2020 Florida Atlantic Owls football team
The 2020 Florida Atlantic Owls football team represented Florida Atlantic University in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Owls played their home games at FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida, and competed in the East Division of Conference USA (CUSA). They were led by head coach Willie Taggart, in his first year.
2020 Florida Atlantic Owls football | |
---|---|
Montgomery Bowl, L 10–25, vs. Memphis | |
Conference | Conference USA |
East Division | |
2020 record | 5–4 (4–2 C-USA) |
Head coach |
|
Co-offensive coordinator | Clint Trickett (1st as coordinator, 4th overall season) |
Co-offensive coordinator | Drew Mehringer (1st season) |
Defensive coordinator | Jim Leavitt (1st season) |
Home stadium | FAU Stadium (Capacity: 29,419) |
2020 Conference USA football standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
East Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Marshall xy | 4 | – | 1 | 7 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Florida Atlantic | 4 | – | 2 | 5 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Western Kentucky | 4 | – | 3 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Charlotte | 2 | – | 2 | 2 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Middle Tennessee | 2 | – | 4 | 3 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FIU | 0 | – | 3 | 0 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Old Dominion† | – | – | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
West Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UAB xy$ | 3 | – | 1 | 6 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UTSA | 5 | – | 2 | 7 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Louisiana Tech | 4 | – | 2 | 5 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
North Texas | 3 | – | 4 | 4 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rice | 2 | – | 3 | 2 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Southern Miss | 2 | – | 4 | 3 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UTEP | 0 | – | 4 | 3 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Championship: UAB 22, Marshall 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Previous season
The Owls finished the 2019 regular season 11–3, 7–1 in CUSA play which they finished in first place in the East Division, the programs second second division title. Florida Atlantic played against UAB in the conference championship game. The Owls played in the game for the second time in three years and defeated the Blazers.[1] The team was invited to play in the Boca Raton Bowl against SMU, where the Owls took their eleventh win of the season.[2]
Preseason
CUSA media days
The CUSA Media Days was be held virtually for the first time in conference history.[4]
|
|
Schedule
Florida Atlantic announced its 2020 football schedule on January 8, 2020.[5] The 2020 schedule originally consisted of 6 home and 6 away games in the regular season.
The Owls had games scheduled against Minnesota, Old Dominion, Stony Brook, and Middle Tennessee which were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6][7][8][9]
The Owls also had games scheduled against Georgia Southern, South Florida, and Southern Miss, which were postponed due to the pandemic.[10][11][12] The Georgia Southern game is now rescheduled for December 5[13] and the Southern Miss game is now rescheduled for December 10.[14] They also added a new game against UMass on November 20 to replace their canceled game against Old Dominion, which was previously scheduled for that same weekend.[15]
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
October 3 | 4:00 p.m. | Charlotte | ESPNU | W 21–17 | 5,657 | |
October 24 | 2:30 p.m. | at No. 22 Marshall | Stadium | L 9–20 | 12,002 | |
October 31 | Noon | UTSA |
| Stadium | W 24–3 | 5,026 |
November 7 | 6:00 p.m. | Western Kentucky |
| Stadium | W 10–6 | 5,292 |
November 13 | 7:00 p.m. | at FIU | CBSSN | W 38–19 | 0 | |
November 20 | 8:00 p.m. | UMass* |
| CBSSN | W 24–2 | 5,554 |
December 5 | 6:00 p.m. | at Georgia Southern* | ESPN+ | L 3–20 | 3,867 | |
December 10 | 6:30 p.m. | at Southern Miss | CBSSN | L 31–45 | 0 | |
December 23 | 7:00 p.m. | vs. Memphis* | ESPN | L 10–25 | 2,979 | |
|
Game summaries
Charlotte
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
FAU −5 | 62.5[18] |
Statistics | Charlotte | Florida Atlantic |
---|---|---|
First downs | 22 | 15 |
Total yards | 396 | 315 |
Rushing yards | 82 | 217 |
Passing yards | 314 | 98 |
Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
Time of possession | 37:49 | 22:11 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Charlotte | Passing | Chris Reynolds | 24/32, 314 yards, 1 TD |
Rushing | Tre Harbison III | 17 carries, 49 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | Victor Tucker | 9 receptions, 118 yards | |
