Tag: Florida Atlantic

Oct 18, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; South Florida Bulls quarterback Byrum Brown (17) runs for a touchdown during the first quarter against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images

Byrum Brown, No. 19 South Florida surge past Florida Atlantic

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Byrum Brown had another all-around performance and quick-tempo No. 19 South Florida subdued the visiting, high-flying Florida Atlantic Owls 48-13 in an American Conference matchup on Saturday night in Tampa, Fla.

Brown, who came into the day with 14 total touchdowns in his last three games, continued his dominant play completing 14 of his 24 passes for 256 yards and three TDs. He added 111 yards rushing and another TD on the ground.

Jeremiah Koger also showed out as he electrified the crowd with a 60-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter to cap off a four-catch, 90-yard showing.

South Florida (6-1, 3-0 American), known for its high-tempo offense, had just one of its scoring drives go longer than 3:15. The Bulls outgained FAU (3-4, 2-2) 522-312.

After South Florida was held without a touchdown on four straight drives, Brown found Wyatt Sullivan on fourth-and-1 for a 24-yard catch-and-run that pushed the lead to 31-13 with 4:10 left in the third quarter.

The Bulls followed that up with Brown’s 60-yard connection to Kroger to make it 38-13 with 13:39 left, putting the game firmly out of reach.

South Florida added a touchdown — a 2-yard rush by Nykahi Davenport — and a 28-yard field goal later in the fourth.

FAU’s Caden Veltkamp was 35-of-50 passing with 244 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Asaad Waseem hauled in eight catches for 56 yards.

Brown opened the game with a designed run up the middle, going untouched 22 yards for the quick 7-0 lead a little more than three minutes into the game. The Owls responded with a 45-yard field goal by Garrison Smith with 5:53 left in the first.

After a missed field goal, the Bulls scored on a 19-yard hook up between Brown and Jonathan Echols to push the lead to 14-3.

After recovering a surprise onside kick after the score, the tricks didn’t stop for the Bulls. They went with 325-pound backup right guard Cole Skinner from 1 yard out to make it 21-3 with 9:40 left in the half.

A field goal right before the break, and a 3-yard pass from Veltkamp to Michael Kirch on the Owls opening drive of the second half made it 21-13.

Nico Gramatica made a 41-yard field goal with 8:20 left in the third before the Bulls’ second half eruption.

–Field Level Media

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

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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

Aug 30, 2025; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins quarterback Malik Washington (7) throws past Florida Atlantic Owls linebacker Zyere Horton (28) during the first half at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

Maryland rolls over Florida Atlantic 39-7 with six interceptions

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True freshman Malik Washington threw for 258 yards and three touchdowns, and the defense racked up six interceptions and Maryland steamrolled Florida Atlantic 39-7 on Saturday in College Park, Md.

Washington got the start after a three-man quarterback competition in fall camp and settled in after an uneven first quarter. The Terrapins (1-0) scored 26 points in the second quarter, including all three of Washington’s TD passes. He completed 27 of 43 attempts without a turnover.

Caden Veltkamp went 30-of-49 passing for 228 yards and a touchdown for Florida Atlantic (0-1), but he was intercepted four times — once in every quarter.

Maryland linebacker Daniel Wingate had a pick-6 to go with a team-high 10 tackles. Dontay Joyner, Lavain Scruggs and La’khi Roland also picked off Veltkamp.

FAU backup QB Zach Gibson didn’t fare much better in the fourth quarter, as Braydon Lee and Ricardo Cooper Jr. came away with picks. It was the most interceptions in a game by the Terrapins’ defense since 1998.

The Maryland defense committed five penalties on FAU’s opening drive. Veltkamp led the Owls to the 4-yard line but was stuffed on a fourth-and-goal rush attempt.

The first interception resulted in the first points of the game. Veltkamp was hit as he threw and the ball floated right to Wingate, who enjoyed 20 yards of daylight to the end zone.

Veltkamp made up for it by connecting with Asaad Waseem on a 27-yard touchdown toss with about five minutes left in the first for a 7-7 tie.

After Sean O’Haire put Maryland ahead 10-7 early in the second with a 49-yard field goal, Sidney Stewart broke through the FAU line and brought Veltkamp down in his own end zone to make it 12-7.

The Terrapins’ offense snapped into gear, scoring touchdowns on the next three drives for a 33-7 halftime lead. Washington found a wide-open Shaleak Knotts, then Kaleb Webb on the following drive, both from 29 yards out. A two-minute drill ended with tight end Dorian Fleming diving in for a 9-yard touchdown.

O’Haire added 24- and 42-yard field goals during the third quarter.

