Each week we review the previous day’s FAU football game, searching for the positives and negatives from the Owls’ performance. And that was quite a performance in the Conference USA championship game. Florida Atlantic claimed its first C-USA title on Saturday by blowing out North Texas for the second time in two months. Later today the Owls learn their bowl destination. For now, however, let’s take a look back at a historic afternoon.
BIGGEST SURPRISE
Chuck King: FAU is the Conference USA Champion. Following the game, safety Jalen Young and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair spoke about how no one saw this coming. They were correct. Before the season kicked off, FAU fans were hoping maybe Lane Kiffin could get the Owls bowl eligible. Undefeated in C-USA play? Be serious. Yet that’s exactly what the Owls did. Congratulations to the players and coaches. Say it aloud: Conference USA champion FAU Owls.
Matt Wilson: The FAU defensive line has been the most impressive line I have seen in a long time. They dominated the UNT offensive line. They were able to sack Mason Fine nine times. Hunter Snyder led the way with two sacks. Impressive.
GAME MVP
King: Immediately following the game the pick would have been Devin Singletary. Three more touchdowns – a C-USA record-tying 29 on the season? Wow. Only four players in NCAA history have ever rushed for more. But the defense starred in this game. If the MVP can be given to a unit, it goes to the defensive line. Hunter Snyder (2), Jeremiah Taleni (1.5), Leighton McCarthy, Steven Leggett, Haiden Nagel, Tim Bonner and Anthony Bennett all recorded sacks. But if the award goes to one person, Jalen Young gets the nod for his two interceptions and seven tackles.
Wilson: Devin Singletary is the player of the game. His three touchdowns now have him tied for the C-USA record for most rushing touchdowns with FAU running backs coach Kevin Smith at 29. This conference game showed his season in a nutshell. He had also 164 yards also and even played some wildcat quarterback yesterday in the game.
CONTROVERSIAL CALL
King: John Franklin’s touchdown reversal was no-doubt a boneheaded play, but did enough video evidence really exist to overturn the call? There didn’t seem to be enough to definitively declare that the ball was out of Franklin’s hand before the ball, in his possession, crossed the goal line. Even if it was, Franklin sent the ball back into the field of play. Any immediate recovery would have occurred at the 1 yard line, which is where the ball should have been placed – not at the 20, which is where North Texas took over possession.
Wilson: What was going on in Franklin’s mind on his reversed touchdown run? I understand you are excited and you know you score and hype up everyone but you need to score. Dropping the ball before the end zone is a way to kill a stadium vibe. Next time, make sure to hold the ball. It’s not the end of the world but as a ESPN 2 broadcaster said, it was “the Most Lane Kiffin Ending Ever.” Besides that, FAU played a solid game.
EXTRA POINT
King: FAU dominated Conference USA. The Owls defeated conference opponents by an average of 19.7 points per game during their nine-game undefeated run. They averaged 716.5 yards of total offense in the two games against North Texas – the second best team in C-USA. With a bowl win, the Owls will likely crack the Top 25, which begs the question: Is it better for the program moving forward to play a team from a Power 5 conference, immediately capitalizing on the national attention, or would playing a potentially lesser opponent, thereby increasing the odds of victory and the likelihood of a Top 25 ranking at the end of the year, give the Owls even more recruiting gravitas? We’ll know more in a few hours.
Wilson: This was a great game for FAU and potentially a chance for them to keep on adding firsts to their program. I can see after this dominant win and championship trophy; they can break he top 25. FAU will break it today or if they win their bowl game. Either way this has been the most successful season for FAU and this could be a start of a dynasty. Also Jalen Young is now tied for first in the nation in interceptions with seven on the season. We haven’t seen since D’Joun Smith was in an Owls Uniform.
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