MIAMI (Oct. 20, 2021) – The FIU football team welcomes WKU to FIU Stadium for a Conference USA clash on Saturday, Oct. 23. The Homecoming battle is slated to kickoff at 7 p.m. ET.
Fans unable to attend the contest can view the game on ESPN+ with “Voice of the Panthers” AJ Ricketts on the call with former NFL linebacker Cameron Lynch. Corey Brooks can be heard on the Panthers’ new radio home, 105.5 FM and the iHeartRadio app. For complete game notes, click here.
BY THE NUMBERS
Max Bortenschlager leads the nation in passing yards per completion. The senior’s 19.51 yards ranks atop the standings with UTEP’s Gavin Hardison following the Panther quarterback with 17.01 yards. Bortenschlager also ranks third in all of FBS with 10.54 yards per pass attempt this season.
Also among the best in the country is Tyrese Chambers, whose 33.60 yards per competition is first in the country. The sophomore is also eighth nationally in receiving yards per game (112.0) and 10th in receiving yards (672). The wide receiver was added to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List as announced last week.
As a team, the Panthers passing offense ranks 12th nationally and third in all of C-USA with the squad’s 317.7 yards.
LAST TIME OUT
Before entering the bye week, FIU dropped a 45-33 contest to Charlotte, bringing the team’s record to 1-5 for the year and 0-2 against C-USA opponents. D’vonte Price became the sixth player in FIU football history to eclipse 2,000-yards rushing during the loss. Chambers also recorded a historic performance as he nabbed three passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns, matching former Panther standout T.Y. Hilton’s 201 receiving yards at Louisville in 2011.
SCOUTING THE HILLTOPPERS
WKU comes to the Sunshine State with a 2-4 mark overall and a 1-1 Conference USA record. The Hilltoppers rank first nationally in passing offense (447.7), fourth in total offense (545.0), sixth in passing efficiency (172.15) and ninth in scoring offense (40.8).
Wide receiver Jerreth Sterns leads all FBS receivers with 69 receptions for 962 yards, while his eight touchdowns are tied for fourth. The reigning C-USA Offensive Player of the Week also paces the nation with 169.5 all-purpose yard, 161.0 recieving yards per game and 11.7 receptions per game. Not to be outdone, quartback Bailey Zappe ranks first in the country with 26 passing touchdowns, 447.3 total offense, and 27.3 points responsible for per game.
UP NEXT
The Panthers hit the road for a C-USA contest at Marshall on Saturday, Oct. 30. Kickoff from the road contest is slated for 3:30 p.m. ET.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Get all the latest information on the team by following @FIU.Football on Instagram and @FIUFootball on Twitter and Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.
