Four nationally televised games highlight 2011 football schedule

Four nationally televised games will highlight the 2011 FIU football schedule as the Panthers set out to defend their Sun Belt Conference Championship.

“This year’s schedule will be a good test for FIU,” Athletic Director Pete Garcia said. “The team is coming off its most successful season and this schedule sets us up nicely to build on that success.

“I want to personally thank Dave Brown and ESPN for showing the confidence in our football program by showcasing four of our games on national television. We are excited that our fans will be treated to six home games this season, giving them and our team the opportunity to take advantage of the college football game day experience here at FIU.”

“Our entire football program is excited about the challenges and opportunities presented by our 2011 schedule,” Head Coach Mario Cristobal said. “It will be the first time in school history that we will play four nationally televised games and will face four 2010 bowl participants. The caliber of opponent from start to finish further reinforces that we must have the most demanding and productive off-season that we have ever had.”

FIU is coming off the program’s most successful season, winning the team’s first Sun Belt Conference championship and appearing in its first-ever bowl, defeating Toledo, 34-32, in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in Detroit, Mich.

The Panthers will open the 2011 season versus North Texas on Thursday, Sept. 1, on ESPN3. Eight days later, on Sept. 9, FIU will travel to Louisville, Ky., to face the first of four opponents who played in bowls in 2010, the Louisville Cardinals. That game will be broadcast on ESPN. Last season, the Cardinals defeated Southern Miss, 31-28, in the Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl.

A week later, the Panthers return home to face defending Conference USA Champion UCF on Saturday, Sept. 17. The Knights are coming off a stellar 11-3 season that saw them close out the year with a 10-6 victory over Georgia in the Liberty Bowl.

FIU will then get back into Sun Belt play on Sept. 24 as it hosts the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns at FIU Stadium. The following week, its back to out-of-conference action for the Panthers when they play host to the Duke Blue Devils of the ACC on Saturday, Oct. 1. The non-conference slate concludes on Saturday, Oct. 8 when FIU travels to Akron.

A couple of mid-week games await the Panthers as they resume conference play on Tuesday, Oct. 18 with a trip to Jonesboro, Ark., to face the Arkansas State Red Wolves. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2.

The last of FIU’s mid-week games takes place the following week on Tuesday, Oct. 25, when the Panthers host Troy, who defeated Ohio University, 48-21, in the R&L Carrier New Orleans Bowl last season. The contest will mark the second-straight game for FIU on ESPN2.

The Panthers hit the road again the following week, traveling to Bowling Green, Ky., to face the WKU Hilltoppers on Saturday, Nov. 5. On Saturday, Nov. 12, FIU returns home to host the annual Shula Bowl against rival Florida Atlantic.

The regular season ends for the Panthers with a pair of road games. FIU will first travel to Monroe, La. to face ULM on Nov. 19. Then it’s off to Murfreesboro, Tenn., on Nov. 26 as the Panthers face the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders, who participated in last season’s GoDaddy.com Bowl.

For the 2011 football schedule, visit FIUSports.com.

FIU football season tickets start as low as $42. For more information, call the ticket office at 305-FIU-GAME.

— Courtesy of FIUSports.com

Watch highlights from the 2010 home opener against Rutgers for a glimpse at what to expect in 2011: