Upcoming Event: Football versus UTSA on November 5, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
Football
vs. UTSA
Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Thursday, October 29
Denton, Texas
7:30 p.m.
Florida Atlantic
5-3 , 2-2
41
at
48
North Texas
6-2 , 4-0
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida Atlantic | 10 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 41 |
| North Texas | 3 | 21 | 17 | 7 | 48 |
10/30/2026 12:11:00 AM | Football
DENTON, Texas – In a battle between the top two American Conference offenses, Florida Atlantic football came up short, 48-41, against North Texas on Thursday night.
Despite the Owls' (5-3, 2-2) loss to the Mean Green (6-2, 4-0), the night was highlighted by historic performances from fifth-year WR Easton Messer and graduate QB Caden Veltkamp. Messer set the program record for receptions with 16, catching every target that went his way, while logging 189 yards and three touchdowns. Veltkamp finished with a line of 37-for-56 with 452 yards and five touchdown passes, the latter tying the program record that he has matched twice previously.
THE BEGINNING
For the second time in five days, the Owls opened their scoring with Veltkamp finding sophomore WR Branden Hoch in the end zone.
Graduate K Collin Rogers tacked on a 30-yard field goal at the end of the first quarter for a 10-3 lead.
THE TURNING POINT
After North Texas responded to tie it up, a Florida Atlantic drive concluded with a magical Veltkamp escape act, rolling to his left and connecting with Messer in the end zone for the 27-yard touchdown.
Two straight Mean Green scores put them back up by a touchdown, but the Owls mounted a 10-play 75-yard drive after receiving the ball with two minutes left. On a fourth-and-4 from 12 yards out, a double-covered Messer split his defenders and snagged the ball for his second score of the game.
By the end of the half, Messer had matched his reception mark from the previous week with 12, going for 119 yards and two touchdowns. The two teams entered the locker room at an even 24 points apiece.
THE FINISH
Fighting the element of rain in the third quarter, the Owls conceded 10 unanswered points to trail 34-24. Facing a double-digit deficit, the team unleashed bruiser junior RB Kaden Shields-Dutton, with four touches for 53 yards in one drive, culminating in taking a 22-yard shovel pass for a touchdown.
North Texas scored once again right before the third quarter came to a close. The Owls closed within one possession with seven minutes to go on a 34-yard strike to Messer, his record-breaking 16th catch and Veltkamp's record-tying fifth touchdown pass to close the gap to three.
A late Mean Green touchdown threatened to put the game away, but Rogers connected on a 43-yard field goal to return to a one-score game. The ensuing onside kick bounced the other way, with time expiring before a chance at a tying possession by the Owls.
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
POSTGAME PRESSER
Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Zach Kittley
Graduate QB Caden Veltkamp
PHOTO GALLERYGallery: (10-29-2026) FB: Florida Atlantic at North Texas
UP NEXT
Another Thursday night game awaits on ESPN, this time on Howard Schnellenberger Field at Flagler Credit Union Stadium. Florida Atlantic will host UTSA on Nov. 5 with kickoff between the Owls and the Roadrunners (7-1, 4-0) set for 7:30 p.m. The game will be the first non-bowl home game to air nationally on ESPN's main flagship channel. Presented by Publix, the evening will be Vice Night/Paradise Appreciation. To purchase tickets, click HERE.
Florida Atlantic's Coaches Show, presented by Duffy's Sports Grill, will be on Tuesday, Nov. 3 from 6-7 p.m. at the Duffy's Sports Grill on St. Andrew's Boulevard in Boca Raton. Fans can join in person or listen live on FOX Sports South Florida 640 AM. Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Zach Kittley will be joined by Ends/Rush Coach Brandon Lacy.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL
Stay informed by reading FAUSports.com or through social media accounts @FAUFootball.
#WIP
Despite the Owls' (5-3, 2-2) loss to the Mean Green (6-2, 4-0), the night was highlighted by historic performances from fifth-year WR Easton Messer and graduate QB Caden Veltkamp. Messer set the program record for receptions with 16, catching every target that went his way, while logging 189 yards and three touchdowns. Veltkamp finished with a line of 37-for-56 with 452 yards and five touchdown passes, the latter tying the program record that he has matched twice previously.
THE BEGINNING
For the second time in five days, the Owls opened their scoring with Veltkamp finding sophomore WR Branden Hoch in the end zone.
Graduate K Collin Rogers tacked on a 30-yard field goal at the end of the first quarter for a 10-3 lead.
THE TURNING POINT
After North Texas responded to tie it up, a Florida Atlantic drive concluded with a magical Veltkamp escape act, rolling to his left and connecting with Messer in the end zone for the 27-yard touchdown.
Two straight Mean Green scores put them back up by a touchdown, but the Owls mounted a 10-play 75-yard drive after receiving the ball with two minutes left. On a fourth-and-4 from 12 yards out, a double-covered Messer split his defenders and snagged the ball for his second score of the game.
By the end of the half, Messer had matched his reception mark from the previous week with 12, going for 119 yards and two touchdowns. The two teams entered the locker room at an even 24 points apiece.
THE FINISH
Fighting the element of rain in the third quarter, the Owls conceded 10 unanswered points to trail 34-24. Facing a double-digit deficit, the team unleashed bruiser junior RB Kaden Shields-Dutton, with four touches for 53 yards in one drive, culminating in taking a 22-yard shovel pass for a touchdown.
