Florida International defeated Jacksonville State 27-21 on Saturday in a competitive Week 13 matchup. The Panthers covered the 2.5-point spread while the game finished under the 56-point over-under total.

FIU dominated the second half, outscoring Jacksonville State 20-7 after halftime. The home team scored 10 points in both the third and fourth quarters to pull away. Jacksonville State kept pace early, scoring a touchdown in each of the first three quarters, but managed no points in the fourth quarter.

The game featured significant momentum swings, with 22 lead changes throughout. Jacksonville State quarterback Caden Creel led his offense with 198 passing yards and found Jalen Likely as a primary target with seven receptions. FIU's ground attack was led by JoJo Stone with 5 carries.

Defensively, both teams made impact plays. Jacksonville State's defense recorded a crucial fourth-quarter turnover, while FIU's defense also forced turnovers to stem Jacksonville State's momentum. The game lived up to its competitive reputation with an excitement index of 7.66, featuring dramatic swings in win probability throughout the contest.