Owls discussing Nov. home game vs. UMass
The FAU Owls and UMass Minutemen could play each other this season.
After a since-edited version of a Liberty football news release originally stated UMass was playing FAU on Nov. 21, UMass athletic director Ryan Bamford clarified on Twitter that the two universities were in discussions about scheduling a game against one another, but it hadn’t been finalized.
A source confirmed to the South Florida Sun Sentinel that FAU and UMass are in discussions to schedule a game this season. The source added that if the game is scheduled, it would more than likely take place Nov. 21 at FAU Stadium.
UMass is scheduling a “limited number” of football games for the fall after originally canceling the season in August. The Minutemen played their first game of the season on Oct. 17, falling to Georgia Southern 41-0.
UMass also has scheduled games against Marshall on Nov. 7 in Huntington, W.Va. and against Liberty on Nov. 27 in Lynchburg, Virginia.
FAU was originally scheduled to play Old Dominion on Nov. 21, but that matchup was canceled after the Monarchs nixed their fall sports season.
The Owls had six games — including five of their first six on the schedule — canceled/ postponed this season because of reasons related to the coronavirus.
They eventually opened the season with a 21-17 victory versus Charlotte on Oct. 3 at FAU Stadium.
The Owls entered the season with their original opener at Minnesota scheduled for Sept. 3 and original home opener versus Stony Brook on Sept. 12 canceled by COVID19-related schedule changes at the other schools.
FAU’s Sept. 19 matchup against Georgia Southern was postponed and rescheduled for Dec. 5 after the Owls had a COVID19 outbreak in the week preceding the matchup.
The Owls had their Sept. 26 matchup versus USF postponed after it was announced the Bulls’ previous opponent, Notre Dame, had several players receive positive COVID-19 tests.
FAU’s Oct. 10 game against Southern Miss was postponed two days before the scheduled kickoff because the Owls had a COVID19 outbreak during the week leading up to the matchup.
There hasn’t been an announcement as to when FAU’s games against USF and Southern Miss will be rescheduled.
Conference USA announced last week that it moved its title game from Dec. 5 to Dec. 18. The change was made to create two extra weeks to schedule games that were postponed due to reasons related to the coronavirus.
The Owls, who are coming off a bye week, are scheduled to play their next game Saturday against Marshall in Huntington, W.Va.
An FAU spokesperson said Wednesday that the Owls’ latest round of testing “went well”, with FAU coach Willie Taggart saying he expects the team to have enough players to play Saturday.