C-USA · 2026

FIU

2025 record 7–6 5–3 conference
Postseason First Responder Bowl L 20–57 vs UTSA
Head coach Willie Simmons Year 2
Scheme Multiple / 4-2-5
Conference
C+

Bowl team with lift; portal QB + Owens exit keep it under the WKU/Liberty/Jax State tier

Portal
C

Portal #8 with high-school pipeline depth lifting overall recruiting to board #3

Depth
C

Secondary/EDGE returning pieces help; skill room is post-Owens/Perry

Market odds

To Win C-USA
Yes 0.00%
No 0.00%
To Make Conf. Championship
Yes 0.00%
No 0.00%
Over 6.5 wins
Yes 0.00%
No 0.00%

Recruiting ranks

Overall #3 40 commits · 186.12 pts
Portal #8 19 commits· avg 83.68

Roster notes

Leading story

Simmons Y2 charts Iowa State transfer JJ Kohl at QB1 after Keyone Jenkins / Joe Pesansky’s 2025 split

Offense

RB Anthony Carrie; WR Maguire Anderson / Greg Gaines III / Kyle McNeal; TE Jackson Verdugo. OL: Jeremy Smith / Zaire Flournoy / Daveion Harley / Antonio Tripp Jr. / Manasseh Ripert

Defense

Kenton Simmons / Germaine Carter / RJ Moss Jr. / Dante Anderson; Josiah Taylor / Percy Courtney Jr.; Lawrence Johnson / Shamir Sterlin / Demetrius Hill / Ryan Gadson / Da'Vontae Floyd

Key offense

  1. 01
    Anthony Carrie RB
    Returning
    • 2025 (incl. bowl): 103 carries, 469 yds, 5 rushing TD. Listed RB1
  2. 02
    Kyle McNeal WR
    Returning
    • 2025 (incl. bowl): 31 receptions, 310 yds, 1 TD. Listed slot
  3. 03
    JJ Kohl QB
    Portal
    • Listed QB1

Key defense

  1. 01
    Kenton Simmons DE
    Returning
    • 2025 (incl. bowl): 6.0 sacks. Listed LDE1
  2. 02
    Josiah Taylor WLB
    Returning
    • 2025 (incl. bowl): 72 tackles. Listed WLB1
  3. 03
    Shamir Sterlin SS
    Returning
    • Listed SS1
    • CUSA Kickoff defensive feature