Matchup: FAU (1-2) vs Memphis (4-0)
When: Saturday, September 27, 7:00 PM
Where: Flagler Credit Union Stadium
TV: ESPN2
Radio: FoxSports 640
Line: FAU +13.5
All-time Meetings: Tied 1-1. Both meetings were in bowl games with Memphis taking home in the most recent meeting in the 2020 Montgomery Bowl, 25-10.
For the first time since Florida Atlantic joined the American Conference, the Owls will take on the Memphis Tigers. Two teams trending in opposite directions, will meet up in Paradise as both squads will open American play.
It will be a challenge for FAU to earn the upset victory, but leaving this contest trending upward is about all this team can ask for heading into the remainder of the season.
FAU
Offense
The Owls offense has shown this season they can move the ball. FAU has not been afraid to air it out, but at times it has been costly. The Owls have the worst turnover margin in the country
Out of the 12 touchdowns scored this season by Florida Atlantic, nine have been scored thanks to the passing game. That will be the overarching story if the Owls are going to pull off the upset.
Caden Veltkamp has a completion percentage of over 60%, but has been bitten by the INT bug. Head coach Zach Kittley shared during the bye week that the turnovers are a team stat. It will be interesting to see the communication updates between the QB and his receivers. If routes were a part of the problem, it is guaranteed those issues have been worked on and should look better than the previous three games.
A major issue for Florida Atlantic will be moving the ball on the ground. Although Gemari Sands is averaging nearly seven yards a carry this season, the Tigers are only allowing 3.2 YPC. It will not be on Sands back in this game, but more so who can be that RB2? Xavier Terrell has the second most rushing attempts out of the running back room, but has only gained 70 yards in the Owls’ first three contests.
The expectation for the running game looks to be the same as every other game this season, the only way the passing attack will work is if the running game can get going. It will be a hard task to move the ball on the ground against this Memphis defense, but if Florida Atlantic wants the upset on Saturday, it will be thanks to the ground game complimenting the passing attack.
Ones to Watch
WR Jayshon Platt
Averaging close to 50 yards per game in the passing game, Platt has shown to be a big play waiting to happen. Whether that be through the air or on special teams, the redshirt junior shows up when needed. Expect the Owls standout to make his mark in the game on Saturday, and if he can be found on a few deep opportunities, it will definitely increase Florida Atlantic’s odds in walking out of the Flag with a victory.
The Offensive line
The O-line has been mediocre at best this season, and will face a tough challenge as Memphis enters this week with 10 sacks, third most in the American, and tied for 14th most in the country. On the other side of the line, FAU is tied with Temple and Charlotte in sacks allowed per game in the conference. The Owls, on average, have given up two sacks per game.
Memphis has four players in the top 25 of the conference in sacks. That stat is telling, in that the offensive line will have to put up a great performance against the entirety of the front seven. It will be up to quick decisions by Veltkamp, but a pocket that lasts long enough to give the redshirt junior enough time to get the ball out.
Defense
The Tigers are top-15 in rushing yards this season. Averaging nearly six YPC, this is what Memphis lives off of. FAU on the other hand, sits 67th nationally in yards allowed per carry. Memphis runs the ball 60% of the time on offense and Florida Atlantic’s focus will be on stopping RB Sutton Smith and the legs of QB Brendon Lewis.
In three of four games this season for the Tigers, Lewis has broken off a run longer than 20 yards. The Owls must contain the dual threat to living in the pocket, and if he does escape, FAU’s second line of defense will have to be there to limit the damage.
Lewis’ arm is another story. He has a completion percentage of 67% with over 800 passing yards. In three of the Tigers’ four contests, Lewis has at least one completion of more than 40 yards as well.
For the Florida Atlantic defense it will be a game of attrition. We have seen how quickly the FAU offense can score, but also their issues with short drives. Memphis will rely on their run game, and keeping all-11 Owls on the field fresh could be an issue. Hopefully the bye week has given the Florida Atlantic defense enough time to rest.
Ones To Watch
S Dillion Williams
After a quieter first two weeks, the UTEP transfer was everywhere defensively during the Owls matchup against FIU. Williams had eight tackles during that game. The redshirt senior also stood out during the Maryland game with two pass breakups.
Although FAU’s focus will be turned towards the reigning Doak Walker Running Back of the Week, Sutton Smith, Memphis’ passing attack can show out when needed. Williams should be a major contributor in stopping the passing game and those long runs from the Tigers on Saturday.
LB Khmari Johnson
Johnson has been a great second option for the linebackers this season. With no announcement on injuries until Saturday most likely, we will not know the extent of playing time Johnson will see until we hear if Tyler Stolsky could be unavailable. Regardless, Johnson can step up when needed and looks to be a disruptor in the backfield.
Memphis
The Tigers enter Saturday after an upset over the SEC’s Arkansas Razorbacks in the largest comeback of the season. Now with momentum at a high, Memphis will meet a FAU squad that is looking to get back to .500.
Led by Ryan Silverfield since 2019, the Tigers have finished inside the top four of the American the past two seasons, and look to be a top team this year
Offense
As mentioned beforehand, Memphis is going to run the ball, and they will be good at it. Regardless of who has the ball in their hands in the backfield every ball carrier seems to have an innate presence of knowing how to get around the defense.
Brendon Lewis at quarterback is already going to be a challenge for the Owls. He has seven touchdowns on the season, three passing, four rushing, and has over 1000 yards credited to him on the year.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING 🗒️ We'll talk to @ZKittley later this morning but for now here is what #Memphis Coach @RSilverfield had to offer up the upcoming game vs @FAUFootball. #FAU 🦉 pic.twitter.com/e1hPkq5eyx
— FAU Owls Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) September 23, 2025
Alongside Lewis will be Sutton Smith in the backfield. Named to the Doak Walker preseason award watchlist, Smith has stood out in a major way. Bouncing back from a season ending injury last season, the redshirt junior has made his mark in the rushing and passing game.
The Tigers receivers have been great this season as well. Two players have double-digit receptions: Cortez Braham with 16, and Jamari Hawkins with 10. The two combined have made up 437 of the Tigers 807 passing yards. Keeping those two quiet will help the Owls out immensely.
Memphis’ offense will score on Saturday. Perfect in the red zone this season, it now comes down to two things for the Owls defense: 1. Bend but do not break, and 2. get off the field on third down.
Defense
Top 30 in allowed points per game, the Tigers defense is going to be a problem on Saturday. Memphis is also tied 41st in the country in sacks as well.
The linebacker duo of Sam Brumfield and Everett Roussaw Jr. are both top 13 in the American in tackles for loss. These two Tigers have a combined 8.5 TFLs and 4.5 sacks. Drue Watts plays the Sam position and is second on the team in tackles with 20.
A major matchup in the game will be Memphis’ secondary vs the FAU receivers. DB Omarion Cooper leads the Tigers with four pass breakups this season while Demarco Ward has shined with two interceptions this year.
In the trenches, the front four have looked good this season. Allowing only 95.6 rushing yards per game, they will make it difficult in the run game but also in the Owls air-raid attack. It will be important for Kittley’s offensive scheme to be able to move the ball out quickly this week.
Final Thoughts
Memphis enters Saturday as heavy favorites, and a Tigers win is to be expected. But here is what’s at stake for Florida Atlantic: Ending the nation’s longest winning streak at eight, opening conference play with a win, and upsetting a team that is THE favored G6 team to make the CFP.
But even if the Owls do not end up pulling off the upset; players, coaches, and fans alike will learn something about Florida Atlantic: how do they bounce back in the face of adversity?