FAMU vs Troy score: Rattlers can't keep pace in 2nd half, fall at Troy, highlights
This story was updated to add new information.
Florida A&M faces its second consecutive Football Bowl Championship opponent Saturday, when the Football Championship Subdivision Rattlers (2-1) face the Football Bowl Subdivision Troy Trojans (0-3). Keep scrolling for the latest updates and highlights.
Leading 14-9 at halftime, Troy blew the game open in the second half to beat the Rattlers 34-12.
The Rattlers are coming off a 56-9 defeat at nationally-ranked Miami on Sept. 7. FAMU, which attempts to annually schedule an FBS opponent, has dropped its last 30 games to larger classification schools. The Rattlers last beat an FBS opponent in 1979, stunning Miami 16-13 at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee.
Troy opened its season with losses to Nevada, Memphis and Iowa. The Trojans are listed as a three-touchdown favorite over the Rattlers. Troy quarterback Goose Crowder is expected to return after he missed the Iowa game with a shoulder injury. The roster also includes Tallahassee's Semaj James, a former player at JPII who transferred from Butler Community College. James has appeared in one game this season.
Watch FAMU vs Troy live on ESPN+
FAMU vs Troy score updates
FAMU football highlights vs Troy
Troy blows open close game with big second half vs FAMU
After a strong opening half, visiting FAMU couldn't keep pace with Troy Saturday.
Leading 14-9 after two quarters, the Trojans relied on an explosive passing attack to beat the Rattlers 34-12 for their first victory of the season.
Troy quarterback Goose Crowder completed 18 of 24 passes for 298 yards and four touchdowns. Receiver Devonte Ross had 11 receptions (he was targeted 14 times) for 232 yards and three scores.
FAMU quarterback Daniel Richardson completed 26 of 42 passes for 280 yards. Receiver Jamari Gassett had 10 receptions for 141 yards for FAMU.
The Rattlers, who fell to 2-2, relied on four field goals from Cameron Gillis. They were outgained 507-343 - 209 to 63 rushing - by the Trojans.
FAMU is at home next Saturday against Alabama A&M (2-2) at 6 p.m. in the teams' SWAC opener.
Troy receiver Devonte Ross putting on a show vs FAMU
Devonte Ross hauled in his third touchdown reception, scoring on a 99-yard pass from Goose Crowder to extend Troy's advantage to 34-12 in the fourth quarter with less than seven remaining in the game.
The Trojans have outscored the Rattlers 20-3 in the second half.
Crowder torched FAMU's secondary for 292 passing yards and four touchdowns. Ross has 10 receptions for 226 yards.
Penalties plague both FAMU and Troy in fourth quarter
The game's tempo in the fourth quarter was slowed by penalties.
Overall in the game, each team has been whistled for 10 penalties for a combined 200 yards.
Troy leads FAMU 27-12 with 10:41 remaining.
Troy opens fourth quarter with another touchdown, leads FAMU 27-12
Goose Crowder tossed a 7-yard touchdown pass to Damien Taylor on the second play of the fourth quarter to push Troy's advantage to 27-12. The Trojans did not convert the extra point.
Troy's scoring drive covered 75 yards in 12 plays and lasted 6:12.
Crowder has completed 16 of 22 passes for 193 yards and three touchdown passes. Devonte Ross has nine receptions for 127 yards and two scores.
Jamari Gassett has 10 receptions for 141 yards for FAMU.
Troy has outgained FAMU 357 to 286.
Cameron Gillis connects on 4th field goal for FAMU vs Troy
Cameron Gillis' fourth field goal of the game, this time from 43 yards at the 5:29 mark in the third quarter, sliced Troy's lead to 21-12.
Receiver Jamari Gassett is enjoying a huge game for the Rattlers with 10 receptions for 141 yards. FAMU quarterback Daniel Richardson has completed 19 of 27 passes for 214 yards.
Troy expands lead to 21-9 vs FAMU on Crowder-to-Ross touchdown pass
Quarterback Goose Crowder and receiver Devonte Ross connected again.
Crowder's 44-yard scoring strike to Ross punctuated a 4-play, 73-yard drive on the Trojans' opening drive of the second half. The pair had connected on a 20-yard scoring strike late in the second quarter.
Troy leads FAMU 21-9 at the 10:57 mark in the third quarter.
Troy takes advantage of FAMU penalties, leads Rattlers 14-9 at halftime
The defensive units stole the spotlight for most of the second quarter. Both offenses had difficult times maintaining drives. Each also turned the ball over on downs. Both teams punted twice.
Still, both teams responded with scores in the quarter's final two minutes.
The Rattlers were hurt by penalties as they were whistled for holding on a punt from their own end zone and offsides that negated a sack on the ensuing play. Troy - blessed with ideal field position - responded with a two-play, 40-yard touchdown drive to surge in front, 14-6, with 46 seconds left.
FAMU quickly answered, however. Starting from its own 25, quarterback Daniel Richardson completed four consecutive passes, punctuated by a 48-yard pass to Jamari Gassett to the Troy 16. The Rattlers settled for Cameron Gillis' third field goal, this time from 31 yards with five second remaining.
FAMU outgained Troy 223-209 in the first half. Richardson completed 13 of 20 passes for 170 yards. Thad Franklin had 41 rushing yards on nine carries. Gassett had six receptions for 90 yards. Nay'Ron Jenkins leads the defense with seven tackles.
The Trojans of the Sun Belt entered the game as a three-touchdown favorite.
Troy leads visiting FAMU 7-6 after the first quarter
It was an evenly-matched first quarter in Troy, Alabama.
Troy gained 126 total yards; FAMU 116.