Florida Atlantic | Passing | Nick Tronti | 11/22, 98 yards, 2 TDs |
Rushing | Nick Tronti | 10 carries, 94 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | T. J. Chase | 3 receptions, 31 yards, 1 TD |
at Marshall
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
MRSH −19.5 | 50.5[19] |
Statistics | Florida Atlantic | Marshall |
---|---|---|
First downs | 17 | 19 |
Total yards | 234 | 385 |
Rushing yards | 86 | 134 |
Passing yards | 148 | 251 |
Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
Time of possession | 33:12 | 26:48 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Florida Atlantic | Passing | Nick Tronti | 18/30, 148 yards, 1 INT |
Rushing | Malcolm Davidson | 8 carries, 62 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | Jordan Merrell | 5 receptions, 48 yards | |
Marshall | Passing | Grant Wells | 18/31, 251 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
Rushing | Brenden Knox | 25 carries, 101 yards | |
Receiving | Corey Gammage | 6 receptions, 79 yards |
UTSA
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
FAU −5 | 47[20] |
Statistics | UTSA | Florida Atlantic |
---|---|---|
First downs | 16 | 19 |
Total yards | 230 | 332 |
Rushing yards | 104 | 196 |
Passing yards | 126 | 136 |
Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
Time of possession | 27:54 | 32:06 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
UTSA | Passing | Frank Harris | 12/26, 109 yards |
Rushing | Frank Harris | 14 carries, 66 yards | |
Receiving | Joshua Cephus | 5 receptions, 63 yards | |
Florida Atlantic | Passing | Nick Tronti | 11/19, 136 yards, 1 TD |
Rushing | Malcolm Davidson | 14 carries, 115 yards | |
Receiving | Aaron Young | 3 receptions, 54 yards, 1 TD |
Western Kentucky
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
FAU −7 | 40.5[21] |
Statistics | Western Kentucky | Florida Atlantic |
---|---|---|
First downs | 16 | 18 |
Total yards | 257 | 273 |
Rushing yards | 94 | 165 |
Passing yards | 163 | 108 |
Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
Time of possession | 33:49 | 26:11 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Western Kentucky | Passing | Tyrrell Pigrome | 19/39, 163 yards |
Rushing | Gaej Walker | 17 carries, 78 yards | |
Receiving | Xavier Lane | 7 receptions, 60 yards | |
Florida Atlantic | Passing | Nick Tronti | 7/16, 108 yards |
Rushing | Javion Posey | 9 carries, 60 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | TJ Chase | 3 receptions, 47 yards |
at FIU
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
FAU −8.5 | 41.5[22] |
Statistics | Florida Atlantic | FIU |
---|---|---|
First downs | 21 | 14 |
Total yards | 450 | 281 |
Rushing yards | 370 | 156 |
Passing yards | 80 | 125 |
Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
Time of possession | 29:33 | 27:58 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Florida Atlantic | Passing | Javion Posey | 10/16, 80 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | Javion Posey | 18 carries, 140 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | TJ Chase | 1 reception, 28 yards | |
FIU | Passing | Max Bortenschlager | 10/18, 82 yards |
Rushing | D'vonte Price | 26 carries, 178 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | Rivaldo Fairweather | 6 receptions, 49 yards |
UMass
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
FAU −32.5 | 50.5[23] |
Statistics | UMass | Florida Atlantic |
---|---|---|
First downs | 8 | 16 |
Total yards | 147 | 368 |
Rushing yards | 62 | 140 |
Passing yards | 85 | 228 |
Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
Time of possession | 25:10 | 34:50 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
UMass | Passing | Will Koch | 12/22, 67 yards, 1 INT |
Rushing | Ellis Merriweather | 11 carries, 48 yards | |
Receiving | Josiah Johnson | 8 receptions, 42 yards | |
Florida Atlantic | Passing | Javion Posey | 13/27, 203 yards |
Rushing | Javion Posey | 19 carries, 90 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | TJ Chase | 4 receptions, 79 yards |
at Georgia Southern
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
GASO −2.5 | 42[24] |
Statistics | Florida Atlantic | Georgia Southern |
---|---|---|
First downs | 16 | 18 |
Total yards | 322 | 339 |
Rushing yards | 133 | 269 |
Passing yards | 189 | 70 |
Turnovers | 4 | 0 |
Time of possession | 23:15 | 36:45 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Florida Atlantic | Passing | Javion Posey | 7/15, 105 yards, 2 INT |
Rushing | Javion Posey | 8 carries, 61 yards | |
Receiving | Jordan Merrell | 3 receptions, 67 yards | |
Georgia Southern | Passing | Justin Tomlin | 3/12, 70 yards |
Rushing | Justin Tomlin | 20 carries, 78 yards | |
Receiving | Logan Wright | 2 receptions, 65 yards |
