Game time: 3:00pm EST
Location: Flagler Credit Union Stadium
TV: ESPN+
Line (as of 11/19 morning): UConn -7
Keys to the Game:
- Ground the passing game. FAU leads the nation in passing, but it hasn’t been the most efficient. Their leading receiver averages 10 yards per catch, so if the Huskies can keep the ball in front of them, and tackle well outside, which they’ve been doing well the past few games, they put themselves in position to win this one.
- Let Cam run. Cam Edwards had a huge game against Air Force, which was huge, as the pass game struggled a bit. FAU struggles against the run, so let Cam do his thing, put some clock-chewing drives together ending with touchdowns. Also get Skyler in on it, with those screens that are an extension of the run game.
- Get after Veltkamp. Playing option teams don’t give many opportunities for sacks and TFLs by design, so surely Bryun Parham is champing at the bit for some. FAU is allowing 1.6 sacks per game, so if the Huskies can grab a few, it can get Veltkamp out his rhythm.
- Tackle. Should be this every game, of course, but the Huskies have been tackling much better since the Rice game. Missed tackles have dropped in each of the three games since then, no surprise, all wins. Veltkamp and Messer will no doubt get their short passes, but Huskies have to tackle well to avoid the big play.
- Finish strong. Every game is an opportunity to go 1-0 and all that, but this group has the chance to do something no Husky team has done since 2007, and just twice since 2003; get nine regular season wins. They also have the opportunity to play spoiler, as FAU needs this game to have the chance to play for bowl eligibility next week. After a few big wins, this group should finish strong and head into the bowl game with confidence.
FAU the University by the Numbers:
- Location: Boca Raton, FL
- Distance from UConn: 1,377 mi
- Stadium: Flagler Credit Union Stadium
- Field Type: Grass
- Capacity: 29,571 (105th nationally)
- Enrollment: 24,569 (52nd nationally)
- 2024 Record: 3-9 (1-7 American)
- Last Bowl: 2020 Montgomery Bowl (25-10 L Memphis)
- All-Time Bowl Record: 4-1
- 2024 Attendance: 19,500 (98th nationally)
- All-Time Series: 2-0 UConn
- Last Meeting: 2024 at UConn
- Returning Starters: 7 (5 offense, 2 defense)
- Returning Lettermen: 74
2025 Schedule:
8/30 - at Maryland L 39-7
9/6 - Florida A&M W 56-14
9/13 - at FIU L 38-28
9/27 - Memphis L 55-26
10/4 - at Rice W 27-21
10/11 - UAB W 53-33
10/18 - at #19 USF L 48-13
10/25 - at Navy L 42-32
11/8 - Tulsa W 40-21
11/15 - at Tulane L 35-24
11/22 - UConn
11/29 - East Carolina
FAU-UConn by the Numbers Comparison (Team Stats):
| Statistic | FAU | UConn |
| Offensive Yards per Game | 431.1 (31st) | 446.9 (23rd) |
| Passing Yards per Game | 328.9 (1st) | 287.5 (14th) |
| Rushing Yards per Game | 102.2 (126th) | 159.5 (67th) |
| Points Per Game | 30.6 (49th) | 35.9 (20th) |
| 3rd Down Efficiency | 37.3% (92nd) | 43.2% (42nd) |
| 4th Down Efficiency | 67.3% (20th) | 66.7% (T-21st) |
| Interceptions-Yards-TD | 3-28-0 | 10-43-0 |
| Fumbles: Number-Lost | 17-6 | 3-1 |
| Red Zone Success: TD-FG | 76.7%: 22-11 (113th) | 89.6%: 31-12 (33rd) |
| Defensive Yards Allowed per Game | 411.4 (107th) | 388.3 (83rd) |
| Passing Yards Allowed per Game | 211.8 (56th) | 203.5 (50th) |
| Rushing Yards Allowed per Game | 199.6 (T-126th) | 184.8 (116th) |
| Points Allowed per Game | 34.6 (T-126th) | 24.1 (69th) |
| 3rd Down Efficiency | 42.6% (102nd) | 33.3% (22nd) |
| 4th Down Efficiency | 53.6% (64th) | 55.2% (71st) |
| Red Zone Success Allowed: TD-FG | 87.8%: 29-7 (103rd) | 89.2%: 23-10 (T-115th) |
Top Performers:
QB: Caden Veltkamp: 284-428, 2,975 yds, 22 TDs, 14 INT
RB: Gemari Sands: 85 carries, 387 yards - 4.6 ypc
WR: Easton Messer: 79 catches, 824 yards - 10.4 ypc
Defense: Leon Hart Jr: 75 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FR
Last Three Games:
L at Navy 42-32
The Owls had another tough one, a week after heading to #18 USF, losing in Annapolis to the undefeated Midshipmen. Navy would eventually go up 35-13, before backup QB Zach Gibson, who Husky fans may recognize as the starting QB for Georgia State last year, came in and tossed two TDs. Starting QB Caden Veltkamp threw for 299 yards, but also had an interception. He’s turned the ball over 11 times this year for the Owls. They struggled to run against Navy, rushing for just 69 yards on 26 carries. Jayshon Platt led in receiving with five catches for 121 yards.
As usual, Navy dominated time of possession, holding possession for 33 minutes. They outgained FAU 503-450, with 397 yards on the ground, averaging nearly seven yards a carry. QB Blake Horvath played out his mind again, rushing fir 174 yards on 21 carries, needing to throw just twelve times, completing eight, for 83 yards.
W Tulsa 40-21
FAU jumped out to a 31-6 halftime lead en route to a victory over the Golden Hurricane in a game that looked closer than it was. QB Caden Veltkamp threw for 265 yards on 20-28 passing with three TDs and no INTs, while RB Kaden Shields-Dutton rushed for 107 yards on 11 carries. Jayshon Platt caught five passes for 114 to lead the Owls, and leading receiver Easton Messer caught six for 83 and three TDs.
For Tulsa, fresman QB Baylor Haynes is still learning through trial by fire, throwing for 235 yards on 24-46 passing with no TDs and two INTs. RB Ajay Allen rushed for a season-high 118 yards on 23 carries, and led the team in receiving with seven catches for 67 yards. Allen did fumble with less than a minute remaining in the half, retuend for a TD, followed by a Haynes INT, which led to another Veltkamp TD just before the half, two TDs in less than a minute to put things away.
L at Tulane 35-24
Veltkamp was sligning it in this one, throwing a season-high 58 times for 375 yards, and two TDs, but also three INTs. Messer caught nine passes for 133 yards to lead the Owls, and Asaad Waseem caught 11 passes for 60 yards. As the pass game was heavily featured, the run game was not, with Shields-Dutton rushing for 54 yards on ten carries.
Jake Retzlaff threw for 241 yards on 18-27 passing with two TDs and an INT for Tulane, while freshman RB Jamauri McClure rushed for 94 yards on ten carries. FAU outgained the Wave 472-403, but it was Tulane was in control from start to finish. FAU made it a little easier for them, muffing a punt which gave possession back to Tulane, an illegal formation penalty called back a TD, forcing the Owls to settle for a short FG, and Veltkamp was intercepted in the end zone with just :24 seconds left in the first half.