North Texas scored once again right before the third quarter came to a close. The Owls closed within one possession with seven minutes to go on a 34-yard strike to Messer, his record-breaking 16th catch and Veltkamp's record-tying fifth touchdown pass to close the gap to three.
A late Mean Green touchdown threatened to put the game away, but Rogers connected on a 43-yard field goal to return to a one-score game. The ensuing onside kick bounced the other way, with time expiring before a chance at a tying possession by the Owls.
OFFENSE
- Messer's 16 catches are the most by an FBS player in 2026, tied with only No. 1 University of Miami's Malachi Toney. In the last three games, he has caught 42 passes for 453 yards while scoring nine total touchdowns. His 189 yards were the fourth most in program history.
- Veltkamp is the first Owl QB to have multiple games of 400 yards passing. He is also the first in program history to toss multiple touchdowns in five straight games. His 452 yards are the fourth most in a Florida Atlantic game while his 56 passing attempts were one shy of his own program record. 36 completions are third most in an FAU game.
- Fifth-year WR Dominique Henry collected a collegiate career high 10 receptions for 116 yards. It is the Owls' third game of the season with multiple receivers in the century mark for yardage.
DEFENSE
- Fifth-year LB Joseph Sipp Jr. posted a game-high eight tackles.
- Recording the first takeaway of his collegiate career, freshman DB Travis Jackson forced a fumble late in the first half, recovered by junior DL Tycoolhill Luman.
- Graduate DB Tyson Rooks had a season high five tackles, one for a loss.
POSTGAME PRESSER
Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Zach Kittley
Graduate QB Caden Veltkamp
PHOTO GALLERY
UP NEXT
Another Thursday night game awaits on ESPN, this time on Howard Schnellenberger Field at Flagler Credit Union Stadium. Florida Atlantic will host UTSA on Nov. 5 with kickoff between the Owls and the Roadrunners (7-1, 4-0) set for 7:30 p.m. The game will be the first non-bowl home game to air nationally on ESPN's main flagship channel. Presented by Publix, the evening will be Vice Night/Paradise Appreciation. To purchase tickets, click HERE.
Florida Atlantic's Coaches Show, presented by Duffy's Sports Grill, will be on Tuesday, Nov. 3 from 6-7 p.m. at the Duffy's Sports Grill on St. Andrew's Boulevard in Boca Raton. Fans can join in person or listen live on FOX Sports South Florida 640 AM. Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Zach Kittley will be joined by Ends/Rush Coach Brandon Lacy.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL
Stay informed by reading FAUSports.com or through social media accounts @FAUFootball.
#WIP
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
K
/ Football
DB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
QB
/ FootballTeam Stats
FAU
UNT
Total Yards
523
644
Pass Yards
452
404
Rushing Yards
71
240
Penalty Yards
58
60
1st Downs
29
31
3rd Downs
10
8
4th Downs
2
1
TOP
24:55
35:05
1st Quarter
FAU 0, UNT 3
UNT - De Freitas,Dominic 24 yd field goal 8 plays, 67 yards, TOP 04:13
FAU 7, UNT 3
FAU - Hoch,Branden 18 yd pass from Veltkamp,Caden (Rogers,Collin kick) 12 plays, 64 yards, TOP 03:18
FAU 10, UNT 3
FAU - Rogers,Collin 30 yd field goal 11 plays, 61 yards, TOP 04:22
2nd Quarter
FAU 10, UNT 10
UNT - Tipton,Baron 8 yd pass from Jackson,Tayven (De Freitas,Dominic kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:42
FAU 17, UNT 10
FAU - Messer,Easton 27 yd pass from Veltkamp,Caden (Rogers,Collin kick) 9 plays, 78 yards, TOP 02:59
FAU 17, UNT 17
UNT - Koch,Kyle 3 yd pass from Jackson,Tayven (De Freitas,Dominic kick) 13 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:25
FAU 17, UNT 24
UNT - White,Jahiem 59 yd run (De Freitas,Dominic kick), 1 plays, 59 yards, TOP 00:11
FAU 24, UNT 24
FAU - Messer,Easton 12 yd pass from Veltkamp,Caden (Rogers,Collin kick) 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:01
3rd Quarter
FAU 24, UNT 27
UNT - De Freitas,Dominic 48 yd field goal 11 plays, 45 yards, TOP 03:21
FAU 24, UNT 34
UNT - Stevenson,Justin 4 yd pass from Jackson,Tayven (De Freitas,Dominic kick) 3 plays, 32 yards, TOP 01:09
FAU 31, UNT 34
FAU - Shields-Dutton,Kaden 22 yd pass from Veltkamp,Caden (Rogers,Collin kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:26
FAU 31, UNT 41
UNT - White,Jahiem 1 yd run (De Freitas,Dominic kick), 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:44
4th Quarter
FAU 38, UNT 41
FAU - Messer,Easton 34 yd pass from Veltkamp,Caden (Rogers,Collin kick) 5 plays, 64 yards, TOP 01:30
FAU 38, UNT 48
UNT - Koch,Kyle 2 yd pass from Jackson,Tayven (De Freitas,Dominic kick) 9 plays, 74 yards, TOP 04:24
FAU 41, UNT 48
FAU - Rogers,Collin 43 yd field goal 8 plays, 30 yards, TOP 01:58
Game Leaders
CMP
37
TD
5
YDS
452
INT
1
CMP
0
TD
0
YDS
0
INT
0
Friday, October 30
Thursday, October 29
Wednesday, October 28
Wednesday, October 28