FBS-CFB Game Preview: Florida A&M Rattlers (0-1) vs. Florida Atlantic Owls (0-1)

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Venue & Kickoff

Location: Flagler Credit Union Stadium (formerly FAU Stadium), Boca Raton, Florida

Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025

Time: 6:00 PM ET

Broadcast: ESPN+

Capacity: 30,000

Weather Forecast

Conditions: Mostly clear, warm, humid

Temperature: ~85°F at kickoff

Wind: ESE at 6–8 mph

Precipitation: <10%

Impact: Minimal — warm, sticky conditions could test depth and conditioning

Injury Report

Florida Atlantic

WR Brock Spalding – Questionable (undisclosed)

DL J.D. Lampley – Questionable (undisclosed)

DL Preston Carr – Questionable (undisclosed)

Florida A&M

No significant injuries reported after Week 1 loss to Howard

Team Records & Recent Form

FAU: Opened with promise vs. Maryland (tied 7–7 late 1Q) but collapsed after six total interceptions (four by starter Caden Veltkamp). Aggressive 4th‑down approach (9 attempts, 3 conversions) backfired, giving Terps short fields.

FAMU: Lost on a last‑second 43‑yard FG in the Orange Blossom Classic. Defense allowed just 195 total yards but offense managed only 272 yards and failed to score a TD in the second half.

Key Player Matchups

QB Caden Veltkamp (FAU) vs. FAMU Secondary

Veltkamp: 30/49, 228 yds, 1 TD, 4 INT vs. Maryland

FAMU’s pass defense ranked 28th in FCS last year; CB TJ Huggins (6’3”) is a matchup problem for taller WRs.

WR Easton Messer (FAU) vs. CB Kendall Bohler (FAMU)

Messer: 15 rec, 87 yds in opener — high‑volume target

Bohler: Veteran DB with ball skills; key in limiting FAU’s short passing game

RB Gemari Sands (FAU) vs. LB Nay’Ron Jenkins (FAMU)

Sands: 9 carries, 44 yds; 3 rec, 19 yds

Jenkins: Preseason All‑SWAC; sideline‑to‑sideline tackler

QB RJ Johnson III (FAMU) vs. FAU Pass Rush

Johnson: 17/32, 183 yds, 0 TD, 0 INT vs. Howard

FAU’s front allowed 258 pass yds to Maryland but generated limited pressure

WR Jalen Rogers (FAMU) vs. CB Damarius McGhee (FAU)

Rogers: 4 rec, 51 yds in opener

McGhee: Athletic cover man; will be tested deep

Series History

All-Time: Florida Atlantic leads 1–0

Last Meeting: FAU 38–8 (Oct. 30, 2004, Tallahassee)

Note: First meeting in 21 years; both programs now under different leadership

Betting Trends

FAU: 2–8 ATS in last 10 overall; 1–4 ATS in last 5 home games

FAMU: 7–3 ATS in last 10 overall; 4–1 ATS in last 5 road games vs. FBS

Totals: UNDER in 4 of last 5 FAU games; UNDER in 3 of last 4 FAMU games

FAU ranks last in FBS in turnover margin (-6) after Week 1

Game Odds

Florida A&M Rattlers                     45.5

Florida Atlantic Owls                      – 20.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 5, 2025