Owls raided by Pirates in season finale; FIU cruises to 7th win

The 2025 college football season ended with a whimper for Florida Atlantic, as the Owls were dominated by the East Carolina Pirates 42-3 on Saturday in Boca Raton.

The Owls finished the season 4-8 after dropping the last three games. The Pirates finished with a 9-2 record and a 6-2 conference record. However, it wasn’t enough to make it into the American Athletic Conference championship game.

The Pirates’ offense fired on all cylinders in the first quarter with three straight touchdown drives to lead 21-3. Marlon Gunn Jr. punched the ball in for a one-yard touchdown to crack the scoreboard. He finished the game with 130 rushing yards.

ECU quarterback Katin Houser threw both of his touchdown passes in the first quarter as well, one on a 27-yarder to D Riles and a 22-yard toss to Spalding. Houser scored his next two touchdowns on the ground in the second quarter, giving the Pirates a 42-3 lead at halftime. He finished the game with 258 passing yards, and 55 rushing yards.

FAU’s only score came on a field goal in the second quarter. The Owls, who entered the game leading the country in passing yards per game, amassed 299 yards and three interceptions between Caden Veltkamp and Zach Gibson.

After his worst throwing performance of the year, Veltkamp finished the season with 3,648 yards (2nd in FBS), 24 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions. Staying for his senior season at FAU gives head coach Zach Kittley the most hope for 2026.

“We got a heck of a quarterback coming back to play for us next year,” Kittley said.

Gibson completed 12-of-20 passes for 116 yards and an interception in his final collegiate game. He finished the game in relief for Veltkamp as a health precautionary measure for a quarterback who has been banged up enough.

“There’s a great chance here this next week he’s going to probably have shoulder surgery on his throwing shoulder,” Kittley said. “For that kid to look up and have over 3,500 passing yards this year and to lead this team, the way he led this team, I think it speaks volumes of him.”

Easton Messer led the Owls with 10 catches and 86 receiving yards to clinch his first career 1,000-yard season at 1,052.

“I don’t think any of us quit there today,” Messer said. “Although the result isn’t what we wanted, I think we fought to the end.”

FIU cruises for No. 7

The FIU Panthers cruised to a 56-16 road win over C-USA bottom feeder Sam Houston for their seventh win of the season. In their 20 years in the FBS, the Panthers have won 7 or more games only five times.

FIU quarterback Keyone Jenkins returned from injury and threw for 291 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed for 47 yards and a score.

FIU running back Kejon Owens carried the ball 15 times for 124 yards, furthering his school record season total to 1,174. Sterling Joseph rushed four times by gained 112 yards including a 61-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

FIU receiver Alex Perry caught seven passes for 140 yards and two touchdowns, while Dallas Payne amassed 100 receiving yards and a touchdown on four receptions.

FIU (7-5, 5-3) finishes the regular season tied for fourth place in a C-USA that sports seven bowl bound teams. Entering the game, ESPN projected FIU to either be in the Cure Bowl or Boca Raton Bowl.