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
ConferenceConference USA
DivisionEast Division
Record5–4 (4–2 C-USA)
Head coach
Co-offensive coordinators
Offensive schemeMultiple
Defensive coordinatorJim Leavitt (1st season)
Base defense3–4
Home stadiumFAU Stadium
Seasons
 2019
2021 
2020 Conference USA football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
East Division
Marshall xy 41  73 
Florida Atlantic 42  54 
Western Kentucky 43  57 
Charlotte 22  24 
Middle Tennessee 24  36 
FIU 03  05 
West Division
UAB xy$ 31  63 
UTSA 52  75 
Louisiana Tech 42  55 
North Texas 34  46 
Rice 23  23 
Southern Miss 24  37 
UTEP 04  35 
Championship: UAB 22, Marshall 13
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • y Championship game participant
  • Note: Due to COVID-19, Old Dominion opted out of the season.

Preseason

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Awards

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Listed in the order that they were released

Player Position Year
Desmond Noel OL Senior

[1]

CUSA media days

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The CUSA Media Days was held virtually for the first time in conference history.[2]

Schedule

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Florida Atlantic announced its 2020 football schedule on January 8, 2020.[3] 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.[4][5][6][7]

The Owls also had games scheduled against Georgia Southern, South Florida, and Southern Miss, which were postponed due to the pandemic.[8][9][10] The Georgia Southern game is now rescheduled for December 5[11] and the Southern Miss game is now rescheduled for December 10.[12] 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.[13]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
October 34:00 p.m.CharlotteESPNUW 21–175,657
October 242:30 p.m.at No. 22 MarshallStadiumL 9–2012,002
October 3112:00 p.m.UTSA
  • FAU Stadium
  • Boca Raton, FL
StadiumW 24–35,026
November 76:00 p.m.Western Kentucky
  • FAU Stadium
  • Boca Raton, FL
StadiumW 10–65,292
November 137:00 p.m.at FIUCBSSNW 38–190
November 208:00 p.m.UMass*
  • FAU Stadium
  • Boca Raton, FL
CBSSNW 24–25,554
December 56:00 p.m.at Georgia Southern*ESPN+L 3–203,867
December 106:30 p.m.at Southern MissCBSSNL 31–450
December 237:00 p.m.vs. Memphis*ESPNL 10–252,979
Schedule source:[14][15]

Game summaries

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Charlotte

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Charlotte at Florida Atlantic
Team 1 234Total
49ers 10 007 17
Owls 0 0210 21
  • Date: October 3, 2020
  • Location: FAU Stadium
    Boca Raton, FL
  • Game start: 4:02 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 20 minutes
  • Game attendance: 5,657
  • Game weather: 85 °F (29 °C) • Weather: Drizzle • Wind: SSE 10 MPH
  • Referee: Billy Williams
  • TV announcers (ESPNU): Mike Corey (play–by–play) and Jay Walker (analyst)
   
StatisticsCharlotteFlorida Atlantic
First downs2215
Total yards396315
Rushing yards82217
Passing yards31498
Turnovers10
Time of possession37:4922:11
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
CharlottePassingChris Reynolds24/32, 314 yards, 1 TD
RushingTre Harbison III17 carries, 49 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingVictor Tucker9 receptions, 118 yards
Florida AtlanticPassingNick Tronti11/22, 98 yards, 2 TDs
RushingNick Tronti10 carries, 94 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingT. J. Chase3 receptions, 31 yards, 1 TD

At Marshall

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Florida Atlantic at Marshall
Team 1 234Total
Owls 0 630 9
No. 22 Thundering Herd 7 0103 20
  • Date: October 24, 2020
  • Location: Joan C. Edwards Stadium
    Huntington, WV
  • Game start: 2:30 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 11 minutes
  • Game attendance: 12,002
  • Game weather: 52 °F (11 °C) • Weather: Cloudy • Wind: S 6 MPH
  • Referee: Rodney Burnette
  • TV announcers (Stadium): Chris Hassel (play-by-play) and A. J. Hawk (analyst)
  
