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Florida Atlantic rallies to defeat Rice 51-49 in wild shootout

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 24, 2026, 10:25 PM

Last updated Oct 24, 2026

Florida Atlantic rallies to defeat Rice 51-49 in wild shootout
Summary

Florida Atlantic University achieved a dramatic home victory over Rice University, winning 51-49 on Saturday. Despite conceding over 600 yards of offense, FAU scored seven touchdowns, showcasing a combination of rushing and passing plays. After initially falling behind 14-0, FAU's offense, led by quarterback Caden Veltkamp and standout Easton Messer, rallied to secure the win, marking their chance for bowl eligibility for the first time since 2020. The Owls are set to face North Texas in their next matchup.

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Status Watch
  • •FAU scored seven touchdowns, including three rushing and three passing.
  • •Easton Messer set a school record with five total touchdowns.
  • •FAU's defense struggled, allowing Rice's QB Gael Ochoa 259 rushing yards.
  • •Caden Veltkamp passed for 331 yards and three touchdowns.
  • •FAU will play North Texas on Thursday, facing stronger competition ahead.
Latest Updates
  • 10:25 PMYahoo Sports — Battle of the Owls: Florida Atlantic storms back to defeat Rice 51-49
What they're saying
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Easton Messer is the only FBS player in the last 20 seasons with two rushing touchdowns, two receiving touchdowns and a punt return touchdown in the same game.

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