers are slight favorites (2½ points) for Saturday’s 6:30 p.m. start.

“There’s not going to be a huge disparity in talent,” FIU coach Willie Simmons said of Saturday’s game. “It’s going to be about which team can execute, which team can control their emotions and which team can follow their game plan.”

Here are five things to watch in the FIU-FAU game:

1. RIVALRY WEEK

There are signs all around FIU’s football offices that say: Beat Them.

“We don’t even say their name,” Simmons said of the Owls. “They don’t earn that respect from us.”

Simmons said his team simply has to figure out how to defeat FAU.

“We all know the magnitude of this game,” Simmons said. “(FAU’s) seven-year streak is way too long.”

FIU linebacker Josiah Taylor spoke confidently when asked about FAU.

“We should be able to dominate,” Taylor said. “If we stop No. 8 (FAU wide receiver Easton Messer), they will have a long day.”

In two games so far this season, Messer has been impressive, catching 19 passes for 149 yards. For his college career, Messer has 117 catches for 1,470 yards and nine touchdowns.

2. BAD BLOOD

Taylor said he has seen video from last year of FAU players “stomping” on an FIU helmet that they ripped from its place on the Shula Bowl trophy.

“That’s very disrespectful,” Taylor said. “I’m definitely ready for this week.”

No player who is at FIU now was with the Panthers in 2016, which was the last time the Panthers beat the Owls.

That includes Panthers center Julius Pierce, who first joined FIU all the way back in 2019.

Pierce said on Tuesday that the aforementioned Shula Bowl trophy “deserves” to be in FIU’s trophy case.

“This is where it’s supposed to be,” Pierce said, “and this is where it’s going to be for the next couple of years. That starts with this Saturday. … I don’t need extra motivation (for FAU). It’ going to be a bar-fight.”

3. COACHING OF JENKINS

Simmons said he has to continue to help FIU’s quarterback Keyone Jenkins find his rhythm.

“That starts with me as the play-caller and coach (Nick) Coleman,” Simmons said of FIU’s offensive coordinator. “After two games, (Jenkins) is starting to understand how I call plays. And I’m trying to understand what he likes to do and does well.

“He doesn’t have to be perfect. But he has to play well to give us a chance to move the ball.”

4. RUNNING-GAME CHALLENGE

Simmons said he expects FAU to switch between three-man and four-man fronts.

Either way, FIU will rely heavily on running backs Kejon Owens (149 yards, 5.7 average); Devonte Lyons (93 yards, 5.8 average); and Anthony Carrie (62 yards, 3.9 average).

Simmons said Owens is perhaps even more to FIU’s offense than Jenkins. Lyons also earned the praise of Simmons, who added that Carrie has done some good things that go beyond the box score.

“Our backs have shown they can make guys miss,” Simmons said, “and they can run through tacklers.”

5. DID FILM STUDY WORK?

The Panthers have surely taken copious notes on how Maryland scored a season-opening 39-7 win over FAU, intercepting Owls quarterback Caden Veltkamp four times.

Veltkamp in 2024 was named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year, and Simmons said FIU will have “its hands full” with the Owls’ offensive scheme and tempo.

FIU defensive coordinator Jovan Dewitt reiterated this by saying FAU “will stress you out with some formational stuff.”

However, Dewitt also said FAU’s attempt to spread a defense out will leave Veltkamp vulnerable to a strong pass rush.

“It helps us in a way because of the skill we have outside and in the back,” Dewitt said of his secondary. “We can disguise some things.

“I think Maryland did a good job of showing one look and then bringing another (defense), creating a moment of doubt in the quarterback.”