StatisticsFlorida AtlanticMarshall
First downs1719
Total yards234385
Rushing yards86134
Passing yards148251
Turnovers12
Time of possession33:1226:48
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Florida AtlanticPassingNick Tronti18/30, 148 yards, 1 INT
RushingMalcolm Davidson8 carries, 62 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingJordan Merrell5 receptions, 48 yards
MarshallPassingGrant Wells18/31, 251 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
RushingBrenden Knox25 carries, 101 yards
ReceivingCorey Gammage6 receptions, 79 yards

UTSA

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Texas–San Antonio at Florida Atlantic
Team 1 234Total
Roadrunners 0 300 3
Owls 10 707 24
  • Date: October 31, 2020
  • Location: FAU Stadium
    Boca Raton, FL
  • Game start: 12:00 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours & 18 minutes
  • Game attendance: 5,026
  • Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C) • Weather: Humid/Partly Cloudy • Wind: ESE 6 MPH
  • Referee: Chris Bynum
  • TV announcers (Stadium): Chris Vosters (play-by-play) and Max Stark (analyst)
  
StatisticsUTSAFlorida Atlantic
First downs1619
Total yards230332
Rushing yards104196
Passing yards126136
Turnovers00
Time of possession27:5432:06
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UTSAPassingFrank Harris12/26, 109 yards
RushingFrank Harris14 carries, 66 yards
ReceivingJoshua Cephus5 receptions, 63 yards
Florida AtlanticPassingNick Tronti11/19, 136 yards, 1 TD
RushingMalcolm Davidson14 carries, 115 yards
ReceivingAaron Young3 receptions, 54 yards, 1 TD

Western Kentucky

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Western Kentucky at Florida Atlantic
Team 1 234Total
Hilltoppers 0 033 6
Owls 0 037 10
  • Date: November 7, 2020
  • Location: FAU Stadium
    Boca Raton, FL
  • Game start: 6:35 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 2 hours & 53 minutes
  • Game attendance: 5,292
  • Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C) • Weather: Rainy and Windy • Wind: E 20 MPH
  • Referee: Jon Noli
  • TV announcers (Stadium): Chris Hassel (play-by-play) and A. J. Hawk (analyst)
  
StatisticsWestern KentuckyFlorida Atlantic
First downs1618
Total yards257273
Rushing yards94165
Passing yards163108
Turnovers01
Time of possession33:4926:11
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Western KentuckyPassingTyrrell Pigrome19/39, 163 yards
RushingGaej Walker17 carries, 78 yards
ReceivingXavier Lane7 receptions, 60 yards
Florida AtlanticPassingNick Tronti7/16, 108 yards
RushingJavion Posey9 carries, 60 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingTJ Chase3 receptions, 47 yards

At FIU

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Florida Atlantic at Florida International
Team 1 234Total
Owls 7 17014 38
Panthers 0 1009 19
       
StatisticsFlorida AtlanticFIU
First downs2114
Total yards450281
Rushing yards370156
Passing yards80125
Turnovers10
Time of possession29:3327:58
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Florida AtlanticPassingJavion Posey10/16, 80 yards, 2 TD
RushingJavion Posey18 carries, 140 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingTJ Chase1 reception, 28 yards
FIUPassingMax Bortenschlager10/18, 82 yards
RushingD'Vonte Price26 carries, 178 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingRivaldo Fairweather6 receptions, 49 yards

UMass

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Massachusetts at Florida Atlantic
Team 1 234Total
Minutemen 0 020 2
Owls 7 0143 24
  
StatisticsUMassFlorida Atlantic
First downs816
Total yards147368
Rushing yards62140
Passing yards85228
Turnovers21
Time of possession25:1034:50
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UMassPassingWill Koch12/22, 67 yards, 1 INT
RushingEllis Merriweather11 carries, 48 yards
ReceivingJosiah Johnson8 receptions, 42 yards
Florida AtlanticPassingJavion Posey13/27, 203 yards
RushingJavion Posey19 carries, 90 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingTJ Chase4 receptions, 79 yards

