Tag: FAU

Oct 3, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; South Florida Bulls quarterback Byrum Brown (17) runs with the ball against the Charlotte 49ers during the first quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

No. 19 USF puts high-octane offense on line vs. potent Florida Atlantic

Posted on | by Field Level Media

No. 19 South Florida is riding high after a dominant win over previously undefeated North Texas a week ago.

As the Bulls prepare for their homecoming game against Florida Atlantic, the Owls and their high-flying offense will look to spoil the party when the American Conference foes meet Saturday night in Tampa, Fla.

South Florida (5-1, 2-0) was tested last week when it visited the Mean Green. After being down 21-14 with six minutes left in the first half, the Bulls rattled off four touchdowns in a row to blow the game open before winning 63-36.

The Bulls moved up five spots in the AP poll after their commanding second-half performance, good for their highest ranking since the 2017 season. The win over North Texas also helped improve their case to be awarded as the Group of Five representative in the College Football Playoff.

Despite all of the early-season success and the new-found expectations for the team, Bulls coach Alex Golesh is reiterating to his players to just keep trudging ahead against Florida Atlantic (3-3, 2-1).

“I’m so big on being process-driven in what you do because then you don’t gauge opponents, you don’t gauge situations, you just put your head down and you work,” Golesh said Tuesday. “We don’t have to do anything extraordinary, we just have got to do the little things better than everybody else, and if we continue to strive to do that, we’ll continue to get better.”

The Bulls are led under center by Byrum Brown, who leads the team in both passing and rushing yards. Brown has put up 1,439 yards and 13 touchdowns through the air and 364 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

Brown, in his fourth year with the Bulls, was benched during his team’s last meeting with Florida Atlantic in 2023. He completed 15 of 26 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown and added 46 yards rushing.

“One of their big strengths, especially offensively, is continuity. Coach Golesh has been there for three years now, his quarterback’s been with him for three years now. I don’t think people really understand what kind of impact that makes on a football program,” Florida Atlantic coach Zach Kittley said. “That’s just their strength overall, just some continuity and leadership at the quarterback position.”

While Brown is having a productive resurgence with South Florida, it’s a newcomer for Florida Atlantic who is giving it hope heading into this weekend’s game.

Caden Veltkamp, a transfer from Western Kentucky, quietly is having a productive season for the Owls. He leads the American Conference in completions (165), passing yards (1,781), passing touchdowns (14) and has led Florida Atlantic to the fourth-best passing offense in the country at an average of 322.8 yards per game.

The Owls also are coming off of a high-scoring affair, dropping 53 points and nearly 500 total yards on UAB in a 20-point win last week. Florida Atlantic will have to put it all together against a top-tier opponent this weekend, something the Owls have yet to do.

“We have a tough schedule … if you play in the American Conference, you have a tough schedule regardless,” Kittley said. “It’s tough every week.”

This will be just the seventh time these two teams have faced off, with South Florida leading the series 4-2. Florida Atlantic has won two of the last three meetings.

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins head coach Mike Locksley walks down the sidelines during the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Maryland trusts ‘foundation’ facing FAU’s Air-Raid

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Maryland took a step backward following three straight winning seasons and bowl victories under coach Mike Locksley.

The Terrapins are starting from scratch in many ways when they kick off the season Saturday against Florida Atlantic in College Park, Md.

Maryland ended 2024 with five straight losses and finished with a 4-8 record, but given how different this year’s roster looks, it’s the furthest thing from Locksley’s mind.

“I’ll give you a good coaching axiom: Success is equal to production being greater than or equal to our expectation, and it’s our expectation, not yours,” Locksley said Tuesday. “… We’ve created a foundation that I think will allow us to bounce back better, because of the foundation, to get back on track to compete for Big Ten championships.”

Among the many departures were quarterbacks Billy Edwards Jr. and MJ Morris, who transferred out, with Edwards going to Wisconsin and Morris to Coastal Carolina.

