FIU Panthers to play 3 of final 4 football games at home in 2017

First-year coach Butch Davis' squad will face 6 bowl teams from last season

MIAMI – Florida International will play three of its final four football games at home in 2017, ending the season against Conference USA champion Western Kentucky.

The schedule, announced Thursday by C-USA, features six bowl teams from the 2016 season.

"This year's schedule will be a good test for our program," first-year head coach Butch Davis said. "We have a challenging first month of the season that I know our team will be ready for. Having the bye week midway through the year will give us a chance to incorporate some new things and gear up for the second half of the season."

FIU opens the season Sept. 2 with a non-conference game at Central Florida. The Knights beat FIU 53-14 last season.

The Panthers will host Alcorn State in their home opener at FIU Stadium before back-to-back road games Sept. 16 at Indiana and Sept. 23 at Rice in the C-USA opener.

Charlotte visits FIU on the final Saturday in September. The Panthers defeated the 49ers 27-26 last season.

FIU travels to Middle Tennessee on Oct. 7 and hosts Tulane on Oct. 14.

The Panthers leave the state for the final time on Oct. 28 when they travel to Marshall. FIU shocked the Thundering Herd with a 31-14 victory last season.

FIU closes out the regular season with home games against UTSA on Nov. 4, Old Dominion on Nov. 11 and Western Kentucky on Nov. 25. FIU's lone road game during that span is at Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton. The Panthers won 33-31 in last year's rivalry game.

Kickoff times and television schedules haven't yet been determined.

FIU was 4-8 in 2016.


About the Author:

Peter Burke returned for a second stint of duty at Local 10 News in February 2014.