FIU Panthers 2017 football schedule announced

Conference USA has announced the FIU football schedule for 2017. With FIU’s non- conference slate already booked for 2017 we now have our full look at what FIU will be up against in their first season under Butch Davis.

2017 FIU Football Schedule

Sept. 2 at UCF

Sept. 9 Alcorn State

Sept. 16 at Indiana

Sept. 23 at Rice

Sept. 30 Charlotte

Oct. 7 at Middle Tennessee

Oct. 14 Tulane

Oct. 21 Bye Week

Oct. 28 at Marshall

Nov. 4 vs UTSA

Nov. 11 vs Old Dominion

Nov. 18 at Florida Atlantic

Nov. 25 vs WKU

Analysis

• What immediately stands out is the Shula Bowl returning to November. That game could have major implications for the C-USA East division crown should Butch and Lane Kiffin turn around their schools in a hurry.
• The season opener against UCF has some potential to be picked up by a major network as UCF in their second year with Scott Frost up against the return of Butch Davis provides a solid storyline.
• September provides some great opportunities for FIU to prove they are an improved team in Davis’ first year as three of their first five games are on the road (UCF, Indiana, Rice) and none of those teams had a winning record in 2016. However, two of them (UCF and Indiana) beat FIU in Miami last year.
• The bye week comes halfway through the season which is what I think most coaches would prefer. For the second straight year FIU will have two weeks to prepare for Marshall.
• FIU has one of the more favorable draws in C-USA East as they will get Rice and UTSA from the West. UTSA will be a home contest and will be right after they have made a trip to El Paso to play UTEP. Rice was one of the worst teams in C-USA last year.
• Hard to pinpoint what’s their toughest stretch of games. Is it at Marshall, vs UTSA and vs Old Dominion or at Rice, vs Charlotte, at Middle Tennessee.

Unlike the previous two season that saw FIU take on a pair of Big Ten teams in September this schedule is much more manageable. The slate of games in September still aren’t cupcakes but at least FIU won’t be out-punching their class either.

The Butch Davis era has a chance to start with some positive momentum. Getting MTSU, Marshall and FAU on the road isn’t ideal but at least they no longer have to make the long road trip to play UTEP. With an even split of home and road games, becoming bowl eligible shouldn’t be out of the question in Davis’ first year back in college football.