FAU stays home, to face SMU in Boca Raton Bowl

Kiffin-less Owls to play in bowl game at FAU Stadium for second time in 3 years

The UAB Blazers line up against the FAU Owls during the first half of the Conference USA Championship, Dec. 7, 2019, in Boca Raton, Florida.

BOCA RATON, Fla. ā€“ Florida Atlantic wonā€™t have to leave campus for its bowl destination.

The Boca Raton Bowl announced Sunday that the Conference USA champion will stay home to face Southern Methodist at FAU Stadium.

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FAU (10-3) claimed its second C-USA title in three seasons under head coach Lane Kiffin, who left after Saturdayā€™s championship game to take the same job at Ole Miss.

The Owls capped a school-record 11-win season in 2017 with a 50-3 win against Akron in their only other Boca Raton Bowl appearance.

FAU has won 10 of its last 11 games after starting the season 0-2.

ā€œWeā€™re looking forward to what we know will be a great experience for our football team,ā€ FAU athletic director Brian White said. ā€œWeā€™re also very excited to play one more game here in paradise in front of our fans.ā€

Defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer will serve as interim head coach for the game.

SMU (10-2) notched its most wins since 1984 and ranks sixth nationally in scoring offense, averaging 43 points per game. The Mustangs started the season 8-0.

The Boca Raton Bowl will be played on a Saturday for the first time in its six-year history. The game is scheduled for Dec. 21 at 3:30 p.m. and will be televised on Local 10.