2018 FIU Panthers football team
{{short description|American college football season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA team season
| mode=football
| year=2018
| team=FIU Panthers
| image=Florida International University FIU logo.svg
| image_size=200
| conference= Conference USA
| division= East Division
| short_conf= C-USA
| record = 9–4
| conf_record = 6–2
| head_coach= Butch Davis
| hc_year = 2nd
| off_coach= Rich Skrosky
| oc_year = 2nd
| off_scheme = Multiple
| def_coach= Brent Guy
| dc_year = 2nd
| def_scheme = 4–3
| stadium= Riccardo Silva Stadium
| bowl = Bahamas Bowl
| bowl_result ={{Tooltip|W|Won}} 35–32 vs. Toledo
| champion = Bahamas Bowl champion
}}
{{2018 Conference USA football standings}}
The 2018 FIU Panthers football team represented Florida International University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Panthers played their home games at the Riccardo Silva Stadium in University Park, Florida as members of the East Division of Conference USA (C–USA). They were led by second-year head coach Butch Davis. They finished the season 9–4, 6–2 in C-USA play to finish in a tie for second place in the East Division. They were invited to the Bahamas Bowl where they defeated Toledo.
Spring Game
The 2018 Spring Game took place in University Park, on April 6, at 7 p.m.{{cite web|url=https://www.fiusports.com/news/2018/4/5/football-2018-fiu-spring-game-set-for-friday.aspx|title=2018 FIU Spring Game Set for Friday|work=FIUSports.com|accessdate=April 24, 2018}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%;"
! Date !! Time !! Spring Game !! Site !! TV !! Result !! Attendance | ||||||
| April 6 | 7:00 p.m. | Offense vs. Defense | Riccardo Silva Stadium • University Park, Florida | CUSA.tv | Offense 14–13{{cite web |title=2017 FIU Spring Game - Results|url=https://www.fiusports.com/news/2018/4/6/football-offense-edges-out-the-defense-14-13-in-2018-spring-game.aspx?path=football|publisher=FIUSports.com|year=2018|accessdate=April 24, 2017}} | {{center |
| }} |
Offseason
Following the conclusion of the 2017 season, several Panthers were invited to participate in the Tropical Bowl, a postseason all star game held on January 14, 2018. Invitations include: Brad Muhammad (DB), Pharoah Mckever (TE) and Anthony Wint (LB).{{cite web|url=http://www.tropicalbowl.com/roster|title=2018 Tropical Bowl Roster|publisher=TropicalBowl.com|accessdate=April 24, 2018}}
=Departures=
Notable departures from the 2017 squad included:
| class="wikitable sortable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=FIU Panthers|Name|Number|Pos.|Height|Weight|Year|Hometown|Notes}} | |||||||
| Alex McGough | #12 | QB | 6'3" | 218 | Senior | Tampa, FL | Graduated |
| Anthony Wint | #53 | LB | 6'0" | 224 | Senior | Homestead, FL | Graduated |
=2018 NFL draft=
{{see also|2018 NFL draft}}
Panthers who were picked in the 2018 NFL Draft:
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |
| {{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=FIU Panthers|Round|Pick|Player|Position|Team}} |
| 7
! 220 | QB |
|---|
| UFA
! | LB |
=Award watch lists=
Listed in the order that they were released
=Preseason All-CUSA team=
Conference USA released their preseason all-CUSA team on July 16, 2018 with the Panthers having two players selected.{{Cite web|url=http://conferenceusa.com/news/2018/7/16/football-fb-2018-preseason-awards.aspx|title=FB: 2018 Preseason Awards}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
Offense
Jordan Budwig – OL
Defense
Fermin Silva – DL
{{col-end}}
=Preseason media poll=
Conference USA released their preseason media poll on July 17, 2018, with the Panthers predicted to finish in fourth place in the East Division.{{Cite web|url=http://conferenceusa.com/news/2018/7/17/football-fb-preseason-media-poll.aspx|title = FB: Preseason Media Poll}}
| class="wikitable" | |
| align="center"
|align="center" Colspan="3" |East Division | |
| align="center"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=FIU Panthers|Predicted finish|Team}} | |
| align="center"
| 1 | Florida Atlantic |
| align="center"
| 2 | Marshall |
| align="center"
| 3 | Middle Tennessee |
| align="center"
| 4 | FIU |
| align="center"
| 5 | Western Kentucky |
| align="center"
| 6 | Old Dominion |
| align="center"
| 7 | Charlotte |
Schedule
{{CFB schedule
| opprank = y
| rankyear = 2018
| rankdivision = NCAA Division I FBS
| poll = AP
| timezone = Eastern
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 1
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| rank =
| opponent = Indiana
| site_stadium = Riccardo Silva Stadium
| site_cityst = Miami, FL
| tv = CBSSN
| score = 28–38
| attend = 17,082
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 8
| time = 7:30 p.m.
