Matchup: FAU (1-3, 0-1) vs Rice (3-2, 1-1)
When: Saturday, October 4th, 7:00 PM ET
Where: Rice Stadium
TV: ESPN+
Radio: FoxSports 640
Opening Line: FAU +4.5
All-time Meetings: Rice leads the series 3-2 with the most recent matchup ending in a 24-21 win for the Houston based Owls in 2023.
During the week, Rice Stadium turned 75 years old. With a lot of history in the Space City, it will be a Battle of the Owls adding another page to the city’s sports story.
Both head coaches will enter the contest in their first year as a HC for their respective teams. It will be Zach Kittley’s air raid approach going up against the spread-option of Scott Abell.
FAU
Offense
In the loss to Memphis, Florida Atlantic’s passing looked like they had made huge strides thanks to the bye week. With two 100-yard receivers and no interceptions thrown, Caden Veltkamp looked like an improved quarterback.
However, the Owls did not have a touchdown over the air and the running game averaged only 2.6 yards per carry.
It looks like the yardage on the ground could be another problem as well. Starting RB Gemari Sands suffered an injury in the loss against Memphis and is now day-to-day. While he is now a gametime decision, FAU must rely on Xavier Terrell and Kaden Shields-Dutton if Sands is unavailable.
Veltkamp’s arm has been a huge story this season, but the redshirt junior looks to be making an impact in the running game. After the Memphis loss, Veltkamp shared he has to make plays with his legs for FAU to find wins. For the passer, his completion percentage is 64%. The former Hilltopper is still sitting at seven touchdown passes as well.
For the Owls from Boca, it will be important that they take advantage of Rice’s inexperience in facing the air-raid. Rice is coming off back-to-back American conference matchups against opponents that run the RPO or option offense (Charlotte & Navy). Kittley has been able to create route trees and schemes that get receivers open, but it will be up to Veltkamp to make those reads.
Ones To Watch
Ones to Watch
RB Xavier Terrell
Entering this season, it looked that Terrell would have a major role in the Owls offense. But with a soaring Sands, the redshirt sophomore has had a more limited opportunity. This weekend, that should change. The expectation will be Terrell stepping up and taking more reps. That will be important in Florida Atlantic earning the win as FAU has still not produced a run game worth mentioning.
If Terrell can complement the Owls passing game, expect his workload throughout the season to pick up, but it will be difficult to fill the shoes of Sands if he is unavailable.
The Tight Ends
We saw last week what a FAU offense looked like when the tight ends are mixed into plays. Michael Kirch made two big plays in the game with both receptions looking as if Memphis forgot about him.
Forcing a defense to worry about all skill positions is a benefit for the Kittley led offense, and it will be interesting to see how the Boca based Owls scheme this week knowing that they have possibly found something with the tight end room.
Defense
This will be a tough test to say the least. Facing an option offense already throws a wrench into things but for a Florida Atlantic defense that gave up 31-points in the 4th quarter last week, it’s now time for a bounce back.
The FAU offense looks to have found their step, but the defense is a different story. Allowing over 36 PPG, and 4.8 yards per carry it seems DC Brett Dewhurst has struggled to scheme for it.
Well now is the time to find something. Rice is averaging 4.4 YPC & 221 yards per game on the ground.
However, one can not focus on only the running game. Rice has been known to lull the defense into loading the box and then catching everyone off guard with a play action or RPO pass. It will be a challenge but the Florida Atlantic defense should be able to stand up against it. Why? The Rice Owls are averaging only 84 yards per game over the air. If the defense gives up a big play thanks to a play action call, it would need to equate to simply moving on and preparing for the next down.
Ones To Watch
DL Naejaun Barber
Earning a TFL in back-to-back games, Barber has fit into his preseason expectations. He alongside the defensive line will make up the first wall of defense against the Rice run game. The redshirt senior will be one of the first people in the backfield on Saturday and will make it helpful for the linebackers on knowing who to stop on the option plays.
