Conference USA announced on May 26 that the 2026 Conference USA Football Kickoff and Media Days will take place July 20-21 at the Texas Live! Arena and the Loews Arlington Hotel & Convention Center in Arlington, Texas.
Florida International University will be represented by Head Coach Willie Simmons, quarterback JJ Kohl, and defensive back Shamir Sterlin. The group will participate in a live ESPN+ show on July 20 hosted by ESPN’s Mike Corey at the Texas Live! Arena, as well as traditional press conferences and media availability on July 21.
Simmons led FIU to a bowl game for the first time since 2019 during his first season with the Panthers. The team finished the regular season with a four-game winning streak. Kohl is expected to start at quarterback for FIU in 2026 after transferring from Appalachian State, where he passed for 1,465 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2025 while completing over sixty-one percent of his attempts. Sterlin earned All-Freshman Team honors as well as Honorable Mention All-Conference recognition last season after recording sixty-five tackles, two interceptions, and four pass breakups across twelve starts.
Specific times for the live ESPN+ broadcast will be announced later. A complete list of participants from all Conference USA institutions was also released.
