Florida International will face off against Indiana this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET. Indiana is favored to win by 21 1/2 points. The series record currently stands at 3-0 in favor of Indiana. Indiana’s new head coach, Curt Cignetti, aims to continue his winning streak as he has never had a sub-.500 season in his 13-year coaching career. The team hopes to kick off the season with a victory after a disappointing end to their previous season, losing their final three games.

On the other hand, Florida International, playing in their newly renamed Pitbull Stadium, is looking for a fresh start following a challenging previous season where they lost seven out of their last eight games. A key matchup to watch in this game is Indiana’s passing game against FIU’s secondary. Indiana’s new quarterback, Kurtis Rourke, is expected to lead the team with his versatile skills in running and passing.

Player to watch for Florida International is linebacker Reggie Peterson, who had a standout season in 2023. Indiana’s Rourke, a vital addition to the team with experience as a former Ohio quarterback, will be a critical player to watch given the improvements he brings to the team. Indiana has performed well against non-power conference opponents since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, with notable victories and losses.

The game will also see Panthers QB Keyone Jenkins facing off against Indiana, with impressive stats from the last season. Rourke, on the other hand, brings a wealth of experience and stability to Indiana’s offense. The matchup will be an interesting one as both teams look to start the season on a high note.