The Black Knights got a big home win last week against Tulane, setting them up for some critical in-conference match-ups down the stretch. That starts this week with FAU, arguably the hottest team in the entire conference and definitely the team with the best offense.
FAU comes into this week’s game 4-1, 1-0 in conference play, and very much in the hunt for their first-ever appearance in the conference championshi40. Can Army keep it going this week and potentially work their way into contention for the American Conference Championship, too?
Let’s talk about it. We’ve got three Keys to Victory over the Owls.
Know before you go with our Gameday Guide! Information on parking, shuttles and activities leading into kickoff on Saturday against the Owls. Fans are highly encouraged to arrive early. → https://t.co/seBfhLE0Gl #GoArmy https://t.co/ADrXeRPcAT
— Army Football (@ArmyWP_Football) October 15, 2026
Three Keys to Beating FAU
Play Army Defense
We know how Army beats this team. That starts on defense with exactly the kind of maddeningly soft bend-but-don’t break coverage on the outside that drives Army fans crazy. But look, this FAU team has a legitimately deadly passing attack, and they run the ball just well enough to keep teams honest. They’ll happily hit little out-routes all day to set up a makeable third-and-two that they can then either pick up with a running back or use to take a shot down the field.
To win this week, Army needs to really get after that running game, get pressure on FAU QB Caden Veltkamp when they can, and most especially, avoid getting beat deep. If the Black Knights can force FAU to convert in the red zone, many of the Owls’ advantages disappear, and we might see Army force some field goals instead of giving up touchdowns. However, if FAU gets their running game going, they will probably score in the red zone, and again, we know how that ends.
This weekend’s game sets up as a classic for Army’s defense. We saw them beat a team just like this in North Texas back in 2024. They’ve just got to force FAU to drive the length of the field and then play stout down near the goal line.
Plebe ILB Deion Miller and ILB Coach Justin “Juice” Robinson talk Army Defense.
Hog the Ball
The flipside of this defensive strategy requires Army’s offense to hold the ball forever, using grinding drives to both wear away at FAU’s defense and keep their high-powered offense on the sidelines. For that reason, we’re expecting another big-time game from Army QB Cale Hellums.
To make this work, though, the Black Knights will need to hold onto the football and play with more discipline than they showed through the early part of the season. This team absolutely cannot afford needless penalties this week, nor can they afford turnovers. However, if they can drive the ball methodically, eat up the clock, and score touchdowns, they’ll have a truly excellent chance to win this game.
Congrats Brady and Paolo 👏 The offensive line pair named to the @lombardi_award Midseason Watch List. The award recognizes the top college football lineman of the year. #GoArmy https://t.co/EXgOb3SRo6
— Army Football (@ArmyWP_Football) October 15, 2026
Keep Pace
Friends, I don’t know how to tell you this, but FAU is going to score in this game. Their offense is just too good. There’s no way that the Black Knights will hold them down for four full quarters. For this reason, Army’s offense absolutely must finish drives with touchdowns and keep pace on the scoreboard. If the Black Knights fall behind this week, they’ll have a hard time catching up. This is doubly true after FAU’s bout with Navy, in which they went up big, let off on the gas, and watched the Mids come roaring back to make it a game despite everything.
The Owls won’t make that mistake again. Army is gonna have to play great on both sides of the ball and make this one a real contest from the very start.
Our Call of the Game presented by @USAA is Cale Hellums’ 58-yard TD run in the win over Tulane on Saturday! #GoArmy https://t.co/s2kaCaCPNI
— Army Football (@ArmyWP_Football) October 14, 2026
Final Thoughts
We noted on this week’s As For Football Army Football Show that we’re expecting chilly weather this weekend. It won’t be cold, exactly, during the game, but it’ll be maybe forty-five degrees colder than the Owls have experienced all season during warm-ups. That might not affect them, but it certainly can’t hurt.
We’re lucky, I think, to catch this game a little later in the season and during an actual cold snap. Highs during the game should only reach into the upper-forties or maybe the lower-fifties, so it’s not impossible that some of these FAU receivers might get a little fumble-fingered, especially if they wind up sitting around on the sidelines for long periods of time. Boca Raton is a good bit warmer than the Hudson Valley at this time of year.
As always, CBS Sports carries Army home games. Kickoff goes at noon.
Let’s get loud out there, friends.
Go Army! Beat FAU!!!
