The 2016 IU football season will open earlier than expected.
IU announced Thursday the team’s season opener against Florida International is being moved up to Sept. 1.
The game, taking place in Miami, Florida, was originally set for Sept. 3.
IU defeated FIU 36-22 this past season in Memorial Stadium in the first year of the four-year series.
This past season, the Panthers finished 5-7 for a fifth-placed finish the East division of the Conference-USA.
FIU was just 3-5 during conference play.
The Hoosiers will travel to Miami, where the Panthers won four of their five games inside the friendly confines at Ocean Bank Field.
The programs will meet in Bloomington again in 2017 and in Miami in 2018.
The last time IU opened the season on a Thursday was the 2013 opener against Indiana State.
The Hoosiers defeated the Sycamores 73-35.
Brody Miller