There is no word on the status of Maryland’s three-way quarterback competition, other than the fact that all three are healthy and available to play Saturday.

The candidates are green. Justyn Martin is a transfer from UCLA with one career start, Khristian Martin redshirted last year and true freshman Malik Washington was a four-star high school recruit.

Nolan Ray, Maryland’s second-leading rusher last year (374 yards), and tight end Dorian Fleming received some attention on preseason award watch lists. Maryland also swapped out both coordinators, hiring veterans Pep Hamilton on offense and Ted Monachino on defense.

The Terrapins are preparing for a new-look Florida Atlantic offense that will be dictated by first-year coach Zach Kittley, the youngest head coach in the FBS at 34.

Kittley worked with Patrick Mahomes as a Texas Tech grad assistant once upon a time, and more recently he molded Bailey Zappe into a record-breaking passer at Houston Baptist and Western Kentucky.

“He’s an Air Raid guy, so we expect them to be a Texas Tech-like Air Raid system on offense, and that’s his background, his wheelhouse,” Locksley said.

Caden Veltkamp was the quarterback FAU brought in to orchestrate the aerial attack. At Western Kentucky, Veltkamp won C-USA Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for 3,108 yards, 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while adding seven rushing TDs.

“He’s living up there (at the facility),” Kittley said. “He loves every second of it. He’s in my office asking me questions … And the difference between him and a lot of these guys is he’s played a lot of football and he’s been in some big games. He played in a conference championship game last year.”

FAU fired Tom Herman last year near the end of a 3-9 season. The Owls last finished above .500 in 2020.

–Field Level Media

Sep 15, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; National Football League member Ray Lewis stands on the field before the game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Las Vegas Raiders at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Report: Ray Lewis is potential FAU head coach candidate

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Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis is a potential candidate to fill the head-coaching vacancy at Florida Atlantic, according to an ESPN report.

No formal communication or interview has taken place as of Wednesday morning, according to CBS Sports.

Second-year coach Tom Herman was fired Monday after going 6-16 in his short tenure at the Boca Raton school.

Lewis, 49, won two Super Bowls during a storied 17-year career with the Baltimore Ravens, who picked him in the first round of the 1996 NFL Draft. He’s a 13-time Pro Bowler and seven-time First-team All-Pro who was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.

Among other NFL records, Lewis has the most tackles and most solo tackles in league history and is the only NFL player to have at least 40 career sacks and 30 career interceptions.

However, Lewis has no coaching experience at the pro or collegiate level.

According to ESPN, a hire of Ray Lewis could be modeled after the success of Deion Sanders, another Pro Football Hall of Fame defender who was hired at the collegiate level with no coaching experience. In two seasons at the helm of the Colorado Buffaloes, Sanders has led the team from a 1-11 record before his arrival to fighting for spot in the Big 12 title game with an 8-2 record (6-1 Big 12). He previously coached at Jackson State.

Since his retirement from the NFL, Lewis has worked in multiple media positions, including several years for ESPN.

Lewis grew up in Lakeland, Fla., and played two seasons of college football at Miami.

–Field Level Media

Nov 1, 2024; Boca Raton, Florida, USA; Florida Atlantic Owls head coach Tom Herman walks on the field before the game against the South Florida Bulls at FAU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images

Reports: FAU fires coach Tom Herman in 2nd season

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Florida Atlantic has fired head coach Tom Herman in just his second season, multiple outlets reported Monday.

Associate head coach Chad Lunsford will be named interim head coach for the Owls’ final two games.

Herman finishes with a 6-16 record in Boca Raton, Fla.

The news comes two days after the Owls lost to Temple in overtime, 18-15. The loss dropped FAU to 2-8 and 0-6 in the AAC. Temple fired head coach Stan Drayton on Sunday.

Herman, 49, is owed a buyout of more than $4 million, according to the USA Today database.

