The schedule for Butch Davis’ first season as FIU football coach, announced Thursday, gives the Panthers a shot at a bowl-level bounce after five consecutive losing seasons.
Only one Power Five conference team, perennial Big Ten also-ran Indiana, dots the schedule. Instead of another Power Five team, as was the case in 2016, FIU returned to its custom of buying an FCS whipping boy. That’ll be Alcorn State in 2017 cast in the role played previously by Wagner and North Carolina Central.
That Sept. 9 home game follows a Sept. 2 season-opening home game against UCF, which has outscored FIU 91-14 in the last two games at FIU Stadium.