G5 Football Daily

HOW TO WATCH & PREVIEW: FIU Panthers @ Arkansas Razorbacks

Date: Saturday, November 19 Time: 7:30 PM EST TV: ESPNU Radio: Univision WQBA 1140 with AJ Ricketts (play-by-play) and Corey Brooks (analyst) Location: Donald

Kevin Barral

FIU Athletics
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Date: Saturday, November 19

Time: 7:30 PM EST

TV: ESPNU

Radio: Univision WQBA 1140 with AJ Ricketts (play-by-play) and Corey Brooks (analyst)

Location: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium - Fayetteville, Arkansas

Betting Line: Arkansas -29.5

The Panthers are coming off of their first loss of the season where they did not score a touchdown. The 4-6 Panthers will look to keep their bowl game hopes alive against their first Power Five opponent in the Arkansas Razorbacks. While the 3-7 Razorbacks are struggling, they will be the best team the Panthers will face this season.

"It's the most physical, biggest, strongest, best football team we played all year," said FIU football head coach Mike MacIntyre in his Tuesday availability. "I know their record is not that good, but they should have beat Alabama and definitely could have beat a couple other teams."

In their last outing against MTSU, FIU quarterback Keyone Jenkins was able to take the Panthers down to the red zone four times. Two of those red zone appearances ended in field goals. The other two resulted in no points.

"We should have gotten a few touchdowns there," said MacIntyre. "There's no doubt about it. We had one called back with a lineman down the field. We just didn't make some plays we needed to make and that was definitely discouraging. Good defense by MTSU."

As the Panthers look forward to Arkansas, the first name that left MacIntyre's mouth was quarterback K.J. Jefferson, who he said may be bigger than some of the Panthers' defensive lineman.

"He's powerful. He can run," said MacIntyre. "He has a very strong arm. He's played good football there for a while now and he's from North Panola High School right outside of Oxford, Mississippi. I knew about him when I was coaching at Ole Miss and he was a heck of a player there."

This season, Jefferson has thrown for 1,918 yards, 16 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Jefferson leads the Razorbacks in rushing yards this season with 342, and two touchdowns. 

Through 10 games on the season, the Panthers rank outside the top 50 in total defense amongst all FBS teams. Amongst CUSA, FIU is ranked the third-worst rushing defense in the conference, given up 189.3 yard per game.

Thankfully for the Panthers, Arkansas is the worst offense in the SEC, but that should be taken with a grain of salt.

All-SEC preseason selection Raheim Sanders has missed half of the season due to injury, but despite the missed time, Sanders has racked up 194 rushing yards and two touchdowns, but should make up for lost time against an FIU team that struggles against the run.

Jefferson hasn't necessarily had a number one target this season. However, Andrew Armstrong has totaled 48 receptions for 657 yards and four touchdowns, along with Isaac TeSlaa, who has 28 receptions for 280 yards and two touchdowns.

The last time that the Panthers beat a Power Five team was in 2019, when they took down the Miami Hurricanes.

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Kevin Barral
KEVIN BARRAL

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