_{Courtesy of www.miamiherald.com - Walter Villa}

MIAMI, Fla. | Florida Memorial University & STU – Miami's only NAIA football programs – now know exactly how close they are to a national championship. Last year, for the first time in history, a Florida school won the NAIA national title. That school was Keiser University, based in West Palm Beach. Keiser went 12-2 last year, winning its final 11 games in a row, including a 31-21 victory over top-ranked Northwestern College (Iowa) in the final.

Prior to that, Keiser beat FMU 44-13 in its regular-season finale. Keiser beat STU twice, 21-14 in the regular season and 45-21 in the first round of the playoffs.

"It just shows how much talent there is in South Florida," said Bobby Rome, who is entering his third year as FMU's coach. "It also shows how strong our (Sun) conference is because Keiser made the national final the previous year, and St. Thomas has flexed its muscles, making the playoffs." Both the FMU Lions and the STU Bobcats are programs on the rise. Last year, Keiser won the Sun Conference with a 7-0 record, STU finished second (6-1), and FMU came in third (5-2).

After a 58-year hiatus, FMU brought its program back in 2021, going 2-9. The Lions followed that up by going 3-7 in 2022 and 6-4 last year. As for the Lions' 2024 roster, they graduated wide receiver Frank Bentley, but they bring back the six other players who made second-team All-Sun Conference last season. That list includes: running back Walter Wilbon; right tackle Jeffery Bonica; center Justyn Mack; outside linebacker Daeshawn Davis; cornerback Devin Essix; and safety Darius Conley.

At quarterback, the Lions return starter Cedquan Smith. But he is in a battle this year with Wagner transfer Nick Kargman and returner David Buggs, a redshirt freshman who has set the school's track and field record in the javelin throw. "It's a great competition," Rome said. At wide receiver, the Lions return David Studstill, and they added Fresno State transfer Vallee Washington. "We're expecting big things this year," Rome said. "We have a lot of guys returning, and we did a great job in the transfer portal. I like what I've seen out of our guys in the off-season, and I think we will surprise people."

Click here to purchase tickets to the September 7 season and home opener against Edward Waters University in the Big Cat Classic. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. at Betty T. Ferguson Stadium.