FIU football being given long odds to win first bowl game since 2019

FIU’s football team is still not getting much respect.

The Panthers, led by coach Willie Simmons, recently completed a 7-5 regular season, qualifying for their first bowl game since 2019. However, on Sunday, it was announced that FIU would play the Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners (6-6) on Dec. 26 in the First Responders Bowl at Dallas’ Gerald J. Ford Stadium, home of the SMU Mustangs.

Shortly after that announcement, Texas-San Antonio was installed as a 9½-point over FIU, although perhaps that can serve as motivation for the Panthers.

This game could turn on two factors: One, can FIU establish its running game with Kejon Owens, the program’s single-season rushing champ? And two, can FIU contain UTSA’s standout quarterback? (More on him below.)

Here are five things to watch for regarding the FIU-Texas-San Antonio matchup:

1. PESANSKY UPDATE

Quarterback Joe Pesansky, who went 3-0 as FIU’s starter this year, missed the Panthers’ regular-season finale due to a serious toe injury that indicates ligament damage.

Panthers offensive coordinator Nick Coleman told The Herald that FIU’s later-than-expected bowl date – one day after Christmas – is positive news for Pesansky.

“He should be able to do some movement next week,” Coleman said. “From his last game to the bowl, he’ll have a little over one month to recover.”

If Pesansky – who is in his final year of eligibility -- cannot recover in time, his college career is over, and Keyone Jenkins will start. Jenkins is 4-5 as FIU’s starter this season.

2. LEFTY VS. LEFTY

If Jenkins does indeed start, the QB matchup will be a battle between two left-handers.

That’s because UTSA starts Owen McCown, a 22-year-old who started his college career at Colorado, where he made three starts.

McCown’s father (Josh) and uncle (Luke) played quarterback in the NFL for a combined 26 years. Josh is now the Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback coach. Owen McCown’s brother, Aiden, is the starting quarterback for Lamar University.

In other words, yeah, this is a QB family.

Andy Everett, the radio voice of UTSA football, said Owen McCown is also a terrific leader.

“He’s very grounded – his father has made sure of that,” Everett told the Miami Herald. “Owen and his father talk all the time. Josh watches Owen’s game film and gives him pointers and tips.”

3. ROADRUNNER HISTORY

The Roadrunners played their first game in 2011, coached by Larry Coker, who had led Miami to the 2001 national title. That first UTSA game drew 56,743 fans, an NCAA record for a start-up program.

Coker resigned after five years, and the UTSA program really took off with the hiring of its third/current coach, Jeff Traylor, in December of 2019.

The Roadrunners have not had a losing record in six years under Traylor, going a combined 52-26 with six straight bowl appearances. UTSA won Conference USA titles in 2021 and 2022 before bolting for the American Athletic Conference in 2023.

Also, the Roadrunners won their first two bowl games in 2023 (beating Marshall) and 2024 (beating Coastal Carolina).

4. ROADRUNNER CULTURE

According to Everett, UTSA players routinely turn down larger financial packages to remain with the Roadrunners, and that includes McCown who destroyed College Football Playoff-bound Tulane earlier this season by completing 31-of-33 passes for 370 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions.

“(Traylor) has created a family (atmosphere) with players from diverse backgrounds,” Everett said. “When he says he loves his players, it’s genuine. When one of our players gets hurt, (Traylor) is often on the field before the training staff.”

UTSA also has a system during which players earn jersey numbers zero through nine during spring practice. By the third week of spring practices, those numbers are awarded based on a vote by the players.

The Roadrunners also have a player-run leadership committee. Traylor meets every week with those players and asks them what he needs to do differently.

Said Everett: “Last year, the players told (Traylor): ‘You’re too soft on us. We need you to tighten up.’”

5. HOME-STATE ADVANTAGE

The Panthers will likely be badly outnumbered in the stands given that it’s just a four-to-five-hour drive from San Antonio to Dallas.

“We normally travel well,” Everett said of UTSA supporters. “We just don’t know what the weather will be because, at that time of year in Dallas, it could be 60 degrees and sunny or 20 degrees and snowing.”