FAU Routs UTSA 60-29, Topples the American Conference Leader
Florida Atlantic left no doubt Thursday night in Boca Raton, handing American Conference leader UTSA a 60-29 beating. Quarterback Caden Veltkamp threw four touchdown passes, wide receiver Easton Messer had a hand in four scores (three catches and a throw), and the Owls piled up more than 560 yards of offense. FAU (6-3) is now bowl eligible and has reopened the conference title race. James Madison also won big Thursday, after two nights of MAC action that featured a pair of overtime games.
A 21-point first quarter
FAU struck early. Veltkamp found Messer from 6 yards out to open the scoring, then the receiver threw a 14-yard touchdown pass of his own to tight end AJ Johnson. Another Messer catch, this one from 15 yards, made it 21-7 at the end of the first quarter.
UTSA did not fold right away. Owen McCown hit Mekhi Anderson twice (20 and 45 yards) and A'Marion Peterson broke loose for 52. But every Roadrunners answer was followed by another Florida Atlantic touchdown, including an 18-yard catch by Leonard Farrow with 50 seconds left in the half. Michael Petro's 54-yard field goal on the final play of the half, which tied the school record according to UTSA, only cut the gap to 35-22.
The turning point right after halftime
The game flipped on the first possession of the second half. According to FAU, Deshaun Batiste forced and recovered a fumble at the UTSA 4. AJ Johnson, used out of the wildcat, finished it with a 4-yard run, and a two-point conversion made it 43-22. McCown answered with his third touchdown pass, but Leonard Farrow ended any hope with a 59-yard run with 1:19 left in the third quarter (50-29).
The running back finished with 126 yards on 12 carries. Ethan Ervin added 92 yards on 15 attempts, and FAU topped 330 rushing yards. Veltkamp (17 of 25, 210 yards, no interceptions) made the most of that balance, and Messer (7 catches, 85 yards) capped his night with a third touchdown catch in the fourth quarter. According to the school, Messer now holds FAU's single-season record for touchdown receptions (12), and Veltkamp owns the nation's longest active streak with five straight games of at least three touchdown passes. The Owls' defense recorded six sacks, a season high.
What it means in the American
For UTSA (7-2, 4-1), the loss ends a five-game winning streak and is its first since a Sept. 19 defeat to then-No. 1 Texas. It is also the Roadrunners' first conference loss: according to the Associated Press, they now sit a half-game behind North Texas and share second place with Memphis. Their home game against North Texas on Nov. 14 now looks like an elimination game. McCown held his own (20 of 35, 265 yards, three touchdowns), and Mekhi Anderson (6 catches, 117 yards, two touchdowns) posted the first 100-yard receiving game of his career.
FAU (6-3, 3-2), coached by Zach Kittley, is bowl eligible for the first time since 2020, according to the school. The Owls remain unbeaten at home (5-0) and visit Tulsa on Nov. 14. With two conference losses, their path to the American championship game on Dec. 5 also depends on other results. But after a night like this, nobody will treat them as a pushover.
Other results
James Madison 54, Southern Miss 23 (Thursday) — Making his first start since getting hurt in the season opener against Liberty, JC Evans carried the Dukes in Hattiesburg: 19 of 26 for 251 yards and a touchdown, plus three rushing touchdowns. Trailing 14-13 with 37 seconds left in the first half, JMU then scored 31 straight points. The Dukes (8-2, 5-2 Sun Belt) snapped a two-game skid, with both losses coming in overtime against App State and Troy.
Ohio 28, Akron 20 (Tuesday) — Trailing 17-14 with 9:35 left, the Bobcats regained the lead 13 seconds later on Nick Poulos' 60-yard touchdown pass to Dom Dorwart. Duncan Brune's 91-yard run then sealed it. Ohio (7-2) remains unbeaten in MAC play (5-0).
Buffalo 34, Miami (OH) 31, OT (Tuesday) — Down 31-16 with 12 minutes to play, the Bulls tied it with 1:35 left on a 2-yard run by quarterback Jason Wright (358 passing yards, four total touchdowns). Oliver Hautanen made a 27-yard field goal in overtime, and Kellan McLaughlin missed from 45 for Miami. Buffalo is 6-3 (4-1 MAC).
UMass 31, Ball State 30, OT (Wednesday) — In Amherst, the Minutemen won by a point in overtime after a 24-24 tie in regulation. William Watson III threw for 302 yards. UMass (5-4) is one win from bowl eligibility.
Toledo 20, Sacramento State 17 (Wednesday) — Down 10-7 at halftime, the Rockets leaned on the ground game: CJ Miller (135 yards) and Autavius Ison (101 yards, one touchdown) both topped 100 yards. The Hornets' final drive ended on downs with 55 seconds left. Toledo is 7-2 (4-1 MAC).
Central Michigan 35, Eastern Michigan 7 (Wednesday) — At Detroit's Ford Field, Nick Woodford ran for three touchdowns (123 yards) and the Chippewas led 21-0 at halftime. CMU (4-5, 2-3 MAC) keeps its bowl hopes alive.
The week continues Friday night with five games, including Virginia Tech at SMU, Nebraska at Illinois, New Mexico at Nevada and TCU at No. 22 Arizona.