FAU hired Herman in 2023. He went 32-18 in four seasons at Texas but was fired after a 7-3 stint in the 2020 COVID season. Herman led the Longhorns to a bowl win in each of his four seasons.

Herman went 22-4 as head coach in Houston from 2015-16. He is 5-1 in bowl games overall, though not at FAU.

–Field Level Media

Michigan State's head coach Jonathan Smith watches over the action during the first day of football camp on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in East Lansing.

Aidan Chiles, new-look Michigan State to test mettle vs. FAU

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Oregon State wasn’t one of the former Pac-12 teams that joined the Big Ten this season. The Beavers, however, will have two prominent former members making their Big Ten debuts on Friday night.

New head coach Jonathan Smith was hired as Michigan State’s head coach after leading Oregon State to winning records over the past three seasons. Sophomore quarterback Aidan Chiles followed him to East Lansing, Mich. and he’ll start in the Spartans’ home opener against Florida Atlantic on Friday night.

Chiles has so impressed his new teammates that he’s already been named one of the team’s captains.

“I think he’s definitely ready for this,” Smith said. “He’s a competitive player. And a true competitor understands it’s not going to go perfect every snap, and things are going to take place. There’s gonna be some really good plays, too. But there’s nothing like experience. And the guy’s been out on the field playing big-time football before.”

Chiles appeared in nine games as a freshman in a backup role. He completed 24-of-35 passes for 309 yards and four touchdowns. None of his attempts were picked off.

The Spartans are coming off a woeful 4-8 season and Chiles will be just one of many new faces suiting up this fall. A whopping 38 players departed via the transfer portal. Smith and his staff brought in 61 newcomers either as transfers or freshmen.

Florida Atlantic is coming off a 4-8 season, including losses in its last four contests. The Owls also will have a new starting quarterback in Cam Fancher, a Marshall transfer. He threw for 2,162 yards last season with 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

The Owls also faced a Big Ten team last season, dropping a 23-17 decision at Illinois.

“It’s going to be a really difficult place to play,” head coach Tom Herman said of this year’s opener. “I know Coach Smith does a phenomenal job and will have those guys ready. It poses unique challenges, too, in Week 1 to (face) a brand new staff. Very little of our film study has been on Michigan State.”

–Field Level Media

Florida Atlantic quarterback Casey Thompson (11) passes during the second quarter against Monmouth at FAU Stadium on Saturday, September 2, 2023, in Boca Raton, FL.

FAU QB Casey Thompson, former Longhorn, commits to Oklahoma

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Casey Thompson, who spent three seasons playing quarterback at Texas, is heading to the other side of the Red River rivalry and joining Oklahoma.

The Florida Atlantic transfer announced his commitment to the Sooners on Thursday. He is a native of Oklahoma City.

“Dear Oklahoma, I’m coming home,” he posted on social media with images of him in Oklahoma gear.

It’s likely Thompson will enter 2024 as the backup to Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold, who is taking over for Dillon Gabriel.

Thompson’s 2023 season was cut short when he tore an ACL in the Owls’ third game of the season Sept. 16 against Clemson. He finished the interrupted campaign with 509 passing yards, five touchdown and five interceptions.

Thompson threw for 2,422 yards, 30 touchdowns and nine picks in 19 games at Texas from 2019-21. He transferred to Nebraska in 2022 and played in 10 games, throwing for 2,407 yards, 17 TDs and 10 picks.

–Field Level Media

Nov 18, 2023; Boca Raton, Florida, USA; Florida Atlantic Owls wide receiver Tony Johnson (0) is tackled while running the ball against the Tulane Green Wave the first half at FAU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

No.24 Tulane stays perfect in AAC, tops Florida Atlantic

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No. 24 Tulane held serve in its battle for the American Athletic Conference crown, defeating host Florida Atlantic 24-8 in Boca Raton, Fla., on Saturday.

