Five things to watch in FIU football’s matchup at Middle Tennessee State
History won’t favor FIU when it visits Middle Tennessee State on Saturday at Murfreesboro.
After all, the Blue Raiders lead their series against FIU, 14-6, including 9-1 in games played in Tennessee.
However, MTSU is having a terrible season: 1-7 overall with an active five-game losing streak and 0-4 in Conference USA.
Then again, MTSU’s four C-USA losses have all been one-score games, separated by an average of 4.0 points.
FIU is also struggling. The Panthers are 3-5 overall with two straight losses and a 1-3 league mark.
MTSU is favored by 1½ points.
Here’s what to watch when FIU visits Middle Tennessee State:
1. QB MATCHUP
This will be the third time in three years that MTSU quarterback Nicholas Vattiato will face FIU counterpart Keyone Jenkins. So far, they are 1-1 against each other.
Vattiato, who is from Broward’s NSU University School, threw four touchdown passes against FIU in 2023, leading the host Blue Raiders to a 40-6 win. Vattiato completed 18-of-25 passes for 275 yards and no interceptions.
Last year, with the game back in Miami, FIU prevailed, 35-24. Jenkins, who is from Miami Central, was the star this time, completing 19-of-27 passes for 319 yards, three TDs and no picks.
2. RB MATCHUP
The other big duel is at running back. FIU’s Kejon Owens has 926 scrimmage yards, a 6.2 average and seven TDs. MTSU’s Jekail Middlebrook has 826 scrimmage yards, a 6.4 average and five TDs.
Simmons wants fewer penalties – especially pre-snap and post-whistle calls -- and more explosive runs.
“Every game, we’ve had more than four explosive runs,” FIU coach Willie Simmons said. “Last week, we only had two runs of 20 or more yards. We’ve got to get back to ripping off those runs of 20 or more yards.”
3. KICKING CHANGE?
Panthers kicker Robert Czeremcha has missed five straight games due to injury. At first, Noah Grant stepped in brilliantly, making 4-of-4 field goals, including a 51-yarder in a 25-6 win over Western Kentucky.
But in the past two games, Grant has missed two chip-shot attempts – from 23 and 31 yards.
Now, it could be time for a change as Czeremcha has been kicking in practice since Sunday.
“Going into the season, our plan was to use Robert on short field goals and Noah on long ones because he has the leg to kick them from 50 yards out,” Simmons said. “If Robert is healthy this week, we will probably go back to that.”
4. FAB FRESHMEN
Simmons is proud of his first FIU recruiting class, which includes safety Jessiah McGrew and tight end Jackson Verdugo.
McGrew has three interceptions, making him one of the top freshman safeties in the nation. Ironically, Hurricanes freshman safety Bryce Fitzgerald also has three interceptions.
Verdugo, who started this season fourth on the depth chart, has moved way up and now has nine catches for 95 yards and one touchdown.
In fact, Simmons said he knew since the spring that Verdugo would make a quick impact.
“After the UConn game (on Oct. 4), I made the comment to (associate head coach) Frank Ponce that it’s about time for Jackson’s role to increase,” Simmons said. “That’s happened, and we’ve seen what he’s capable of doing.”
5. FANTASTIC FAKE
It will be interesting to see if FIU has more tricks such as the fake punt that worked last week against Missouri State.
Simmons said FIU had worked for five weeks on that play.
“We were waiting for the right time to call it -- the right hashmark, the right situation,” Simmons said. “But it’s also the execution – from snapper to upback to the receiver (Jojo Stone) and the blocking up front. There were a lot of moving parts, but the guys executed it perfectly, and it was fun to watch.”
The play was devised by special-teams coach Kenneth Gilstrap, and Stone made it happen.
“The key was to get a good look in practice so that when we got to the game it felt normal,” Stone said.
“I’m a go-getter. Anything you need, I’ll do it. I’ve played quarterback, receiver, running back, defensive back … I’m a playmaker.”