The Linebackers
The FAU LBs will be the ones making the reads for the majority of the game. Will the QB keep or hand it off? Will this ball be pitched to the outside? Those are the questions Leon Hart and Tyler Stolsky will have to answer on the fly. It sounds simple, but sometimes aggressiveness can lead to crashing on the ball too early.
We will see how that aggressiveness pays off and how accurate the Florida Atlantic defense is on those reads. Simply put: Make the right reads, you should win the game.
Rice
It has been a decent first year for HC Scott Abell. With wins over Louisiana, Prairie View, and Charlotte, it has been the Rice defense stepping up.
In the Rice Owls’ three wins this season, opponents are averaging only 15 PPG. That sets the expectation that the Houston based Owls’ defense should be prepared for this contest and a shootout may not be the case.
Offense
Throughout the week and as you have read above, this Rice offense will be based around the option. Focusing on the ground game, Rice has done a good job at it. But Rice has also set an easier task out for defenses, finding a way to stop the option.
That is easier said than done, and there’s a reason the offense still works in the world of college football today.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING 🗒️ #Rice HC Scott Abell highlighted #FAU QB Caden Veltkamp, his Owls run game, and @FAUFootball's defense before this weekend's contest in his weekly presser. 🦉🏈 pic.twitter.com/9aeBnn71cc
— FAU Owls Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) September 30, 2025
It all starts with QB Chase Jenkins. A wide receiver last season, Jenkins has moved back into the signal caller role with the adoption of the spread option offense. Averaging close to 14 rush attempts per game, Jenkins has done a good job in the role as he is averaging close to 3.6 YPC. Jenkins also leads his squad in touchdowns with three.
Alongside Jenkins, is the RB duo of Quinton Jackson and Daelen Alexander. Jackson leads the Rice Owls in rushing yards and attempts with an average of 4.84 YPC. His role was expected to be major from the preseason as he was named to the Paul Hornung award watchlist which is given to the most versatile player in CFB.
Alexander on the other hand is played when needed. Last week, the 5’10 back had only three attempts for six yards. On the season, the redshirt sophomore is averaging five yards a carry and has been a viable second option in the backfield.
Finally offensively, the leading receiver for Rice is Drayden Dickmann. He is the only receiver with over 100 yards receiving and has two of Rice’s four receiving touchdowns. The Georgetown, TX native is also averaging over nine yards per catch.
Overall for the Rice offense, they will have their big plays. A misread play by the FAU defense is bound to happen, but keeping the Owls out of Houston in 3rd and long situations will be key. Rice has not done well when forced to pass the ball.
Defense
Not a lot has been made about the Rice defense as focus has been put on their option offense. But the group can not be overlooked. Holding opponents to a completion percentage of 51% it is the best in the conference.
However, the run defense has been lackluster. It will be a major opportunity for Rice to keep the FAU running game out of the equation, but the Owls from Boca will definitely look to work on the ground.
Rice has 29 TFLs on the season with Michael Daley leading the squad with 4.5 off the edge. Four of Daley’s TFLs are sacks with DL Tony Anyanwu following behind with three. Eight more Rice Owls have at least one TFL and three more have at least three. In overall tackles, Andrew Awe leads with 38.
In the secondary, CB Khary Crump leads the way with six PBUs and S Marcus Williams follows with three. The group has allowed 12.4 yards per catch and will be looking to stop FAU from moving the ball down the field in chunks. It will be an interesting matchup that should stay intriguing for all 60 minutes.
Final Thoughts
This one could truly go either way. If Rice is able to run without issue the game will be theirs, but if Florida Atlantic can stop the run game and move the ball down the field it should be FAU’s. Realistically, this game should be close throughout with neither side truly pulling away.
A low scoring affair looks to be in place, but if Florida Atlantic can find that spark on the ground, things could start looking up for FAU and another tally in the win column can be added on the plane back from Houston.