The Chips and Panthers get set to christen the newly-minted Pitbull Stadium in Miami.
If Saturday’s game is half as compelling as the last time the Central Michigan Chippewas (1-0) and Florida International Panthers (0-1) met up, it’ll be an electric night at Pitbull Stadium.
You never quite know how home-and-home series like this will play out, as rosters at this level are liable to change year-over-year, but you’d be hard-pressed to find many players on either roster who might remember that contest. On FIU’s roster alone, there are 50 newcomers in 2024, with most coming in via transfer portal over the offseason.
There will be a lot of pressure on both teams to get a win here, as Central could use the momentum to show last week against admittedly inferior competition wasn’t a fluke, while FIU looks to show their performance against Indiana is not indicative of their overall strength. (Not to mention, there could be a large crowd on hand due to it being the inaugural game at the playing surface formerly known as FIU Stadium.)
Dale, amigos:
Game notes
- Time and date: Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 at 6 p.m. Eastern time
- Location: KIA South Dade Field at Pitbull Stadium in Miami, Florida
- Viewing options: The game will be available exclusively via ESPN+. A valid subscription is required for viewing. Steve Goldstein (play-by-play) and Kim Bokamper (color) will provide the commentary.
- Radio options: Adam Jaksa (play-by-play) and Brock Gutierrez (color) will provide the CMU call for WUPS-FM 98.5.
- Gambling considerations: Central is a 6.5-point road favorite, with an over/under of 51.5, per DraftKings.
- All-time series: CMU leads the all-time series 1-0, thanks to Miami native Daniel Richardson playing a key role off the bench in a spirited 31-27 victory in 2021.
Getting to know the Panthers
Photo by Jeremy Hogan/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
The Panthers enter a key campaign in 2024, as they enter the third season under head coach Mike MacIntryre. The former Coach of the Year in 2016 at Colorado, MacIntyre has slowly built the Panthers roster into a feisty unit in Conference USA after Butch Davis left the program for parts.
Sophomore quarterback Keyone Jenkins will lead FIU onto the field after a freshman season which saw him rattle off 2,414 yards, 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions through the air in 2023. Against Indiana on the road, Jenkins was 20-of-29 for 129 yards, a touchdown and an interception, but could have more success against a Central team who struggled to keep opponents in front of them in 2023.
The passing game will be a bit of a mystery as the receiving corps lost several key contributors in the offseason, but second-leading returnee receiver Eric Rivers (32 catches, 360 yards, two TDs in 2023), Dean Patterson (who led the team with nine targets and fiver catches vs. Indiana) and cult hero tight end Rowdy Beers (18 catches, 158 yards, one TD in 2023) will almost certainly contribute.
In the backfield, the duo of Kejon Owens and Shomari Lawrence return to provide veteran experience. Lawrence (125 rush, 566 yards, four TDs rushing; eight catches for 47 yards in 2023) is the lead back of the two, while Owens (80 carries, 453 yards, five touchdowns rushing; nine catches for 40 yards in 2023) is a complimentary back. Both combined for 54 yards on 12 carries vs. Indiana last week.
Defensively, this team looks to have a stout secondary. Former Kent State Golden Flash JoJo Evans had an electric debut for FIU last week, leading the team with 11 tackles and a pass break-up from the safety spot. He’s joined by defensive leaders CJ Christian (team-leading three INTs and 55 total tackles) and Brian Blades (36 tackles, two tackles-for-loss, team-leading six pass break-ups) in the backfield, who were fifth and 10th in tackles in 2023.
The middle of the defense is rotating in new faces, with Dwight Nunoo (seven tackles and a sack last week) and Travion Barnes (three tacklers) saw playtime in the interior. Elijah Anderson-Taylor (five tackles) also returns after a 46-tackle, 4.5 TFL season in 2023. UT-Martin transfer Giovanni Davis, who plays the specialized SAM linebacker role, hauled in five tackles last week, and arrives in his native Miami after a second-team all-OVC campaign in 2023 with the Skyhawks where he had 38 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, and six sacks.
They’ll defend home turf for the first time this season when they host Central, with a three-game winning streak at home dating back to 2021 on the line— though it should be noted all three wins were against FCS squads. FIU lost their last home opener to an FBS squad in 2020 against Middle Tennessee State.
Getting to know the Chippewas
James H. Jimenez
The Chippewas came out with their hair on fire against CCSU on Thursday night, posting a near program-record 66 points, scoring in the air, on the ground, via interception, and through all three special teams scenarios. The only types of score the unit did not collect were by safety and a fumble return— which they very nearly had at some point in the second half.
Suffice to say it was a showcase of what the team could be at its best.
Joe Labas looks poised to take the mantle at QB once again after a near-flawless performance against the Blue Devils, finishing 18-of-24 for 342 yards and three touchdowns, with no interceptions.
He’ll likely be starting in Miami, as Bert Emanuel Jr. continues to be questionable with an injury suffered in fall camps.
Emanuel isn’t the only one dealing with injury; the running back room will also be in flux, as Marion Lukes continues to nurse an injury suffered before the start of the season. Wide receiver Tyson Davis, an expected starter, will be out for the season, while Langston Lewis was also unable to play on Thursday.
Last week, Myles Bailey (68 yards, two touchdowns) led the rushing effort, with BJ Harris (14 yards, one TD) and Nahree Biggins (14 yards) getting chances to carry the ball as well. Head coach Jim McElwain expressed disappointment in the lack of a running game in post-game availability, saying simply “[w]e’ve got to run the football better for us to be successful.”
Solomon Davis was the depth receiver to step up in the absence of Lewis and Tyson Davis, hauling in four catches for 109 yards and two touchdowns. He and redshirt freshman Evan Boyd (three catches, 788 yards, one touchdown) led the team in receiving on Thursday, but Jesse Prewitt III, Chris Parker and Stephan Bracey Jr. are expected to handle more of a load moving forward.
Toting the rock will likely be a focus of the gameplan this week against FIU, which gave up 254 yards rushing and three touchdowns to the Indiana Hoosiers last weekend.
Defensively, St. Francis [PA] transfer Aakeem Snell made a stellar debut with a 46-yard pick-six and completely shut down his side of the field in coverage, while Donte Kent had five tackles and an impressive punt return touchdown. Jordan Kwiatkowski made the start at middle linebacker and led the Chippewas with nine tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss and a pass break-up on fourth down.
There is a point of concern, however, as the unit could only collect two sacks on the day against a very bad FCS side— though they did collect eight TFLs. CMU was one of the worst defenses at creating backfield penetration in the NCAA last year and it cost them games down the stretch. If they can find more pass rush opportunities in 2024, it would go a long way towards helping them close out games.
The Chips’ mettle will be tested for the first time on the road. The key for them will be finding the right offensive balance and opportunities to cause havoc on defense.