FAU vs Navy 2026 Recap: Owls Notch 38-30 Win Against Midshipmen

The Florida Atlantic Owls have a signature win under their belt in 2026. FAU defeated Navy by a score of 38-30, despite a furious comeback attempt late in the game from the Midshipmen. It was an amazing performance from the Owls’ offense, led by quarterback Caden Veltkamp and wideouts Easton Messer and Kelby Valsin. The Owls got plenty out of their defense as well, led by defensive end Josh Roberts.

Now 1-1 on the year, FAU will gear up for a massive Shula Bowl matchup, as the Owls will look to avenge their loss from last season to FIU.

FAU vs Navy 2026 Recap

Caden Veltkamp Steals the Show

In FAU’s dominant performance, no player was better than quarterback Caden Veltkamp.

Asked to carry the offense against Navy, Veltkamp responded by throwing for 386 yards and five touchdowns. He hit throws outside the numbers, deep down the field, and everything in between. Veltkamp delivered big throws inside the pocket, created plays outside the pocket, and even scrambled when he needed to.

I was extremely impressed by the poise and consistency Veltkamp showed all throughout this game. He truly displayed a mastery of Zach Kittley’s offensive scheme from the start of the game until the end of it. More importantly, he showed more refinement with his accuracy and ball placement. Veltkamp took major strides from last week’s game against Florida. Even when including his successes against the Gators, the quarterback looked so much more comfortable against Navy.

It is no secret that Veltkamp is vital for FAU’s 2026 success. He showed plenty of great stuff against Florida, and the quarterback took it to a new level against Navy this week. The sky is the limit for Veltkamp this season, and I am very excited to see what he can do in this explosive FAU offense.

FAU Wideouts Shine

In the Owls’ offensive explosion, the best weapons for the team were the wideouts.

Easton Messer led the way for FAU, and in dominant fashion. On eight receptions, Messer had 179 yards (a new career-high) and two touchdowns. He was explosive after the catch, won deep down the field, and showed big-time overall receiving ability.

Right beside Messer was Kelby Valsin, the Texas Tech transfer. On eight receptions, the wideout notched 115 yards on eight recpetions and a touchdown. Valsin was impressive in contested catch situations, ran great routes, and was physical every time he was on the field. The wideout also showed nice speed and body control, which was evident on his touchdown catch in the second quarter.

Dom Henry contributed in a very big way as well, totaling six receptions for 63 yards and a touchdown. He was impressive along the sidelines and in the middle of the field. AJ Johnson notched the first touchdown of his FAU career, catching the pass that gave Caden Veltkamp his fifth touchdown of the game.

A lot was made of the Owls’ wideouts this offseason. Plenty of hype surrounded the returning Easton Messer and Dom Henry, while Kelby Valsin was seen as a potential breakout star.

Through two games, much of that hype seems warranted. Another big test awaits Florida Atlantic next week in the form of the FIU Panthers. The Owls also have a very tough conference slate that includes the likes of USF, Tulsa, and North Texas.

If the unit keeps looking like this, though, the Owls will have the offensive firepower to not only compete against any team on their schedule, but beat them.

The FAU Defense Steps Up… Until It Doesn’t

As with many games involving the FAU defense, the team’s game against Navy was a very odd one.

For about three quarters, the overall defensive unit was extremely impressive. Against the run, the Owls swarmed to the football on a consistent basis. Joseph Sipp Jr. and Leon Hart Jr. played much better than they did last week, while Blake Burris was a force on the interior of the defensive line. Nate Fischer also had a key forced fumble and made multiple great plays.

When Navy dropped back to pass over those three quarters, the Owls’ defense was locked in. Jayden Sweeney was everywhere, and Bo Simpson-Nealy had a massive interception. Derrick Rogers Jr. had a massive pass breakup late in the game.

The best player for the Owls on defense was defensive end Josh Roberts. Whether against the run or pass, Roberts was a force. He notched seven total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. Roberts played with burst, power, and great overall skill. It was the type of performance that showed the sky-high potential the defensive end has in this defense.

Late in the 3rd quarter, and all throughout the 4th quarter, the Owls ran into some struggles. FAU allowed chunk plays, such as the 49-yard touchdown from Jackson Gutierrez that led to the game becoming a one-score game. They committed bad penalties and had a major coverage bust that led to a long touchdown pass. It was a stretch that came dangerously close to putting the Owls in a bad position, depsite all of their earlier successes.

Saturday was a major bounce back for the Owls on the defensive side of the ball from an overall sense. The late-game issues are a major factor to keep an eye on, but FAU’s performance against Navy showed that there is plenty of potential for the overall defensive unit in 2026.

Other Notes

• Saturday was another impressive game from Ethan Ervin. He averaged just under 4.0 yards per carry, totaled 67 yards, and clinched the game with a conversion on fourth down. Ervin did not get a full plate of touches until the second half, but he was very impressive once he got rolling.
• FAU’s offensive line, specifically in pass protection, was stellar. Center Branden Cunningham and left tackle Ja’Kavion Nonar were two of the best players on the unit for the Owls.
• Once he settled into the game, Jackson Gutierrez was impressive at quarterback for Navy. If Braxton Woodson is out for an extended period, I am very intrigued to see how he fares.
• Linebacker MarcAnthony Parker and defensive end Aiden Lyczek were impressive for Navy’s defense. They are two players who can help Navy be sufficient on defense, but they will need more help from their teammates on defense.

What’s Next?

Navy heads into a bye week, while FAU is set to battle FIU in the Shula Bowl.