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank =
| opponent = Old Dominion
| site_stadium = Foreman Field
| site_cityst = Norfolk, VA
| tv = beIN
| score = 28–20
| attend = 19,243
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 15
| time = 7:30 p.m.
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank =
| opponent = UMass
| site_stadium = Riccardo Silva Stadium
| site_cityst = Miami, FL
| tv = beIN
| score = 63–24
| attend = 14,695
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 22
| time = 3:30 p.m.
| w/l = l
| nonconf = y
| away = y
| rank =
| opponent = Miami (FL)
| opprank = 21
| site_stadium = Hard Rock Stadium
| site_cityst = Miami Gardens, FL
| tv = ESPN2
| score = 17–31
| attend = 59,814
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = September 29
| time = 7:30 p.m.
| w/l = w
| nonconf = y
| rank =
| opponent = Arkansas–Pine Bluff
| site_stadium = Riccardo Silva Stadium
| site_cityst = Miami, FL
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 55–9
| attend = 14,937
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 13
| time = 7:30 p.m.
| homecoming= y
| w/l = w
| rank =
| opponent = Middle Tennessee
| site_stadium = Riccardo Silva Stadium
| site_cityst = Miami, FL
| tv = beIN
| score = 24–21
| attend = 16,002
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 20
| time = 7:30 p.m.
| w/l = w
| rank =
| opponent = Rice
| site_stadium = Riccardo Silva Stadium
| site_cityst = Miami, FL
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 36–17
| attend = 13,741
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = October 27
| time = 7:30 p.m.
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank =
| opponent = Western Kentucky
| site_stadium = Houchens Industries–L. T. Smith Stadium
| site_cityst = Bowling Green, KY
| tv = beIN
| score = 38–17
| attend = 15,138
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 3
| time = 7:30 p.m.
| w/l = l
| rank =
| opponent = Florida Atlantic
| gamename = Shula Bowl
| site_stadium = Riccardo Silva Stadium
| site_cityst = Miami, FL
| tv = Stadium
| score = 14–49
| attend = 18,478
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 10
| time = 7:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank =
| opponent = UTSA
| site_stadium = Alamodome
| site_cityst = San Antonio, TX
| tv = ESPN+
| score = 45–7
| attend = 16,874
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 17
| time = 2:00 p.m.
| w/l = w
| away = y
| rank =
| opponent = Charlotte
| site_stadium = Jerry Richardson Stadium
| site_cityst = Charlotte, NC
| tv = ESPN3
| score = 42–35
| attend = 13,371
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = November 24
| time = 12:00 p.m.
| w/l = l
| rank =
| opponent = Marshall
| site_stadium = Riccardo Silva Stadium
| site_cityst = Miami, FL
| tv = Stadium
| score = 25–28
| attend = 14,862
}}
|{{CFB schedule entry
| date = {{tooltip|December 21|Friday}}
| time = 12:30 p.m.