Michael Pratt threw for 252 yards and three touchdowns for the Green Wave (10-1, 7-0 AAC), who kept pace with UTSA (7-0) atop the conference. The leaders will meet at New Orleans on Friday.

Chris Brazzell II caught seven passes for 103 yards and one touchdown, Chris Carter had the other two scoring receptions and Makhi Hughes picked up 72 yards on 21 carries.

Pratt completed 21 of 28 passes and set the school record for yards passing at 9,248, surpassing Patrick Ramsey’s 9,205.

The Green Wave’s defense, which entered the game fourth in the nation in run defense at 82 yards per game, held the Owls to 32 yards rushing among 234 total yards. Tulane amassed 336 total yards.

Daniel Richardson completed 24 of 31 passes for 202 yards with one touchdown and one interception for Florida Atlantic (4-7, 3-4), which lost any hope of bowl-game eligibility. LaJohntay Wester, who entered leading the AAC in catches (93) and receiving yards (1,042), added 11 and 86, respectively.

Leading 14-0 at the break, Tulane held Florida Atlantic to a three-and-out to start the third quarter and then took up nearly six minutes in going 55 yards, capped by a Pratt’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Carter.

After another Owls three-and-out, the Green Wave chewed up another 6:14, pushing their lead to 24-0 on Valentino Ambrosio’s 20-yard field goal.

Florida Atlantic broke the shutout with its own six-plus-minute drive. Kahlil Brantley caught Richardson’s 4-yard touchdown toss, and Devin Price caught the two-point conversion to make it 24-8 with 8:58 remaining.

Tulane scored touchdowns on back-to-possessions in the first half. Pratt hit Carter for a 9-yard touchdown to cap a five-play, 77-yard drive with 5:10 left in the first quarter.

After the Green Wave’s Tyler Grubb sacked Richardson for a 2-yard loss on fourth-and-2 to regain possession, they went 58 yards on nine plays, this time cashing in on Pratt’s 9-yard toss to Brazzell.

Florida Atlantic’s best chance to stay in the game came on its next drive, which covered 73 yards on 19 plays. The Owls picked up six first downs, including one on a fourth-and-1 conversion from the Tulane 16. But they stalled on fourth-and-goal from the 2.

Tulane led in total yards at halftime 183-137.

–Field Level Media

Sep 23, 2023; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini tight end Tip Reiman (89) makes a catch during the first half against the FL Atlantic Owls at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Illinois hold off Florida Atlantic, 23-17

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Luke Altmyer passed for 303 yards and a touchdown to lead Illinois to a 23-17 win against visiting Florida Atlantic on Saturday afternoon.

Altmyer completed 25 of 36 passes, including eight for 120 yards to Isaiah Williams. Griffin Moore hauled in a 46-yard touchdown pass for Illinois (2-2), which finished with 510 total yards.

Reggie Love III had 85 of the 207 rushing yards for the Illini.

Daniel Richardson made his first start at quarterback for FAU after Casey Thompson tore his ACL in last Saturday’s loss to Clemson and the junior transfer from Central Michigan completed 28 of 49 passes for 256 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.

LaJohntay Wester caught 13 passes for 137 yards and one touchdown for the Owls (1-3).

Illinois started slow offensively and trailed 10-0 after the first quarter.

The Illini were stopped on downs on their opening drive and Altmyer lost a fumble on the second when he was sacked by Xavier Peters and Jayden Williams recovered at the Illinois 28-yard line.

Richardson quickly hit Wester for a 21-yard gain to the 7, but the Owls had to settle for a 22-yard field goal by Logan Lupo for a 3-0 lead with 3:14 left in the opening quarter.

FAU started its next drive at the Illinois 38 following a 20-yard punt return by Wester that included an unnecessary roughing penalty on Illinois.

Three plays later, Richardson hit Wester for a 19-yard touchdown strike on the final play of the first quarter, stretching the lead to 10-0

The Ilini began chipping away when Altmyer hit Moore for a 46-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 10-7 with 12:46 left in the first half.

