The FIU Panthers football team, fresh off a convincing win last week in the grand opening of the Willie Simmons era, will step onto the national stage Saturday, traveling to Happy Valley, Pennsylvania, for a matchup against one of the best teams in the country, Penn State.
The Panthers, having posted a dominant 42-9 win over Bethune-Cookman at Pitbull Stadium in week 1, now face one of the most intimidating challenges in college football: Upsetting the No. 2 Nittany Lions in front of more than 100,000 fans at Beaver Stadium.
“They do some good things,” FIU running back Anthony Carrie said about Penn State, a team that garnered votes to be No. 1 in the Associated Press Top 25 this week, a slot currently owned by Ohio State. “They have some nice edges, and some really good players on that defense like they’ve had in previous years. But it’s college football, anybody can be beaten on any given Saturday.”
SIMMONS’ FIRST ROAD TEST
The Simmons era at FIU indeed began on the right foot in front of 18,034 fans last Friday. His Panthers ran for six touchdowns, showcasing a balanced attack and a defense that didn’t allow the Wildcats a touchdown.
But the ante will be raised this weekend. And all week in Miami, Simmons focused on preparation and discipline, aware that the Penn State crowd will challenge his players in ways they’ve never seen.
“Obviously, [we] have a tough task this week,” Simmons said. “Penn State is arguably the No. 1 team in the country, first road trip going up to Happy Valley, one of the most intimidating places to play in the country, [we’ve] got our hands full. But, [we’re] looking forward to the opportunity.”
For FIU, the focus is on avoiding self-inflicted mistakes. Special teams errors, penalties and turnovers are key factors that could turn a tough game into an impossible one.
“We have to eliminate those in the kicking game if we want to be the type of team that we’re capable of being,” Simmons said.
ALL ABOUT THE QUARTERBACKS
Penn State, which defeated Nevada, 46-11, in its season opener last week, has handed the keys to its national title hopes to senior quarterback Drew Allar, a strong-armed passer already projected as a potential NFL first-round pick. Allar threw for 217 yards and a touchdown in last week’s win over the Wolf Pack, and his ability to stretch defenses makes him the centerpiece of the Lions’ offense.
“He made a couple outbreaking throws that very few college players and a handful of NFL quarterbacks can make,” Penn State coach James Franklin said of his quarterback’s season-opening performance. “Overall, I was pleased. [He] played very clean.”
FIU counters with quarterback Keyone Jenkins, who showed rhythm and consistency in a new offense in Week 1, but now faces one of the nation’s toughest defensive fronts. Simmons said the matchup comes down to execution, not rankings or stadium size and volume.
“At 12:02 on Saturday, the playing field is level,” Simmons said. “because at that point, it’s 11 guys versus 11 guys.”
GROUND GAME WILL BE PIVOTAL
Penn State has one of the best one-two tailback punches in the country with Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton. Both rushed for more than 1,000 yards last season and are projected NFL Draft picks. The pair led a Nittany Lions ground attack that amassed 135 yards and four touchdowns in the win over the Wolf Pack.
The Panthers, too, bring rushing momentum into the game. Running backs Kejon Owens, Devonte Lyons, Carrie and others, combined for 223 yards against Bethune-Cookman, setting a physical tone that carried throughout the game.
Both coaches expressed mutual respect ahead of Saturday’s matchup. Simmons praised Franklin’s track record, while Franklin pointed to Simmons as a strong fit at FIU.
“I’ve known Coach Simmons for a long time. Got a ton of respect for him,” Franklin said. “He’s going to do a really good job.”
Penn State’s goal is to keep marching toward a bid in the College Football Playoff for the second straight season. FIU, meanwhile, is chasing history. The Panthers enter as heavy 42.5-point underdogs, but a win would easily be one of the biggest upsets in college football.
Kickoff is set for Saturday at 12:02 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network.
