BOCA RATON, Fla. – Leaving the field after a lopsided loss to Florida Atlantic, UTSA coach Jeff Traylor returned to a locker room that he described as disappointed, embarrassed and disgusted.
The Roadrunners entered the night on the fringe of the national top 25 with everything in front of them, remaining in strong position for an American Conference championship and a College Football Playoff berth for as long as they could keep their winning streak going.
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Instead, UTSA was overpowered and outplayed on both sides of the ball, allowing the highest point total of Traylor’s tenure in a 60-29 road rout Thursday.
“We didn’t give our kids a great plan as a staff. They gave their guys a better plan than we did,” Traylor said. “So, it starts with the staff, but up front, we got manhandled on both sides of the ball.”
The loss drops the Roadrunners to 7-2 on the year with a 4-1 record in the American Conference, snapping a five-game winning streak. UTSA remains in contention for the league title, as North Texas is the lone unbeaten at 4-0, and Memphis is the only other one-loss team at 4-1.
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But the path to a College Football Playoff spot as the highest-ranked team in the Group of Six became much more perilous. UTSA entered the night receiving votes in both the Associated Press and coaches polls, joining the conversation with Boise State and New Mexico as the best in the Group of Six. The Roadrunners will now need both of those teams and perhaps a few others to drop games down the stretch.
“It’s a new challenge now,” UTSA quarterback Owen McCown said. “We’ll see how our team responds. I know they’ll respond the right way.”
UTSA’s defense had been spotty in stretches all season, entering the night ranked just outside the top 100 nationally in total defense at 391.5 yards per game.
But the Roadrunners had usually managed to find success in one aspect or another, often taking away an opponent’s biggest strength and forcing them to play out of rhythm. The Owls’ up-tempo, air raid attack entered the night ranked in the top five in the country in passing and in the bottom 20 in rushing, but Traylor said he was “pretty shocked” to see how heavily the Owls committed to the run, as FAU exploded for 339 yards on the ground.
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FAU averaged 6.9 yards per rush, led by running back Leonard Farrow with 12 carries for 126 yards and a score.
“We knew everything coming in,” UTSA defensive lineman Jeremiah Bailey said. “They were more prepared, got the best of us tonight.”
The Owls’ passing attack was effective when needed, as well, racking up 224 yards as FAU became the first team to eclipse 200 yards both through the air and on the ground against UTSA this year.
BOCA RATON, FL – NOVEMBER 05: Florida Atlantic Owls tight end Antonio Johnson (1) rushes for a touchdown int he first half during the game between UTSA and FAU on Thursday, November 5, 2026 at Flagler Credit Union Stadium in Boca Raton, FL (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Icon Sportswire/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Quarterback Caden Veltkamp hit 17 of 25 passes for 210 yards with four touchdowns, including three to star wideout Easton Messer.
“It always starts up front,” Traylor said. “Their O-line manhandled us.”
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That physical disadvantage was evident on the other side, too, as Traylor said UTSA’s offensive line “couldn’t protect our quarterback.”
McCown completed 20 of 35 passes for 265 yards with three touchdowns but was sacked six times as the Roadrunners faced consistent pressure.
“I have full trust in those guys up front on the O-line,” McCown said. “I just don’t think they played as good as they wanted to tonight, and that’s all right. It’s part of football. It’s more important to see the response.”
UTSA’s rushing attack was also held to 136 yards at an average of 3.8 yards per carry, and FAU often pulled a safety up closer to the line of scrimmage to limit the Roadrunners’ ground game.
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That put more of a burden on UTSA’s receivers to beat their defenders, and Traylor said the Roadrunners targets “weren’t winning on press coverage,” forcing McCown to hold onto the ball longer.
BOCA RATON, FL – NOVEMBER 05: *UTSA Roadrunners quarterback Owen McCown (2) makes a pass attempt in the first half during the game between UTSA and FAU on Thursday, November 5, 2026 at Flagler Credit Union Stadium in Boca Raton, FL (Photo by Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Icon Sportswire/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“We’ve got to get receivers open,” Traylor said. “As a coaching staff, we’ve got to do a better job, and receivers have to get open and win some of those downfield throws. That’s really it.”
After having a few extra days to heal up through the open week, an array of Roadrunners went down to injuries on Thursday, and Traylor said UTSA “lost some great players tonight.” The extent of most of the knocks remains unknown, Traylor said, but UTSA’s ability to shuffle the depth chart where needed is “going to be the biggest deal” as the Roadrunners look to regroup.
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North Texas will present a very similar challenge, entering the week ranked atop the FBS in total offense at 539.6 yards per game. A win vaults UTSA back into a first-place tie atop the American, and McCown expects the group to answer the challenge.
“I hope as a team this puts a little chip on our shoulder going into a really big game next week,” McCown said. “We’re still in this hunt. It’s the top of the conference, but we’re having to play a really good team next week in the Dome in North Texas. So, we have to respond the right way. I know we will.”
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This article originally published at UTSA ‘manhandled’ in road loss to FAU as American title hopes take a hit.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
