Navy Opens American Conference Play on the Road Against Florida Atlantic
The Navy Midshipmen will take their first road trip of the 2026 season Saturday night when they visit the Florida Atlantic Owls at Flagler Credit Union Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on ESPNU, and the matchup will serve as the American Conference opener for both programs. Navy enters 1-0 after a dominant 42-15 victory over Towson, while Florida Atlantic is 0-1 following a 66-21 loss at Florida.
Navy could hardly have asked for a better offensive start to the season. The Midshipmen rushed for 506 yards on 73 carries against Towson, their highest rushing total since piling up 559 yards against SMU in 2017, and finished with 527 yards of total offense and 30 first downs. Senior quarterback Braxton Woodson was at the center of the performance, rushing for a career-high 200 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries.
Woodson Gives Navy Another Dangerous Option Quarterback
Woodson entered the season facing the difficult task of taking over an offense that lost several accomplished players, but his first start of 2026 showed that Navy’s quarterback-run game remains extremely dangerous. He averaged 8.7 yards per carry against Towson and scored on runs of 38, eight and four yards. His 200 rushing yards were the most by a Navy player since Blake Horvath ran for 211 against Memphis in September 2024.
Navy’s offense was not built around one runner, either. The Midshipmen consistently attacked Towson at multiple points along the line of scrimmage and wore the Tigers down with volume, finishing with 73 rushing attempts. That style presents a completely different challenge for Florida Atlantic after the Owls opened against a Florida team that produced 624 total yards, including 281 on the ground.
Florida Atlantic Has Offensive Firepower
The final score against Florida was ugly, but Florida Atlantic did show signs that its offense can move the football. Quarterback Caden Veltkamp completed enough throws to finish with 276 passing yards, while wide receiver Kelby Valsin caught 10 passes for 92 yards. The Owls totaled 396 yards of offense and recorded 25 first downs despite losing by 45 points.
Valsin is especially important to Navy’s defensive game plan. His 10 receptions in the opener were the most by an American Conference receiver that week, and Florida Atlantic has made him one of the focal points of an offense that wants to play with tempo and create space. Veltkamp is also a familiar opponent for Navy after throwing for 299 yards and two touchdowns against the Midshipmen last season.
That familiarity should matter. Navy knows Veltkamp can hurt defenses if allowed to settle into a rhythm, while Florida Atlantic already has experience preparing for Navy’s option-based attack. The chess match between Navy’s ball-control rushing game and Florida Atlantic’s passing attack could determine whether Saturday becomes a possession battle or a high-scoring conference game.
Turnovers Could Decide the Game
Florida Atlantic moved the ball against Florida but made too many mistakes to remain competitive. The Owls threw two interceptions, lost a fumble and committed nine penalties for 88 yards. Florida also averaged 9.3 yards per offensive play, which made it nearly impossible for Florida Atlantic to overcome its own mistakes.
That gives Navy an obvious blueprint. The Midshipmen do not need to chase explosive plays every possession if they can force turnovers, shorten the game and keep Veltkamp standing on the sideline. Navy’s offense is at its best when it controls the clock, strings together long drives and forces opponents to become impatient.
Florida Atlantic, meanwhile, needs a much cleaner performance. The Owls ran 90 offensive plays against Florida and still scored only 21 points, largely because they failed to consistently finish drives and gave possessions away. Against Navy, wasted opportunities become even more costly because the Midshipmen can take several minutes off the clock with a single scoring drive.
Navy Has Controlled the Series
Navy has never lost to Florida Atlantic. The Midshipmen are 3-0 all-time against the Owls, winning 24-17 in 2012, 42-19 in Boca Raton in 2017 and 42-32 last season in Annapolis. Saturday will be Navy’s first trip to Florida Atlantic since that 2017 victory.
Last year’s matchup was especially significant because Florida Atlantic proved capable of scoring against Navy. The Midshipmen ultimately won 42-32, but Veltkamp threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns. Navy countered with 174 rushing yards and four touchdowns from Blake Horvath and another 141 rushing yards from Brandon Chatman.
The personnel has changed, but the underlying matchup remains similar. Florida Atlantic wants to create explosive passing opportunities, while Navy wants to dictate the game through its rushing attack and force the Owls to play on the Midshipmen’s terms.
Navy Begins a Difficult Road Stretch
Saturday also begins an unusual stretch for Navy. After traveling to Boca Raton, the Midshipmen will play at UAB on Sept. 25 and at Air Force on Oct. 3 before finally returning to Annapolis to host Tulsa on Oct. 10. It will be Navy’s first stretch of three consecutive true road games since 2010.
Navy has been excellent early in seasons recently, winning nine consecutive games played in August and September over the last three seasons. Maintaining that run would give the Midshipmen a valuable conference road victory before the schedule becomes more demanding.
The trip also carries more weight because this is not simply an early nonconference tune-up. Navy and Florida Atlantic are both playing their first American Conference game, meaning the result immediately matters in the league standings. With the conference race often decided by narrow margins, a September road victory could become important later in the season.
Three Keys for Navy
Navy’s first priority should be controlling possession. Florida Atlantic showed that it can accumulate passing yards, and the easiest way to limit Veltkamp and Valsin is to keep them off the field. If Woodson and the Navy rushing attack can produce another efficient performance, the Midshipmen can dictate the pace from the opening quarter.
The second key is preventing explosive passes. Florida Atlantic may struggle to consistently stop Navy’s rushing offense, which means the Owls will likely need chunk plays to keep pace. Navy cannot allow Valsin or another receiver to turn a missed assignment into a quick touchdown.
Finally, Navy needs to force Florida Atlantic to finish long drives. The Owls produced 25 first downs against Florida but still lost 66-21. If the Midshipmen can tighten defensively inside their own territory and create one or two turnovers, they should have opportunities to separate on the scoreboard.
Salute to Service Night in Boca Raton
Florida Atlantic will also be holding its Salute to Service game Saturday night. The university plans to honor military members and veterans while also recognizing first responders around the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks and celebrating America’s 250th birthday. The setting gives a Navy road game additional significance beyond the conference standings.
The matchup will be televised nationally on ESPNU, with radio coverage available through the Navy Football Radio Network, including WBAL 1090 AM and 101.5 FM in the Baltimore market. It will be Florida Atlantic’s first home game of the season after opening on the road against Florida.
MSB Take
Navy looked exactly like a team capable of contending in the American Conference during its opener. Rushing for 506 yards is impressive regardless of opponent, and Woodson’s 200-yard performance immediately answered one of the biggest questions surrounding the offense entering the season. The next test is proving that performance can translate to the road against a conference opponent with a much more dangerous passing attack.
Florida Atlantic is better than the 66-21 score against Florida suggests offensively, but its defense has serious questions to answer after allowing 624 yards and five rushing touchdowns. That is a concerning matchup against a Navy offense built to relentlessly attack weaknesses in run defense. If the Midshipmen avoid turnovers and keep Veltkamp from producing multiple explosive touchdown drives, Navy should have an excellent opportunity to leave Boca Raton 2-0 and 1-0 in conference play.
MSB Prediction: Navy 38, Florida Atlantic 27
