FIU to play UTSA in First Responder Bowl in its first bowl game since 2019

FIU’s football team will spend Christmas in Dallas.

The Panthers (7-5) have been selected to play Texas-San Antonio in the First Responder Bowl at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, home of the SMU Mustangs.

Texas-San Antonio is 6-6, but the Roadrunners own a 48-26 win over an 11-2 Tulane team that is in the College Football Playoff. UTSA also played another College Football Playoff team, Texas A&M, losing 42-24 at the Aggies.

Roadrunners quarterback Owen McCown had an incredible game against Tulane, completing 31 of 33 passes for 370 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.

The series between FIU and UTSA is tied 2-2. Both schools were in Conference USA for years until the Roadrunners bolted for the American Athletic Conference in July of 2023. The teams have not met since 2022, when UTSA won 30-10.

FIU, which started playing football in 2002, will be playing in its sixth bowl game. Previously, FIU won the 2010 Caesar’s Pizza Bowl in Detroit; lost the 2011 Beef O’Brady in St. Petersburg; lost the 2017 Gasparilla in St. Petersburg; won the 2018 Bahamas in Nassau; and lost the 2019 Camellia in Alabama.