At Georgia Southern

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Florida Atlantic at Georgia Southern
Team 1 234Total
Owls 0 030 3
Eagles 0 10010 20
  • Date: December 5, 2020
  • Location: Paulson Stadium
    Statesboro, GA
  • Game start: 6:00 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 2 hours & 55 minutes
  • Game attendance: 3,867
  • Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD MPH
  • Referee: T. Livingston
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Matt Stewart (play-by-play) and Danny Waugh (analyst)
 
StatisticsFlorida AtlanticGeorgia Southern
First downs1618
Total yards322339
Rushing yards133269
Passing yards18970
Turnovers40
Time of possession23:1536:45
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Florida AtlanticPassingJavion Posey7/15, 105 yards, 2 INT
RushingJavion Posey8 carries, 61 yards
ReceivingJordan Merrell3 receptions, 67 yards
Georgia SouthernPassingJustin Tomlin3/12, 70 yards
RushingJustin Tomlin20 carries, 78 yards
ReceivingLogan Wright2 receptions, 65 yards

At Southern Miss

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Florida Atlantic at Southern Mississippi
Team 1 234Total
Owls 7 10140 31
Golden Eagles 10 14147 45
        
StatisticsFlorida AtlanticSouthern Miss
First downs1922
Total yards326514
Rushing yards164305
Passing yards162209
Turnovers13
Time of possession28:4131:19
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Florida AtlanticPassingNick Tronti17/33, 162 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingJames Charles16 carries, 79 yards, 2 TD
ReceivingBrandon Robinson5 receptions, 72 yards, 1 TD
Southern MissPassingTrey Lowe13/19, 209 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
RushingFrank Gore Jr.9 carries, 111 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingJason Brownlee3 receptions, 81 yards, 1 TD

Vs. Memphis (Montgomery Bowl)

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Memphis vs. Florida Atlantic
Team 1 234Total
Tigers 10 870 25
Owls 0 0100 10
   
StatisticsMemphisFlorida Atlantic
First downs2419
Total yards469290
Rushing yards185139
Passing yards284151
Turnovers32
Time of possession30:4429:16
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
MemphisPassingBrady White22/34, 284 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
RushingAsa Martin15 carries, 96 yards
ReceivingJavon Ivory7 receptions, 126 yards, 1 TD
Florida AtlanticPassingNick Tronti16/32, 146 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingJames Charles16 carries, 82 yards
ReceivingBrandon Robinson4 receptions, 39 yards

References

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  1. "2020 Preseason Football Awards". Conference USA. August 25, 2020.
  2. "Conference USA to hold virtual football media days due to COVID-19". ktsm.com. May 5, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  3. "2020 FAU Football Schedule Announced". Florida Atlantic University Department of Athletics. January 8, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  4. Myerberg, Paul. "Big Ten football reduces season schedule to only conference games, maybe setting stage for others to follow". USA TODAY. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  5. Singelais, Mark (July 16, 2020). "Reports: CAA football won't play this fall". Times Union. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  6. "Old Dominion postponing football and fall sports". The Virginian Pilot. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  7. "Football at MT Canceled". Florida Atlantic University Department of Athletics. November 27, 2020.
  8. "Football Game versus Georgia Southern Postponed". Florida Atlantic University Department of Athletics. September 18, 2020.
  9. "The FAU vs USF Football Game has been Postponed". Florida Atlantic University Department of Athletics. September 23, 2020.
  10. "Football vs. Southern Mississippi is Postponed". Florida Atlantic University Department of Athletics. October 8, 2020.
  11. "Football Reschedules Game with Georgia Southern". Florida Atlantic University Department of Athletics. September 30, 2020.
  12. "C-USA Reschedules FAU Football at Southern Miss". Florida Atlantic University Department of Athletics. November 4, 2020.
  13. "Football Inks Deal to Host UMass on Friday, Nov. 20". Florida Atlantic University Department of Athletics. November 6, 2020.
  14. "2020 Football Schedule". Florida Atlantic University Athletics. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  15. "2020 Florida Atlantic Owls Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved October 14, 2020.