Both Khristian Martin and Justyn Martin took snaps at quarterback for Maryland in the final 15-plus minutes of the game. Justyn Martin was injured and carried off the field after being tackled on a QB keeper.

Easton Messer caught 15 passes for 87 yards for FAU.

–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

Texas Tech's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Zach Kittley surveys the field before the Red Raiders' 2023 spring game.

FAU names Zach Kittley, 33, as head coach

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Florida Atlantic made Zach Kittley the youngest head coach in the FBS by hiring the Texas Tech offensive coordinator to the post.

Kittle, who spent three seasons at Texas Tech, was at the controls of a Red Raiders’ offense that ranked 10th in total yards per game (459.9) this season. He also has served as offensive coordinator at Texas Tech, Western Kentucky and Houston Christian.

“Following an extensive search with a tremendous amount of interest from candidates across the country, Zach emerged as the ideal choice to be our next head coach,” FAU athletic director Brian White said in a statement. “He is a man of high integrity and character, with an incredible reputation in the profession for player development. Zach is one of the most innovative offensive minds in the game, and I am confident in his ability to build a championship program with an exciting brand of football that can be a source of pride for our fans, our alumni, and the FAU community.”

Kittley effectively is replacing Tom Herman, who was fired on Nov. 18 following the team’s 0-6 start to American Athletic Conference play. The Owls finished with a 3-9 record overall (1-7 AAC).

“I am thrilled at this opportunity to be the head coach at Florida Atlantic,” Kittley said in a statement. “I am extremely grateful. I want to thank Vice President and Director of Athletics Brian White and President Stacy Volnick for believing in me to take over this nationally regarded program. I know we can win here, and we have tremendous leadership from the top down to create a championship program.”

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

–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

Nov 18, 2023; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; UConn Huskies head coach Jim Mora watches from the sideline as they take on the Sacred Heart Pioneers at Rentschler Field at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

UConn builds 27-point lead, rolls over Florida Atlantic

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Nick Evers rushed for two touchdowns and threw for another to fuel UConn to a convincing 48-14 victory over Florida Atlantic on Saturday in East Hartford, Conn.

Evers completed 9 of 14 passes for 88 yards and added a career-high 78 yards on the ground as the Huskies (2-2) breezed to a win in the opener of their stretch of six straight home games.

Durell Robinson had 16 carries for 157 yards and two touchdowns and Mel Brown rushed for 156 yards for UConn, which benefited from a dominant ground attack. The Huskies carried the ball 66 times for 421 yards to enjoy a decisive edge in time of possession.

Florida Atlantic’s C.J. Campbell Jr. rushed for a pair of touchdowns. Cam Fancher completed 9 of 15 passes for 87 yards and rushed for 71 yards for the Owls (1-3), who shot themselves in the foot with 12 penalties for 93 yards.

The Huskies led 3-0 before igniting a pair of 12-play scoring drives to take a 17-0 advantage into halftime.

Evers connected with an unmarked Brown in the flat for a 5-yard touchdown pass with 11:32 remaining in the second quarter. That capped an 80-play drive that spanned 6:46 of playing time.

Robinson rushed to his right before making one cut and rumbling eight yards for a touchdown to complete a 91-yard drive with 1:50 left in the second quarter.

UConn essentially put the game away in the third quarter.

Evers capped a 14-play, 75-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown before a deflected pass resulted in Jayden McDonald reeling in an interception. That drive bogged down before Chris Freeman kicked his second field goal to extend the Huskies’ lead to 27-0.

Campbell’s short-yard score was answered by Evers putting his shoulder down on a 2-yard touchdown to begin the fourth quarter.

–Field Level Media

Aug 30, 2024; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; Florida Atlantic Owls quarterback Cam Fancher (1) gets dragged down for a safety by Michigan State Spartans defensive lineman D'Quan Douse (94) in the first quarter at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Young-USA TODAY Sports

Michigan State tops FAU in Jonathan Smith’s debut as coach

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Kay’Ron Lynch-Adams scored on a 63-yard run and Michigan State gave new head coach Jonathan Smith a victory in his debut as the Spartans topped Florida Atlantic, 16-10, in East Lansing, Mich., on Friday night.

Lynch-Adams finished with 101 yards on nine carries. Aidan Chiles, who followed Smith from Oregon State, was held to 114 passing yards and threw two interceptions. Chiles had a rushing touchdown, and the Spartans defense notched two turnovers and seven sacks.

Owls quarterback Cam Fancher passed for 116 yards and a touchdown but threw two interceptions. He led FAU in rushing with 67 yards on 25 carries.

The Spartans led 16-3 at halftime.

