Florida International secured a notable victory over Louisiana Tech in the Conference USA opener, with a final score of 17-10 on Saturday night. Keyone Jenkins played a crucial role in FIU’s win, throwing a touchdown pass to Eric Rivers and leading the offensive charge. The game saw FIU take an early lead of 14-0 after Jenkins connected with Rivers for a 10-yard touchdown in the first quarter and Lexington Joseph scored a 6-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter.

Despite FIU’s lead, the Bulldogs of Louisiana Tech made a strong comeback, narrowing the gap to just four points. Jimmy Holiday’s 5-yard rushing touchdown and Buck Buchanan’s 34-yard field goal in the third quarter brought them closer on the scoreboard. However, Alejandro Prado extended FIU’s lead with a 25-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter.

In a tense final possession, Louisiana Tech tried to stage a late comeback starting from their 42-yard line with 2:45 left in the game. Nevertheless, the Panthers’ defense stood firm, stopping the Bulldogs on downs at the FIU 36-yard line.

Jenkins showcased his skills by throwing for 208 yards, with Rivers amassing 97 yards in receiving and Joseph contributing 73 yards on the ground for FIU. On the opposing side, Evan Bullock threw for 218 yards, with Marlion Jackson recording 81 yards in receiving for the Bulldogs.

The victory marked an important conference win for FIU, setting a positive tone for their season ahead. Louisiana Tech, despite the loss, showed resilience and determination in their performance, indicating they will be a team to watch in future matchups.