Linebacker Reggie Peterson holds a grudge.
Peterson, who placed second on FIU in tackles last year with 104, figures to be a key player on Saturday when the Panthers open their 23 rd football season with a road game in Bloomington against the host Indiana Hoosiers.
Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. (Big Ten Network).
As for Peterson’s grudge, it’s against the Hoosiers, who traditionally recruit Florida heavily.
“I’m from (Fort Pierce), and it seemed like everyone in the (area code) 772 gets their first (scholarship) offer from Indiana,” Peterson said. “I would always see Indiana recruiters around, but I never got an offer.
“I don’t know why. I play good football, I have a 3.8 grade-point average … But that’s OK. I carry the receipts.”
Aside from Peterson’s “revenge” motive, here are five other story lines regarding FIU at Indiana:
1. FAMILY AFFAIR
Indiana coach Curt Cignetti, 63, and FIU coach Mike MacIntyre, 59, are both the sons of former college head coaches. Both of those patriarchs have passed away.
The late Frank Cignetti coached at West Virginia and is in the College Football Hall of Fame. Curt’s brother, Frank Jr., is Pitt’s offensive coordinator.
The late George MacIntyre coached at Vanderbilt and was the 1992 SEC Coach of the Year. Mike’s son, Jay, is FIU’s wide receiver coach.
2. SNAP DECISION
Wyatt Lawson and Jaheim Buchanon are expected to start on Saturday … but where?
MacIntyre indicated one will start at center and the other at guard.
John Bock II was FIU’s center last season, but he will miss most of this season due to an NCAA suspension for use of a banned substance.
“It’s a big deal,” FIU quarterback Keyone Jenkins said when asked about adjusting to the snaps of a new center. “Every day when we come off the practice field, (the centers) ask me how their snaps were, and I tell them if it was too far to the left or right.”
3. NEW HOOSIERS
Cignetti last year led James Madison to a 11-1 record, earning honors as the Sun Belt’s Coach of the Year. James Madison’s only loss was in overtime, 26-23, to Appalachian State.
In moving over to Indiana, Cignetti signed 31 transfers and 17 freshmen. Ten of the transfers have come over from James Madison.
FIU has studied James Madison’s tape from last year. But …
“It’s tricky,” Jenkins said. “They could run something else.”
4. GAME PLAN
Peterson believes Indiana will run on 60 percent of its plays.
“They see us as the underdog,” Peterson said of Indiana, which is favored by 22 points. “I think they will try to run the ball down our throats.”
Indiana went 3-8 overall last year and 1-8 in the Big Ten Conference. One of their wins was a four-overtime affair over Akron.
When Cignetti arrived, he said he was struck by the lack of speed on offense. Cignetti addressed that by bringing in transfers such as quarterback Kurtis Rourke (Ohio); wide receiver Elijah Sarratt (James Madison); and tight end Zach Horton.
Rourke, a 6-5, 225-pounder, was the 2022 Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year. Horton, a 6-4, 250-pounder, made first-team All-Sun Belt last year. Sarratt, a 6-2, 210-pounder, ranked 11 th nationally with 1,191 receiving yards.
5. FAB FRESHMEN
MacIntyre said safety Shamir Sterlin is the only true freshman on FIU’s two-deep depth chart. However, freshman linebacker Josiah Taylor will make significant contributions on special teams.
THIS AND THAT
▪ FIU’s men’s soccer team lost its season opener 1-0 last week to visiting Seton Hall. FIU’s standout freshman goalie Nigel Van Haveren made seven seven saves. It was the most saves by an FIU goalie since 2021.
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