Illinois took its first lead of the game 14-10 on a 7-yard touchdown run by Altmyer with 1:45 left before halftime.

The Illini scored on their first drive of the second half when Aidan Laughery ran into the end zone from 3 yards to make it 20-10.

Caleb Griffin tacked on a 44-yard field goal with 3:57 left in the third quarter to stretch the lead to 23-10.

The Owls had the ball in the red zone twice in the third quarter, but was stopped on downs the first time and Richardson was intercepted in the end zone on the second trip.

They scored with 4:19 left in the game on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Richardson to BJ Alexander to cut the lead to 23-17.

–Field Level Media

Sep 16, 2023; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Adisa Isaac (20) tackles Illinois Fighting Illini quarterback Luke Altmyer (9) as he passes the ball during the second half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Illinois QB to ‘swallow the frog,’ face FAU

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Illinois quarterback Luke Altmyer was benched after throwing four interceptions during Saturday’s home loss to No. 7 Penn State, but offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. is “certainly confident” Altmyer can regroup.

“You process it,” Lunney Jr. said. “You go in and swallow the frog. You have to eat it, watch it, learn from it.”

Altmyer and the Fighting Illini (1-2) look to end a two-game skid when they host Florida Atlantic this week.

The Owls bring plenty of speed and perimeter athletic ability to Champaign. The personnel presents a challenge to an Illinois defense that has lost defensive backs Matt Bailey (shoulder) and Demetrius Hill (torn ACL) to season-ending injuries.

“Offensively, the big question will be how Luke comes back and responds. I called him on Saturday,” Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema said. “Let him know where I was at, how he was feeling. Sunday was a tough day for everybody, I like the demeanor we were in Sunday.”

Illinois had five turnovers against Penn State, but a disciplined defense that committed zero penalties helped the team stick around for a portion of the game.

Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry lauded the efforts of defensive lineman Johnny Newton, who had six tackles, including one for a loss, while staying disruptive at the line of scrimmage.

“As he continues to play that way,” Henry said, “we have a chance to win every football game.”

Florida Atlantic (1-2) also tries to rebound as it visits a Power Five opponent for the second week in a row. The Owls fell behind 34-0 at halftime of their Sept. 17 game at Clemson on the way to a 48-14 defeat and lost quarterback Casey Thompson to a season-ending knee injury.

“I know the scoreboard is awful and the way we looked for a lot of the first half was awful, and our guys responded for the most part,” Owls coach Tom Herman said.

“We are going to really do a good job of accentuating and promoting the guys that upheld our standard and our culture regardless of the scoreboard and also make sure we point out the guys that did not.”

Wide receiver LaJohntay Wester would figure to belong in the former category after contributing 12 receptions for 108 yards. A junior, Wester recorded his first career game of at least 10 catches while becoming the program’s all-time receptions leader with 163.

Owls linebacker Jackson Ambush had a game-high eight tackles.

Saturday marks the first meeting between Illinois and Florida Atlantic.

–Field Level Media

Sep 16, 2023; Clemson, South Carolina; Florida Atlantic quarterback Casey Thompson (11) is hurt in the game with Clemson during the second quarter against Florida Atlantic at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY NETWORK

Report: FAU QB Casey Thompson tore ACL

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Florida Atlantic starting quarterback Casey Thompson tore his ACL during Saturday’s game and is done for the season, ESPN reported Monday.

Thompson took a hard hit in the second quarter of the Owls’ 48-14 loss at Clemson on Saturday, leaving the game after spending several minutes on the turf. He did not return. He had thrown two interceptions to that point.

He was replaced by Daniel Richardson, who threw for 120 yards and a pick the rest of the way.

Thompson, a sixth-year player, was in his first season at FAU after stops at Texas (2019-21) and Nebraska (2022).

He’s thrown for 5,338 career yards and 52 touchdowns against 24 interceptions.

–Field Level Media