Florida Atlantic has more on the line in the standings. The Rice win left the Owls 1 win from bowl eligibility for the first time since 2020, and this program has gone a while without much to play for in late October. They needed every bit of it against Rice, too. Derrick Rogers Jr. blocked a punt for a safety early in the second quarter, and Rice's 55-yard field goal try in the final minute came up just short. Those 2 points were the margin.
Texas Southern66-10
Houston Christian63-14
North Texas has been the steadier team. The Mean Green are 3-0 in conference play, and the 2 losses came at Indiana and at Texas State. As of today they've won 4 straight: they blew out Houston Christian and Charlotte, survived Tulsa 45-44 in overtime and won at Navy. They've hit 49 or more in 3 of those 4. Florida Atlantic is 4-1 in its last 5, but the loss was a 56-24 beating at Army, and the Owls then allowed 49 to Rice. That's 105 points allowed in 2 games, and their defense has to find a fix fast.
This game comes down to which defense gets a stop first. Weather won't help either defense: the forecast is 76 degrees, cloudy, light wind and almost no rain. North Texas has the home crowd, the unbeaten conference record and an offense that has rarely stalled. Florida Atlantic has Messer, an offense that can answer any score, and a team that already knows what it's like to win a game where nobody gets stopped. Expect a lot of points, and expect the last possession to matter.