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = Toledo
| site_stadium = {{Flag icon|Bahamas}} Thomas Robinson Stadium
| site_cityst = Nassau, Bahamas
| gamename = Bahamas Bowl
| tv = ESPN
| score = 35–32
| attend = 13,510
}}
}}
Game summaries
=Indiana=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Hoosiers
|R1=14
|R2=14
|R3=7
|R4=3
|Home=Panthers
|H1=7
|H2=7
|H3=7
|H4=7
}}
{{see also|2018 Indiana Hoosiers football team}}
{{Clear}}
=At Old Dominion=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Panthers
|R1=0
|R2=14
|R3=14
|R4=0
|Home=Monarchs
|H1=7
|H2=13
|H3=0
|H4=0
}}
{{see also|2018 Old Dominion Monarchs football team}}
{{Clear}}
=UMass=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Minutemen
|R1=7
|R2=3
|R3=14
|R4=0
|Home=Panthers
|H1=14
|H2=28
|H3=14
|H4=7
}}
{{see also|2018 UMass Minutemen football team}}
{{Clear}}
=At Miami (FL)=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Panthers
|R1= 0
|R2= 0
|R3= 0
|R4= 17
|Home=No. 21 Hurricanes
|H1= 7
|H2= 17
|H3= 7
|H4= 0
}}
{{see also|2018 Miami Hurricanes football team}}
{{Clear}}
=Arkansas–Pine Bluff=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Golden Lions
|R1=3
|R2=0
|R3=3
|R4=3
|Home=Panthers
|H1=17
|H2=21
|H3=17
|H4=0
}}
{{see also|2018 Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions football team}}
{{Clear}}
=Middle Tennessee=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Blue Raiders
|R1=0
|R2=14
|R3=7
|R4=0
|Home=Panthers
|H1=3
|H2=10
|H3=0
|H4=11
}}
{{see also|2018 Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football team}}
{{Clear}}
=Rice=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Owls
|R1=7
|R2=3
|R3=7
|R4=0
|Home=Panthers
|H1=0
|H2=16
|H3=10
|H4=10
}}
{{see also|2018 Rice Owls football team}}
{{Clear}}
=At Western Kentucky=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Panthers
|R1=7
|R2=7
|R3=14
|R4=10
|Home=Hilltoppers
|H1=0
|H2=3
|H3=0
|H4=14
}}
{{see also|2018 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers football team}}
{{Clear}}
=Florida Atlantic=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Owls
|R1=7
|R2=7
|R3=7
|R4=28
|Home=Panthers
|H1=0
|H2=7
|H3=7
|H4=0
}}
{{see also|2018 Florida Atlantic Owls football team|Shula Bowl}}
{{Clear}}
=At UTSA=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Panthers
|R1=0
|R2=17
|R3=7
|R4=21
|Home=Roadrunners
|H1=0
|H2=0
|H3=0
|H4=7
}}
{{see also|2018 UTSA Roadrunners football team}}
{{Clear}}
=At Charlotte=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Panthers
|R1=10
|R2=10
|R3=7
|R4=15
|Home=49ers
|H1=7
|H2=7
|H3=7
|H4=14
}}
{{see also|2018 Charlotte 49ers football team}}
{{Clear}}
=Marshall=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Thundering Herd
|R1=14
|R2=0
|R3=7
|R4=7
|Home=Panthers
|H1=3
|H2=7
|H3=0
|H4=15
}}
{{see also|2018 Marshall Thundering Herd football team}}
{{Clear}}
=Toledo (Bahamas Bowl)=
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Panthers
|R1=0
|R2=14
|R3=7
|R4=14
|Home=Rockets
|H1=10
|H2=0
|H3=7
|H4=15
}}
{{see also|2018 Toledo Rockets football team|2018 Bahamas Bowl}}
{{Clear}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{FIU Panthers football navbox}}
Category:FIU Panthers football seasons
Category:Bahamas Bowl champion seasons
Category:Long stubs with short prose
{{Collegefootball-2018-season-stub}}