Florida International vs. Indiana

Date: Sept. 1, 2016 (Thursday)

Site: FIU Stadium (23,500 capacity)

Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET

Television: ESPNU

Radio: This broadcast can be heard live on the IU Radio Network, Sirius 81, XM 81, Internet 957

Series Facts: This is the second meeting between Indiana and Florida International. The Hoosiers won the first game last season in Bloomington, 36-22.

Coaches: Indiana — Kevin Wilson (26‑48, sixth season); Florida International — Ron Turner (10-26, fourth season)

Alex McGough is back as a junior to lead Florida International's offense once again after starting 23 games at quarterback between his true freshman and sophomore seasons.

McGough completed 269-of-420 pass attempts for 2,722 yards and 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions last season. He was marginally better at home than on the road, averaging 256.2 passing yards per game at FIU Stadium against just 205.9 passing yards per game everywhere else.

McGough put together one of his best games of the season against Indiana last September, completing 21-of-37 pass attempts for 249 yards and three touchdowns against one interception.

He struggled in the closing stretch last season, ending the year with by far his two worst performances against Marshall and Western Kentucky. In those two outings combined, McGough managed just 193 passing yards, zero touchdowns and tossed three interceptions in a pair of blowout losses.

Florida International ended its 10th game of the season with five wins and two chances to become bowl eligible.

The Golden Panthers didn't really get close.

FIU was outscored 115-7 by Marshall and Western Kentucky combined over the last two games of the season. Those two blowout losses (52-0 against Marshall and 63-7 against Western Kentucky) kept Turner's team out of the postseason.

Last season's results have no impact on future games, but the Golden Panthers will want to break out of whatever funk they were in to end last season sooner rather than later.

For what it's worth, Indiana is historically tough to beat the first game of the season.

The Hoosiers are 12-1 over their last 13 home openers, though a handful of those were against FBS-Subdivision schools. Indiana's lone loss in that time came against Ball State in Indianapolis to start Wilson's first season back in 2011.

Does that mean anything? Probably not.

But it doesn't hurt.