Enjoyed F1RST NIGHT? Then get ready for “Fifth Night” – football home opener on Friday

Excitement on campus is thick. With classes in session and thousands of students bringing the vibes, the moment holds promise and possibility.

That potential extends to the football field. In a fitting follow-up to Monday evening’s F1RST NIGHT – the annual start-of-the-school-year celebration that drew a record crowd – the season opener offers another chance for the entire FIU community to again gather in camaraderie while looking for a win.

Meet the coach

The 7 p.m. game against Bethune-Cookman University marks the debut of head coach Willie Simmons.

The dynamic leader arrived at FIU in late December with eight seasons of head coaching under his belt – all of them winning – and bowl experience. That background bodes well for FIU as it begins its 12-game schedule.

At a pep rally introducing him at the time, Simmons promised to go to work. “We’re ready to build on the history and the tradition of this program,” he said back then. “We want to build on the 2010 first-ever bowl win in conference championships. We want to build teams . . . that have future NFL players [like alumni] T.Y. Hilton, Johnathan Cyprien . . . We want to build on the three consecutive bowl games from 2017 to 2019. And, of course, we want to build on the 2019 victory over University of Miami. We’re committed to being a team that produces NFL players who can ignite the entire country like [alumnus and current Pittsburgh Steeler] Jonnu Smith . . . I look forward to blazing the trail again to bring a new level of success and excellence to the 305.”

And now, the moment of truth has arrived, as the Panthers head into Friday night under the lights.

“My team's fired up,” the coach said earlier this week. “We can't wait to get rolling.”

Ones to watch

Much of the enthusiasm centers on the talents of Panthers who have earned pre-season honors in recent weeks. Simmons suggests keeping an eye on junior Keyone Jenkins, a sports management major now entering his third season as starting quarterback.

“We’re excited to see him lead this team,” Simmons says of Jenkins, who in July was named the 2025 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year by Conference USA head coaches.

Jenkins emerged as one of the top quarterbacks within the collective of conferences known as the Group of Five following an exceptional sophomore year, during which he passed for 2,557 yards and threw 22 touchdowns, second in the conference.

Another standout: C’Quan Jnopierre, a kick returner who earned 2025 Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year. Throughout 2024, he served as the catalyst for the Panther special teams unit, setting up FIU with advantageous field position many times. He averaged 28.3 yards per return, the third-most in the nation, with the longest of those flying 55 yards. Jnopierre, who is majoring in criminal justice, earned 2025 Preseason First Team status from two prominent football publications in recognition of past exceptional performance and anticipation of more of the same.

Simmons also called out defensive back Brian Blades II, a graduate student who earned multiple 2025 preseason accolades including Group of Five All-American and First Team All-Conference USA honors.

His exceptional qualities include playmaking ability, quickness, and reliable tackling, which have made him a valuable and instinctive defensive leader for the Panthers. 

The 12^th Panther

For all the talent on the field, fans remain key to a winning season. With 11 FIU players battling it out on the gridiron, the proverbial “twelfth” Panther – the spectators in the stands – can mean the difference between a W and an L.

“We’re here to bring wins and championships to the 305,” says Simmons, who expects supporters to give his guys an edge. “We definitely need them.”

Freshman Jordan Markowitz understands the power of the crowd to rev the home team. She can’t wait to follow up her excellent F1RST NIGHT experience – where she collected an enormous quantity of FIU swag – with another evening in the stadium, on Friday, during what some are dubbing “Fifth Night,” as the game closes out the opening week of classes.

“Definitely, fan support is 100% key,” says the biochemistry major and Honors College student. She has attended scores of FIU games over the years with her physics professor dad, Pete Markowitz, and now looks forward to going as a Panther in her own right.

Markowitz plans to bring along all three of her dorm mates and encourages the entire student body to come out and make some noise for the team.

“When everyone is on their feet, everyone is shouting, chanting, everyone's jumping around, cheering and clapping,” she says, “it just becomes so much more alive, so much more fun. That's what you're really there for.”

Students are admitted to the stadium on game day simply by presenting their One Card (and may request a free companion ticket for a friend at the box office) and can participate in tailgating on the adjacent Tamiami Trail Promenade. More information and ticketing is available for everyone looking to make a day of it.