Breaking down FIU’s game-by-game schedule for the 2023 college football season

Aug. 26 at Louisiana Tech: It’s the season opener for both teams, and it’s also a Conference USA game. The Bulldogs lost to FIU last year, 42-34, as Louisiana Tech finished the year 3-9. This year, the Bulldogs return the Conference USA Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year in Smoke Harris, who also tied for the team lead with 65 catches in 2022. New QB Hank Bachmeier is highly experienced, going 20-9 as a starter at Boise State. Prediction: La. Tech 31-14

Sept. 2 vs. Maine: This will be FIU’s second game, but it stands as the Black Bears’ season opener. It’s also the first of three straight nonconference games for FIU. Maine went 2-9 last season, including five straight games to close its ledger. However, of its nine total losses, five of them were by four points or less. Prediction: FIU 30-10.

Sept. 9 vs. North Texas: The Mean Green, one of six schools that ditched Conference USA for the American Athletic Conference, are on FIU’s 2023 slate as a non-league game. The Mean Green went 7-7 last year, losing its final two games — the C-USA final and the Frisco Bowl 35-32 to Boise State. North Texas, which has a new coach this year in Eric Morris, beat FIU 52-14 in 2022. Prediction: N. Texas 44-17

Sept. 16 at UConn: After this, only the Arkansas game is out of conference for FIU. The Huskies, who play as an independent, went 6-7 last year, beating host FIU by 21 points and losing to Marshall in the Myrtle Beach Bowl. Jim Mora Jr., who was an NFL head coach in Atlanta and Seattle, leads the run-heavy Huskies. Prediction: UConn 28-27

Sept. 23 vs. Liberty: Jamey Chadwell is the only new coach in the league. Chadwell went 31-6 the past three years at Coastal Carolina, and he brings with him a triple-option offense. Liberty went 8-5 last season, leading the nation with 121 tackles for losses. FIU lost 36-34 the last time they played the Flames. Prediction: Liberty 44-41

Oct. 4 at New Mexico State: This is the first of four straight Wednesday games for FIU. The Aggies lost 21-7 last year to FIU. Even so, the Aggies had a breakthrough 7-6 season, beating Bowling Green in the Quick Lane Bowl. It was just the Aggies’ second bowl game in 62 years. Prediction: New Mexico State 19-18

Oct. 11 vs. Texas-El Paso: Miners quarterback Gavin Hardison is back for his fifth season, and he has already made 29 college starts. The Miners went 5-7 last year, including a 40-6 win over FIU. This summer, the Miners picked up Washington Huskies transfer Aaron Dumas at running back. In addition, wide receiver Tyrin Smith, who caught 71 passes for 1,039 yards and 7 TDs last year for UTEP, transferred to Texas A&M. He was there for the the spring but then returned to UTEP. Prediction: FIU 35-34

Oct. 18 at Sam Houston: The Bearkats, who won the FCS national championship in the spring of 2021 under coach K.C. Keeler, are set for this season’s debut as an FBS team. Keeler’s 2023 Bearkats boast a strong defense but have questions at QB. The Bearkats redshirted a bunch of players last year and then added transfers, accounting for their status as an relatively older squad. Grant Gunnell, a 6-foot-6 passer, hopes to win the QB job. His previous stops include Arizona, Memphis and North Texas. Prediction: FIU 21-16.

Oct. 25 vs. Jacksonville State: The Gamecocks are also set to make their debut as an FBS team. Last year, they went 9-2 in their first season under coach Rich Rodriguez, who has previously run the programs at West Virginia, Michigan and Arizona. His QB is Zion Webb, who in June was granted a seventh year of college eligibility by the NCAA. Prediction: FIU 30-24

Nov. 11 at Middle Tennessee State: From here through the remainder of the regular season, FIU returns to Saturday football. The Blue Raiders beat FIU, 33-28, last year. Middle Tennessee running back Frank Peasant gained 777 yards last year as his squad went 8-5, winning the Hawaii Bowl over San Diego State, 25-23. Prediction: MTS 35-31.

Nov. 18 at Arkansas: These last two games could be brutal for FIU. The Panthers’ goal should be to have six wins before heading to Fayetteville, where the Razorbacks will open the season as a top-30 team nationally. Arkansas is coming off a 7-6 season that included a 55-53 Liberty Bowl win over Kansas. Prediction: Arkansas 50-23

Nov. 25 at Western Kentucky: The Hilltoppers embarrassed FIU 73-0 last year, and WKU returns the top QB in the league (and one of the best in the nation ) in Austin Reed, who in 2022 passed for 4,746 yards, 40 TDs, a 65 percent completion rate and just 11 picks. However, the Toppers return just one player from the front seven on defense. Prediction: WKU 49-31