G5 Football Daily

HOW TO WATCH & PREVIEW: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers @ FIU Panthers

Date: Saturday, November 25 Time: 3:00 PM EST TV: ESPN+ Radio: Univision WQBA 1140 - AJ Ricketts (play-by-play) and Corey Brooks (analyst) Location: FIU

Kevin Barral

Albert Palacios/Lemon City Live
In this story:

Date: Saturday, November 25

Time: 3:00 PM EST

TV: ESPN+

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

Location: FIU Football Stadium - Miami, FL

Betting Line: Western Kentucky  -9.5

The FIU Panthers are coming off of a competitive three quarters and a half against the SEC Arkansas Razorbacks, who ended up eliminating the Panthers from bowl contention.

At this point for the FIU, the goal should be to finish with a better win total than in 2022, where they went 4-8 after dropping four straight. A simple mirror of 2022 would be a big disappointment for FIU.

As the season winds down, the only milestone tracker that should be closely looked at is for wide receiver Kris Mitchell who currently has 1,002 yards. Tyrese Chambers holds the single-season record for most receiving yards in a season with 1072, so Mitchell will have a chance to surpass Chambers and make his mark in the FIU record book.

As for Keyone Jenkins, he currently holds the FIU record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a single season. He has a chance to make the record setting number, six, seven or eight depending how his night goes.

Prior to the game against Arkansas, Jenkins hadn't thrown for over 200 yards in a game since the loss against the UTEP Miners on Vice Night, where he threw for 216 yards. Against Arkansas, he threw for 265 yards.

Health for the Panthers offensive line has been a struggle all season. Thankfully, FIU heads into the weekend with the starting offensive line fully healthy.

Western Kentucky barely clinched a bowl spot after what has been a disappointing season for the Hilltoppers, who find themselves with a 6-5 record. Although 7-5 would make things look a lot better, what Conference USA newcomers Liberty and New Mexico State have done is just impressive, as both teams will be facing each other in the 2023 CUSA championship game.

The Austin Reed-to-Malachi Corley connection has been one that the Hilltoppers have seen regularly this season. Reed, with his 3,060 passing yards this season leads all of Conference USA. As for Corley, he leads the conference in receiving touchdowns. Corley has totaled 906 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.

Defensively, the Hilltoppers rank dead last in the conference in total defense, which should be a boost for an FIU offense that currently ranks second-to-last in CUSA. Where FIU will have a chance to thrive is in the passing game.

The Panthers' defense has struggled all season against the run, but thankfully for FIU, that isn't Western Kentucky's forte. This season, Reed has led the Hilltoppers all the way to the top of the conference in passing offense. As for the Panthers, their passing defense ranks sixth in CUSA.

Saturday will mark the final game for linebacker Donovan Manuel. Through 11 games this season, Manuel has racked up 111 total tackles and 61 of those have been solo tackles.

"They're passing the torch with these young men," said FIU head coach Mike MacIntyre. "Some of them will go on and keep playing, but a lot of them won't and that is the way it is in every school and so they're heading into their next lives."

Published
Kevin Barral
KEVIN BARRAL

Home/CUSA