MIAMI (Interstat) — Florida International scored in every quarter and defeated Buffalo 33-20 on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in an NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision game at Miami, Florida. The Golden Panthers evened their record at 1-1, while the Bulls also moved to 1-1 after a nonconference road trip. Florida International’s passing game produced several explosive plays, and its defense made enough stops to keep Buffalo from completing a comeback. Buffalo entered as the visiting team and stayed within reach into the second half, but the Golden Panthers pulled away with timely scoring drives and field goals.

Florida International opened the scoring in the first quarter when JJ Kohl connected with Maguire Anderson on a 45-yard touchdown pass. Buffalo answered with a 51-yard field goal from O. Hautanen. The Golden Panthers struck again later in the opening period when J. Stone completed a 19-yard touchdown pass to J. Kohl. The early touchdowns gave Florida International momentum and forced Buffalo to play from behind.

In the second quarter, Florida International extended its advantage when Kohl found Anderson again, this time for a 14-yard touchdown. Buffalo’s Hautanen added a 45-yard field goal before halftime. The Bulls’ offense moved the ball in spurts, but Florida International’s defense limited big plays for much of the first half. The Golden Panthers went into the break with a comfortable lead.

Buffalo made its strongest push in the third quarter. Jason Wright completed a short pass to Chance Morrow for a 2-yard touchdown, and Wright then rushed successfully for a two-point conversion. Florida International responded quickly when Kohl hit J. Stone on a 68-yard touchdown pass, though the extra-point attempt failed. Robert Czeremcha later added a 36-yard field goal for the Golden Panthers. The sequence kept Buffalo from cutting the deficit to a single possession.

In the fourth quarter, Czeremcha made a 35-yard field goal to push Florida International’s lead further. Buffalo answered when Wright connected with Morrow on a 23-yard touchdown pass, but the two-point conversion rush failed. Florida International then protected its lead the rest of the way. The final score reflected a game in which the Golden Panthers scored in every quarter and made the most of their red-zone and explosive-play chances.

JJ Kohl, a 6-foot-7, 250-pound quarterback from Ankeny, Iowa, was listed among Florida International’s key performers. Jason Wright, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound quarterback from Chesterfield, Virginia, was among Buffalo’s key performers. Greg Gaines III, a 6-foot-2, 197-pound wide receiver from Tampa, Florida, was also a key performer for Florida International. DeAndre Boykins, a 5-foot-11, 197-pound defensive back from Concord, North Carolina, and Kenton Simmons, a 6-foot-5, 260-pound defensive lineman from Jackson, Mississippi, were among the Golden Panthers’ listed standouts. Ryan Gadson, a 5-foot-11, 187-pound defensive back from Fort Myers, Florida, and Da’Vontae Floyd, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound cornerback from Norfolk, Virginia, also were listed.

Additional key performers for Florida International included Percy Courtney Jr., a 5-foot-10, 190-pound linebacker from Miami, Florida; Elisha Baldridge; Shamir Sterlin, a 6-foot-2, 196-pound defensive back from Port Saint Lucie, Florida; DeeJay Holmes Jr., a 6-foot-3, 230-pound defensive end from Pahokee, Florida; Anthony Cunningham; Demetrius Hill, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound defensive back from Miami, Florida; Tyson Carter, a 5-foot-11, 165-pound wide receiver from Orlando, Florida; Kyle McNeal; Eric Nelson Jr., a 6-foot-4, 170-pound wide receiver from Miramar, Florida; Maguire Anderson, a 6-foot, 180-pound wide receiver from Lutz, Florida; Sterling Joseph, a 5-foot-9, 195-pound running back from Miami, Florida; Devonte Lyons, a 5-foot-10, 192-pound running back from Saint Augustine, Florida; Elijah Simmons; Felix Visser; Robert Czeremcha, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound kicker from Miami, Florida; Kani Smith, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound defensive lineman from Pahokee, Florida; RJ Moss Jr., a 6-foot-4, 266-pound defensive lineman from Biloxi, Mississippi; Nathan Jennings, a 6-foot-3, 274-pound defensive lineman from Madison, Alabama; Lawrence Johnson, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound cornerback from Miami, Florida; Josiah Taylor, a 6-foot, 218-pound linebacker from Sebring, Florida; Anthony Smith, a 6-foot-2, 350-pound defensive lineman from Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Jojo Stone, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound wide receiver from Fairburn, Georgia; Deandre Arnold; Jaeden McMillan; Pickle Stewart; Brayshawn Littlejohn, a 6-foot, 213-pound linebacker from Gaffney, South Carolina; Ormond Wallace, a 6-foot, 210-pound defensive back from Pinson, Alabama; Nick Watson, a 6-foot-4, 240-pound defensive lineman from Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Wesley Miller, a 5-foot-11, 188-pound defensive back from Columbia, Mississippi; and Jai-Ayviauynn Celestine, a 5-foot-9, 180-pound cornerback from Miami, Florida.

For Buffalo, other listed key performers included Jaylen Andrews; John Keough, a 6-foot, 195-pound safety from Macedonia, Ohio; Zach Bergmann; Stevie Bracey, a 6-foot, 231-pound linebacker from Atlanta, Georgia; Ronnell Davis, a 6-foot-1, 185-pound safety from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; SaVeon Brown, a 6-foot-1, 208-pound defensive back from Phoenix, Illinois; Logan Goodwin; Clint Walker; Patrick Clacks III, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound wide receiver from Hobart, Indiana; Keontez Bradley, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound defensive back from Mansfield, Ohio; Michael Gelatko; Trevor Wilson; and Chance Morrow, a 6-foot-6, 200-pound wide receiver from Charlotte, North Carolina.

Buffalo entered the game after a 21-17 home win over Albany on Thursday, Sept. 3. Florida International opened the season with a 19-9 loss at South Florida on Saturday, Sept. 5. Both teams now sit at 1-1. Buffalo will next travel to Penn State on Saturday, Sept. 19. The Bulls then host Robert Morris on Sept. 26, Western Michigan on Oct. 3, Massachusetts on Oct. 17, Bowling Green on Oct. 24, and Central Michigan on Nov. 18. Buffalo also has road games at Toledo on Oct. 10, Miami (Ohio) on Nov. 3, Ball State on Nov. 11, and Akron on Nov. 27.

Florida International will next play at Florida Atlantic on Saturday, Sept. 19. The Golden Panthers then host Long Island University on Sept. 26, New Mexico State on Oct. 7, Middle Tennessee on Oct. 20, Missouri State on Nov. 7, and Sam Houston on Nov. 28. Their road schedule includes Jacksonville State on Oct. 13, Liberty on Oct. 31, Delaware on Nov. 14, and Kennesaw State on Nov. 21.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Florida International 35, Buffalo 34. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Florida International with a 67.1 percent probability to win. The actual result saw the Golden Panthers win by a wider margin, as Buffalo’s late comeback attempt fell short.