Orono, Maine -- The University of Maine football team opens its 131st season of football when it travels to meet Florida International University in the third overall meeting between the two programs on Saturday, Sept. 2 at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday's game will be streamed live on ESPN+ and can be heard locally on 92.9 The Ticket and nationwide at GoBlackBears.com.
WATCH PARTY:
Orono Brewing Company, located at 61 Margin Street in Orono, will serve as the official watch party location for Saturday's season opener. Join fellow fans on Saturday at OBC to cheer on the Black Bears at FIU live on ESPN+!
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- The Black Bears open their 131st season of football when they travel to meet Florida International University in the third overall meeting between the two programs.
- Maine enters the contest 2-0 all-time against FIU. The two teams last met in 2003 with Maine earning the victory, 24-14, in a contest played in Portland, Maine. The first meeting between the two programs came in 2002 when Maine defeated FIU, 33-7, in Miami. Maine is 5-1 against current CUSA members (2-0 vs. FIU, 1-0 vs. Jax State, 1-1 vs. Liberty, 1-0 vs. Western Kentucky).
- Maine will be looking for its fifth win against a FBS opponent in school history. This will be Maine's 30th time in which it has matched up against an FBS program. The Black Bears have four wins against FBS opponents; a 35-10 win at UMass (2021); a 31-28 win against Western Kentucky in 2018, a 24-14 win over UMass in 2013, and a 9-7 triumph at Mississippi State in 2004. Maine is 4-25 all-time against FBS level programs.
- Despite jumping out to a 17-3 lead in its season opener at Louisiana Tech, FIU dropped its first game of the season on the road, 22-17, after allowing 19 unanswered points to La Tech. Running back Shomari Lawrence led the FIU offense with 139 yards on 15 carries with a touchdown in his first appearance for the Panthers after transferring in from South Dakota. FIU returns 15 starters (6 off., 5 def., 4 specialists) from last season's roster. FIU was outgained 447 to 182 as the Panthers threw for just four yards while rushing for 206 in the opener.
- The Black Bears return 30 letterwinners from last year's team, including 11 starters (5 Off., 4 Def., 2 Specialists). Maine lost 26 from last year's roster and welcome 37 newcomers, including 10 transfers. A year ago, In Coach Steven's first year on staff, the Black Bears finished 2-9 overall with five of those games being decided by four points or fewer. Maine has also added six new coaches since the end of 2022, including new offensive (Steve Cooper) and defensive (Jeff Comissiong) coordinators.
- Maine is 63-60-5 and will be opening its season against an FBS opponent for the second consecutive season after traveling to take on New Mexico State in its 2022 opener. Maine is looking for its first road opening victory since 2013 when it went on the road to defeat Norfolk State to begin the campaign. Maine last started 1-0 when it defeated Sacred Heart in Orono in 2019.
A Maine Win Would:
...Be Maine's third over FIU
...Be Maine's first win over FIU since 2003 (24-14)
...Be Maine's third consecutive win over FIU
...Move Maine to 1-0 for the first time since 2019
...Be the first time Maine has opened a season with a road victory since 2013 (at Norfolk State)
...Be Maine's fifth win over an FBS program (4-25)
...Be Maine's first win over an FBS program since 2021 (35-10, UMass)
...Be Maine's first win in the state of Florida since 10/19/2002, also at FIU
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Tale of the Tape
| Maine (2022 CAA Ranking) |
Category |
FIU (2023) |
| 23.3 (10) |
Points |
17.0 |
| 353.7 (10) |
Total Offense |
182.0 |
| 148.2 (7) |
Rushing Yards |
206.0 |
| 205.5 (8) |
Passing Yards |
4.0 |
| 16/16 |
Rushing TDs/Passing TDs |
2/0 |
| 29:56 (6) |
Offensive Time of Possession |
21:42 |
| 31.5 (10) |
Points Allowed |
22.0 |
| 412.5 (12) |
Total Defense |
447.0 |
| 166.0 (8) |
Rushing Yards Allowed |
145.0 |
| 246.5 (11) |
Passing Yards Allowed |
333.0 |
| 22/25 |
Rushing/Passing TDs Allowed |
1/1 |
| 42.8 (4) |
3rd-Down Conversions |
25.0 |
| 43.9 (9) |
3rd-Down Conversion Defense |
50.0 |
| +2 (4) |
Turnover Margin |
+1 |
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