at Southern Miss
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
FAU −8.5 | 41[25] |
Statistics | Florida Atlantic | Southern Miss |
---|---|---|
First downs | 19 | 22 |
Total yards | 326 | 514 |
Rushing yards | 164 | 305 |
Passing yards | 162 | 209 |
Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
Time of possession | 28:41 | 31:19 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Florida Atlantic | Passing | Nick Tronti | 17/33, 162 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | James Charles | 16 carries, 79 yards, 2 TD | |
Receiving | Brandon Robinson | 5 receptions, 72 yards, 1 TD | |
Southern Miss | Passing | Trey Lowe | 13/19, 209 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | Frank Gore Jr. | 9 carries, 111 yards, 1 TD | |
Receiving | Jason Brownlee | 3 receptions, 81 yards, 1 TD |
vs. Memphis (Montgomery Bowl)
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Pregame line | Over/under |
---|---|
MEM −9 | 52.5[26] |
Statistics | Memphis | Florida Atlantic |
---|---|---|
First downs | 24 | 19 |
Total yards | 469 | 290 |
Rushing yards | 185 | 139 |
Passing yards | 284 | 151 |
Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
Time of possession | 30:44 | 29:16 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
---|---|---|---|
Memphis | Passing | Brady White | 22/34, 284 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT |
Rushing | Asa Martin | 15 carries, 96 yards | |
Receiving | Javon Ivory | 7 receptions, 126 yards, 1 TD | |
Florida Atlantic | Passing | Nick Tronti | 16/32, 146 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
Rushing | James Charles | 16 carries, 82 yards | |
Receiving | Brandon Robinson | 4 receptions, 39 yards |
References
- "UAB vs. Florida Atlantic – Game Summary – December 7, 2019 – ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
- "SMU vs. Florida Atlantic – Game Summary – December 21, 2019 – ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
- "2020 Preseason Football Awards". Conference USA. August 25, 2020.
- "Conference USA to hold virtual football media days due to COVID-19". ktsm.com. May 5, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
- "2020 FAU Football Schedule Announced". Florida Atlantic University Department of Athletics. January 8, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
- Myerberg, Paul. "Big Ten football reduces season schedule to only conference games, maybe setting stage for others to follow". USA TODAY. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
- Singelais, Mark (16 July 2020). "Reports: CAA football won't play this fall". Times Union. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
- "Old Dominion postponing football and fall sports". The Virginian Pilot. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
- "Football at MT Canceled". Florida Atlantic University Department of Athletics. November 27, 2020.
- "Football Game versus Georgia Southern Postponed". Florida Atlantic University Department of Athletics. September 18, 2020.
- "The FAU vs USF Football Game has been Postponed". Florida Atlantic University Department of Athletics. September 23, 2020.
- "Football vs. Southern Mississippi is Postponed". Florida Atlantic University Department of Athletics. October 8, 2020.
- "Football Reschedules Game with Georgia Southern". Florida Atlantic University Department of Athletics. September 30, 2020.
- "C-USA Reschedules FAU Football at Southern Miss". Florida Atlantic University Department of Athletics. November 4, 2020.
- "Football Inks Deal to Host UMass on Friday, Nov. 20". Florida Atlantic University Department of Athletics. November 6, 2020.
- "2020 Football Schedule". Florida Atlantic University Athletics. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
- "2020 Florida Atlantic Owls Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
- "Charlotte 49ers vs Florida Atlantic Owls". Odds Shark. Retrieved 14 October 2020.
- "Florida Atlantic Owls vs Marshall Thundering Herd". Odds Shark. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- "UTSA Roadrunners vs Florida Atlantic Owls". Odds Shark. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- "WKU Hilltoppers vs Florida Atlantic Owls". Odds Shark. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
- "Florida Atlantic Owls vs FIU Panthers". Odds Shark. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
- "Massachusetts Minutemen vs Florida Atlantic Owls". Odds Shark. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- "Florida Atlantic Owls vs Georgia Southern Eagles". Odds Shark. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
- "Florida Atlantic vs Southern Mississippi". ESPN. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- "Memphis Tigers vs Florida Atlantic Owls". Odds Shark. Retrieved 26 December 2020.