IRVING, Texas (Feb. 4, 2016) – Conference USA has announced its football schedule for the 2016 season.  The 13-team alignment for the 2016 slate will feature each team playing eight conference games, along with four non-league contests.
 
FIU's 2016 schedule is highlighted with games against Miami Beach Bowl and 2016 C-USA champion WKU, R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl champion Louisiana Tech, St. Petersburg Bowl champion Marshall, Popeyes Bahama Bowl participant Middle Tennessee, and New Era Pinstripe Bowl participant Indiana. In addition, the Panthers will face Maryland, Massachusetts, UCF, Florida Atlantic, UTEP, Charlotte and Old Dominion. 
 
"The 2016 schedule will be a good challenge for our football team," Head Coach Ron Turner said. "Our non-conference schedule features some well-coached programs and the teams we are hosting in conference play are some of the most-talented in the league. We look forward to having seven home games, including our home opener against Indiana. I know our guys are excited to open the season on Thursday night. From top to bottom, this year's schedule will be a good test for our team, as well as a very entertaining one for our fans."  
 
The 2016 alignment will feature seven teams in the East Division and six teams in the West Division.  Charlotte, FIU, Florida Atlantic, Marshall, Middle Tennessee, Old Dominion and WKU comprise the East Division, while Louisiana Tech, North Texas, Rice, Southern Miss, UTEP and UTSA make up the West Division.
 
Each school in the West Division will play every team in its division once for five games, while playing three cross-over opponents from the opposite division.  Three schools in the East Division will play every team in its division once for six games, while playing two cross-over opponents from the opposite division.  Four schools in the East Division will play five opponents in its division once for five games, while playing three cross-over opponents from the opposite division.  The cross-division opponents, as well as the East Division non-plays are the same as last season, with the sites of the games being reversed.  The 2016 schedule has 13 playing weeks, which provides for one open date for each team.
 
A schedule of televised games will be released at a later date.  Conference USA's 12th annual Championship Game, pitting the champions of the East and West Divisions, is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 3.
 
Please note that all games are subject to date changes.
 
2016 FIU Football Schedule
Sept. 1           INDIANA
Sept. 10         MARYLAND
Sept. 17         at Massachusetts
Sept. 24         UCF
Oct. 1            FLORIDA ATLANTIC*
Oct. 8            at UTEP
Oct. 15          at Charlotte
Oct. 22          LOUISIANA TECH*
Oct. 29          MIDDLE TENNESSEE*
Nov. 5           at WKU*
Nov. 19          MARSHALL*
Nov. 26          at Old Dominion*
 
* denotes Conference USA Games
 Home games at Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium are capitalized and bolded;
 
For FIU football ticket information, contact the University Credit Union Box Office at 305-FIU-GAME (348-4263).
 
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For the latest information on Panthers football, follow us on Twitter, @FIUFootball, and check out Pete Pelegrin's in-depth coverage of FIU Athletics on his official blog, The Prowl, at www.FIUSports.com.
 
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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium.
 
About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. It is a public research university with colleges and schools that offer more than 180 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU contributes $8.9 billion each year to the local economy. FIU is Worlds Ahead in finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded over 200,000 degrees and enrolls more than 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell, FIU@I-75, and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU also supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has over 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.