Rattlers quarterback Daniel Richardson completed 6-of-8 passes for 87 yards. Receivers Jaylen Ward (2-40) and Jamari Gassett (2-31) combined on four receptions for 71 yards.
FAMU QB Daniel Richardson on target, leads Rattlers to another score
Daniel Richardson completed 4-of-4 passes for 56 yards and kicker Cameron Gillis punctuated another nice scoring drive for the Rattlers.
Gillis' 22-yard field goal cut Troy's advantage to 7-6 at the 1:11 mark in the first quarter. Gillis' second field goal of the game capped an 8-play, 63-yard drive.
Richardson's favorite target was Jaylen Ward, who had two catches for 40 yards.
FAMU answers Troy's opening score with Cameron Gillis field goal
The Rattlers answered Troy's score with a nice 10-play, 53-yard march, capped by Cameron Gillis' 29-yard field goal. It was his fourth field goal of the season.
FAMU rolled the dice early, converting on 4th-and-1 from its own 47. Thad Franklin busted an 18-yard run to extend the drive.
Troy leads FAMU 7-3 at 7:34 mark in the first quarter.
Troy scores on opening series with long touchdown run vs FAMU
Looking for its first win of the season, Troy didn't wasn't much time in its opening series against the Rattlers.
Damien Taylor busted up the middle on a 40-yard touchdown against the Rattlers, capping a 6-play, 75-yard drive. A Rattlers' personal foul helped extend the opening march.
FAMU entered allowing 202 rushing yards per game.
Troy leads FAMU 7-0 at the 12:22 mark in the first quarter.
FAMU football vs FBS teams
FAMU football is 1-33 all-time against FBS teams.
The Rattlers first and only FBS win was versus the Miami Hurricanes, leaving Doak Campbell Stadium with a 16-13 victory.
FAMU and Troy were once fierce competitors, often meeting in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs three times from 1996-1999. The Rattlers won two of the three meetings.
FAMU football vs Troy: Team Threads
FAMU: White helmets, white jerseys, green pants
FAMU football vs Troy Trojans: Weather
89 degrees
Expected kickoff temperature: 84 degrees
FAMU vs Troy start time today
Date: Saturday, September 21
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Location: Veterans Memorial Stadium (Troy, Alabama)
What channel is FAMU vs Troy game on today?
TV channel: Not on traditional TV.
Streaming: ESPN+
Florida A&M vs. Troy can be seen exclusively on ESPN+ in Week 4 of the 2024 college football season. It will not air on traditional TV.
FAMU football roster
The 2024 Rattlers are led by quarterback Daniel Richardson, a grad student who transferred from Florida Atlantic. FAMU has seven preseason All-SWAC selections: offensive lineman Ashton Grable, defensive backs Kendall Bohler and Deco Wilson and kicker Cameron Gillis on the first team, and running back Kelvin Dean, receiver Jamari Gassett and defensive lineman Allen Smith on the second team.
Troy football roster
The 2024 Trojans boast one preseason All-Sun Belt first-team player: offensive lineman Daniel King. Two players made the second team: offensive lineman Eli Russ and punter Robert Cole.
FAMU vs Troy history
Series record: Troy leads, 4-2
Troy's last win: September 8, 2018 (59-7)
FAMU's last win: December 4, 1999 (17-10)
FAMU vs Troy predictions
Gerald Thomas III, Tallahassee Democrat: Troy 38, FAMU 24
"Troy still has a way to go for improvement, sitting winless through three games and having an unsettled quarterback situation. But attrition will help Troy escape with a victory after a scare by FAMU. Don’t be surprised if the Rattlers return to Tallahassee with their first FBS win since 1979, though. It’s more than possible."
FAMU vs Troy betting odds
As of Friday, there were no game lines or odds from BetMGM.
FAMU vs Troy injury updates
FAMU had no injuries to report.
Troy quarterback Goose Crowder missed last week's game vs. Iowa with a shoulder injury. Offensive lineman Eli Russ and receiver Chris Lewis also were out last week.
FAMU vs Troy weather updates
Weather.com predicts a low of 66 degrees with clear skies tonight in Troy. Winds are expected to be light and variable, blowing out of the southeast about 2 mph. The forecast calls for a 5-10% chance of rain throughout the evening.
FAMU football schedule 2024
August 24: vs. Norfolk State in Atlanta (W, 24-23)
August 31: vs. South Carolina State (W, 22-18)
September 7: at Miami (L 56-9)
September 14: Open
September 21: at Troy, 7 p.m.
September 28: vs. Alabama A&M, 6 p.m.
October 5: at Alabama State, 3 p.m.
October 12: Open
October 19: at Jackson State, 3:30 p.m.
October 26: vs. Southern, 7 p.m.
November 2: vs. Texas Southern, 4 p.m.
November 9: at Prairie View A&M, 3 p.m.
November 16: vs. Mississippi Valley State, 1 p.m.
November 23: vs. Bethune-Cookman, 3:30 p.m. in Orlando
Record: 2-1
Troy football schedule 2024
August 31: vs. Nevada (L 28-26)
September 7: at Memphis (L 38-17)
September 14: at Iowa (L 38-21)
September 21: vs. Florida A&M, 7 p.m.
September 28: vs. Louisiana-Monroe
October 3: vs. Texas State, 7 p.m.
October 12: Open
October 15: at South Alabama, 7:30 p.m.
October 26: at Arkansas State, 7 p.m.
November 2: vs. Coastal Carolina
November 9: Open
November 16: at Georgia Southern
November 23: at Louisiana
November 30: vs. Southern Miss
Record: 0-3
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU vs Troy: Game updates, Rattlers fall to Trojans