As a wise man once said, it’s nut-cutting time. The Florida Atlantic football program is teetering at the edge for its 2024 season. At 2-5, the FAU Owls are in a position where they essentially have to win every game for the rest of the season. If they cannot pull that off, it will be the second straight year where they miss out on any form of postseason play.
FAU is under a lot of pressure for the remainder of its season, but they will have to take it game by game. And no remaining game is arguably more important than the one in Week 10.
Across the field from the Owls is the University of South Florida Bulls, who are also fighting to get to a bowl game. At 3-6, they are in slightly better shape than the Owls, but must have urgency for the remainder of the season.
It is a pivotal American Athletic Conference matchup that could dictate the rest of the season for both teams. Who has the advantage here? How can the Owls come out on top? Follow along as we preview the latest battle for the Owls in Boca.
FAU Owls vs. USF Bulls Football History & Excerpts
In their short matchup history, the Bulls are on parade and have an advantage over the Owls. Over five historical matchups, USF has a 3-2 series lead over FAU. USF won the first three matchups in 2002, 2007, and 2010, all by at least 20 points.
However, the Owls have ripped off a two-game winning streak against USF. Their most recent matchup was last year, as the Owls throttled the Bulls by a score of 56-14.
Ahead of the rivalry game against USF, FAU Owls head coach Tom Herman said that it has given everyone “renewed pep in their steps.” He added that the energy can give confidence to players and the spark they give “can complete players’ games.”
Herman cited “frustration” from the North Texas game as a reason that they took a step back against UTSA. The head coach said they “reverted back to their play” from the last four minutes against UNT. He also emphasized that it is all “one-week” seasons from here on out, exclaiming that he “can’t change the past,” the team must “learn from the lessons,” and “leave the results” behind.
The head coach said that the bye week helped a lot. Herman is hoping to get Milan Tucker and Omari Hayes back for USF. Wendol Philord and Daedae Hill will be limited this week. Meanwhile, quarterback Cam Fancher is still dealing with his foot injury but will likely play. Jayden Williams has significant damage and won’t play this week. His long-term status is unclear.
Herman mentioned that he is focused on the power of the word “and.” He wants the Owls to be able to do multiple things at the same time. That includes playing aggressively and focused, while still having fun. The head coach added that “they need to win all of these games.” He mentioned that you could say they have added pressure and acknowledged the future of the season to his staff and players, but he wants to focus on the present.
Regarding the USF offense, the Owls are preparing for what they see on film, regardless of who the QB is. Herman said it is a very similar offense regardless of who is playing. He also said the game plan is to run the ball effectively and have a balanced offense.
Herman said wants the Owls to “win the game depending on what the defense dictates,” whether that’s through the air or on the ground. Additionally, Herman mentioned that USF blitzes a lot, mainly with “lots of simulated pressures.” He said that the Owls have to overcome the confusion of it and find the weak spots.
Key Players: FAU Owls
Omari Hayes OR Jabari Smith Jr., Wide Receiver
If there is one way to beat the USF defense, it is through the air. The Bulls are allowing the fourth-most passing yards in the country at over 291 per game. They also allow an average of two touchdowns per game through the air alone.
Depending on his health, Omari Hayes will be critical for the FAU Owls to win the football game. His separation ability is borderline unmatched compared to any other receiver on the team. He should be able to create separation and do damage against the Bulls.
If Hayes cannot go, a player like Jabari Smith Jr. must step up. He has shown flashes in previous weeks, but for the Owls to beat their rival, Smith Jr. would have to elevate to a whole new level.
Chris Jones, Defensive End
USF, being the balanced offense that they are, loves to run the football. They have a very skilled running back in Kelley Joiner Jr., who has racked up 364 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 5.9 yards per carry. On the FAU side, Chris Jones will be critical in helping to shut down this player. How he fares in this regard will likely dictate how the Owls play on Friday.
Jackson Ambush, Linebacker
Outside of the context of the USF matchup, the Owls need their star linebacker to continue to do it all on defense. Jackson Ambush can stop the run in an excellent fashion while also providing decent coverage in the passing game. How the linebacker fares against the Bulls will go a long way toward determining how the Owls’ defense looks.
Key Players: USF Bulls
Kelley Joiner Jr., Running Back
Take the entire section about Joiner for FAU and apply it here. The Owls struggle against the run, whether because they are blocked up or simply miss tackles. Joiner has a shot at having a breakout performance against the Owls on Friday, especially due to his 14 missed tackles forced.
Decarius Hawthorne, Edge Rusher
How do you shut down a mobile quarterback? Consistently apply pressure. To stop Fancher’s mobility, Decarius Hawthorne will need to be constantly in his lap on Friday night. The Bulls’ edge rusher has already provided 15 pressures and has a win rate of over 11 percent on the season. Against a struggling FAU offensive line, Hawthorne could be a game-wrecker and flip the script for the Bulls.
Blueprint for Victory: FAU Owls
To win their first AAC matchup of the season, the Owls have to focus on factors that influence their play, and not specifically the play of their opponents.
Put immediate pressure on the USF secondary
A big misconception is that the run always has to open up the passing game. That is not the case, and it should not be the case for the Owls against USF.
Coach Herman and Cam Fancher should look to attack through the air early in the game. They need to challenge a weak Bulls’ secondary and dare them to make a play. If successful, this would then open up the run game for the Owls. FAU will have to deal with an uptempo USF offense all game. As a result, the best way to mitigate that is to put immediate points on the board by attacking the USF secondary.
Be secure when tackling
This one is simple. FAU has left too much meat on the bone when it comes to making tackles on defense. To win against the Bulls, the Owls need to tackle and be secure with them. Otherwise, it will be another very long night for FAU.
Protect the quarterback
Nothing for FAU works if the protection is poor. Fancher needs time to operate in the pocket, and the RPO plays need time to develop for the Owls. Without decent protection, the offense will be dead in its tracks immediately. Protecting Fancher will give you the best possible chance to win the game. If not, it will be very hard for FAU to have any semblance of a consistent offense.