They scored their first points of the season on a safety in the first quarter. Fancher was sacked in the end zone by D’Quan Douse.

Nikai Martinez’s 41-yard interception set up the Spartans’ first touchdown in the second quarter. Chiles scored three plays later on an 11-yard run.

After a three-and-out series from the Owls, Michigan State made it 16-0 on Lynch-Adams’ 63-yard scamper. The Massachusetts transfer took advantage of a big hole up the middle and outraced the defense.

Florida Atlantic got on the board when Morgan Suarez made a 43-yard field goal.

The Spartans were on the verge of scoring with three minutes left in the third quarter. They drove to the Owls’ 5-yard line but Chiles’ pass was picked off by Phillip Dunnam. He returned the interception 58 yards to the Michigan State 40

The Owls cashed in seven plays later on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Fancher to Jayshon Platt with seven seconds remaining in the quarter.

Michigan State drove inside the Florida Atlantic 10 on its next possession. This time, the Spartans turned the ball over on downs as Lynch-Adams was thrown for a 2-yard loss on fourth-and-1.

Florida Atlantic also turned it over on downs after driving to the Spartans’ 37. Anthony Jones sacked Fancher on fourth down.

After the Spartans were forced to punt, Fancher came up short on a fourth-and-1.

Fancher was sacked twice on the Owls’ final possession.

–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

Nov 11, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Tulsa Golden Hurricane safety Jaise Oliver (25) tries to tackler Tulane Green Wave running back Makhi Hughes (21) in first quarter action at Yulman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Dobbins-USA TODAY Sports

Facing Florida Atlantic, No. 24 Tulane eyes 9th straight win

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Tulane’s season, which includes a current winning streak of eight games, is not for the weak of heart.

In each of its three most recent games, Tulane has won by three points or less.

“We’ll stop scaring our fans one day,” Tulane cornerback Jarius Monroe said after last Saturday’s 24-22 home win over Tulsa. “But these exciting games, that’s what Tulane football is all about.”

Perhaps the No. 24 Green Wave (9-1, 6-0) can play a “scare-free” game Saturday against host Florida Atlantic (4-6, 3-3) in Boca Raton in an American Athletic Conference game.

Tulane, favored by 9 1/2 points, is led by running back Makhi Hughes, who last week became the first freshman in Tulane’s 129-year football history to rush for more than 1,000 yards.

“It feels great,” said Hughes, who has 1,008 yards, six touchdowns and a 5.4 average per rush. “I give all credit to my offensive line. We always talk about getting 100 yards every game, and that’s what we’ve done.”

Indeed, Hughes, who was a three-star recruit out of Birmingham, Ala., per 247Sports, has rushed for more than 100 yards in six straight games.

The 5-foot-11, 205-pounder was rated behind 84 other running backs during his senior year of high school. He then sat out the 2022 season as a redshirt.

Meanwhile, Tulane and quarterback Michael Pratt may have a problem at wide receiver. Lawrence Keys III left the Tulsa game due to a lower-body injury. He leads Tulane receivers in catches (33), yards (599), TDs (seven) and average yards per reception (18.2).

In addition, Jha’Quan Jackson, who is second on the team among receivers in average yards per reception (17.5) and TDs (four), missed the Tulsa game due to an injury.

Pratt, meanwhile, is completing 68 percent of his passes and has 16 TD throws and just four interceptions.

On the other side, the Owls have dropped two straight games. With another defeat on Saturday, they would clinch their third straight losing season.

Tom Herman, who is in his first year at Florida Atlantic, entered this season with a career record of 54-22 while directing Houston (2015-16) and then Texas (2017-20).

“This is unchartered territory for me and most of my staff,” said Herman, who has never had a losing season. “You (reporters) are going to ask me a lot of questions that I don’t have great answers for right now.

“We have to prepare our tails off to beat a Top 25 team and keep ourselves in the running for a bowl game.”

The Owls are led by quarterback Daniel Richardson, who played parts of four seasons at Central Michigan. He is a veteran of 41 games, including 32 over the past three years at Central Michigan.

His best game this season came Oct. 14, when he completed 31 of 38 passes for a career-high 382 yards and three touchdowns in a 56-14 win at South Florida.

However, he has thrown a career-high nine interceptions. In fact, he has been intercepted in every game this season except the opener, when he tossed just two passes in a backup role.

Last week, in a 22-7 loss to East Carolina, Richardson threw for 151 yards and one interception.

Fortunately for the Owls, their defense came up with 15 tackles for losses to keep them in the game. They also held East Carolina to five field goals, and the Pirates’ lone touchdown came on a short field.

“I’m really proud of our defense,” Herman said. “They played well enough to win.”

–Field Level Media