FAU vs. Rice 2025 Preview: Who Wins the Battle of the Owls?

A struggling Florida Atlantic Owls team (1-3) travels to Houston on Saturday for a matchup against the Rice Owls (3-2). FAU has struggled so far this year and will look for some momentum and positivity; not only during this game, but going forward. Both FAU and Rice suffered losses last week and will be looking to get back into the win column. Rice is favored, yet can FAU pull off an upset? Or does Rice control the game from start to finish? Let’s dive in to this FAU vs. Rice 2025 American Conference game preview.

FAU Owls vs. Rice Owls: Matchup History

Saturday will mark just the sixth time these two programs have faced off. Rice currently leads the all-time series 3-2. The most recent matchup happened back in 2023, where FAU fell 24-21. They had a chance to take the lead late in the ball game, but unfortunately turned the ball over on downs.

Four of the five previous matchups in this series have been decided by four points or fewer. The one anomaly was a 42-25 win by Florida Atlantic back in 2016. If history repeats itself, expect another highly contested matchup on Saturday.

FAU vs. Rice 2025 Preview: Keys, Players and Predictions

Key Players for Rice

Rice is averaging 20.4 points per game this year, and their signal caller is sophomore quarterback Chase Jenkins. This year, Jenkins has 383 yards through the air with three touchdowns and an interception. However, he is arguably most valuable on the ground as he has 248 rush yards for three touchdowns so far this season. Jenkins a weapon for Rice through the air and on the ground, and helps contribute to one of the best rushing offenses in the country. Through five games, Rice is averaging 221 yards per game on the ground, which is good for 20th in the country.

In the backfield, Rice has a double-headed monster. Quinton Jackson is the lead back and has 353 yards and two touchdowns so far this year. The other running back is Daelen Alexander, who has contributed 228 yards and two touchdowns. Jenkins, Jackson, and Alexander have the opportunity to run wild on Saturday and will need to be contained by the FAU defense.

Defensively, Rice is above-average and has a good tandem of linebackers and secondary. Rice has given up 171.6 yards through the air and 162.6 yards on the ground per game. In theory, Rice is better in the backend, but has also faced teams like Navy and Houston who controlled the ball and ran it all game.

Linebacker Andrew Awe and DE/DL Michael Daley are two Rice players to keep an eye on defensively. Awe leads the Owls with 22 tackles and is good in the run and against the pass. Meanwhile, Daley has 4.5 sacks so far this season and will be looking to get after Caden Veltkamp all game long. The ability to contain Daley will be crucial for FAU, as they have to keep Veltkamp upright to be successful on Saturday.

Key Players for FAU

FAU is averaging 325.5 pass yards per game, which is eighth-best in the country. Junior quarterback Caden Veltkamp needs to have a good game on Saturday and must take care of the ball. There have been a lot of ups and downs in Veltkamp’s play so far this year, to the tune of eight touchdowns and seven interceptions. Rice has an above-average secondary and will be looking to take the ball away all game long. Capitalizing in the red zone and in plus territories for Veltkamp and this Owl’s offense is critical. The quarterback threw the ball 50 times last week against Memphis, good enough for 318 yards, but unfortunately had no touchdowns, which can’t happen on Saturday.

The trio of Easton Messer, Jayshon Platt, and Asaad Waseem on the outside for the Owl’s are a huge key in this game. Veltkamp needs to see receivers open all game long, and this trio has the potential to be open all game. Messer is the top dog and has 37 receptions for 363 yards and a touchdown. Platt has added 247 yards, and Waseem has added 184 yards, but has the most touchdowns of the trio with three.

Rice isn’t built to beat you through the air, so good tackling, safety, and linebacker play are critical on Saturday. Leon Hart Jr. leads this team with 23 tackles, and second on the team with 21 is Dillion Williams. Hart and Williams, along with players like Chris Keys Jr. and Khmari Johnson, will all need to have good games and will need to limit yards after contact against Rice.

Final Thoughts and Predictions

The over/under is set at 53.5 with Rice being favored by 4.5 points. FAU has the chance to turn this into a higher-scoring game, but the first few minutes will be critical. Florida Atlantic needs to get out to a lead early in the game so Rice doesn’t have the chance to play ball control. Rice’s goal is to get out to a fast start and then run Jenkins, Jackson, and Alexander until the clock runs out.

If FAU is able to turn this into a high-scoring air raid style game, they have a chance; however, if they get off to a slow start and are behind, it could get away from them. It’s crucial that Veltkamp takes care of the ball and that the offensive line keeps him upright. Rice has done a good job taking care of the ball so far this year, so they won’t beat itself with turnovers.

FAU got their doors blown off them last week. So, they will either come out on Saturday fired up or down in the dumps with no energy. Expect them to come out with higher energy under first-year coach Zach Kittley and to try to keep this game close late.