Florida Atlantic looks to rebound in Year 3 under coach Lane Kiffin after a 5-7 finish last season. The Owls have a tough non-conference start to the season before getting into Conference USA play.
AUG. 31 | NOON, FOX
at Ohio State
It got ugly in a hurry when FAU kicked off the season on the road on national TV against a storied Power Five opponent last year — a 63-14 loss to Oklahoma. The Owls are hoping for different outcome in Columbus, but a Top 25 team at home is a high mountain to climb.
SEPT. 7 | 7 P.M., CBS SPORTS NETWORK
vs. UCF
The Owls play their two toughest opponents back to back to start the season. They’ll seek revenge on the Knights after falling 56-36 in Orlando last year.
SEPT. 14 | 2 P.M., ESPN+ (streaming)
at Ball State
FAU will enter Muncie, Ind., either hungry for a first win or riding the momentum of an upset over the Buckeyes and/or Knights. This is the second meeting between the teams; the first was a 31-27 Cardinals win in 2016 in Boca Raton.
SEPT. 21 | 6 P.M., ESPN+ (streaming)
vs. Wagner
This is the Owls’ Football Bowl Championship Subdivision opponent on the schedule. It also marks the final non-conference game, so one last tuneup at home before the Conference USA slate begins.
SEPT. 28 | 3:30 P.M., NFL NETWORK
at Charlotte
It was ugly the way FAU ended last season with a 27-24 loss to the 49ers at home. Coach Lane Kiffin was so impressed with their defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer, however, he decided to hire him after the season.
OCT. 12 | 4 P.M., ESPN+ (streaming)
vs. Middle Tennessee State
After a bye, one of several potential revenge games in C-USA for FAU. Brent Stockstill, the MTSU quarterback that last year led a 25-24 comeback victory against the Owls, is now on Kiffin’s staff as an offensive player personnel assistant.
OCT. 18 | 6:30 P.M., CBS SPORTS NETWORK
vs. Marshall
Friday Night Lights at FAU Stadium, with C-USA East Division favorite Marshall coming in on a short week. These back-to-back conference home games could go a long way in determining the Owls’ fate.
OCT. 26 | 3:30 P.M., ESPN+ (streaming)
at Old Dominion
The Owls have hung 50-plus points on the Monarchs in each of the meetings under Kiffin the past two seasons. Look for them to make a big splash again.
NOV. 2 | 4 P.M., ESPN+ (streaming)
at Western Kentucky
A second consecutive road game in C-USA, but both very winnable for the Owls. FAU can’t let this one against the Hilltoppers turn into a trap game looking ahead to the Shula Bowl.
NOV. 9 | 6 P.M., STADIUM
vs. Florida International
The Shula Bowl returns to Boca Raton in November, and Kiffin looks to improve to 3-0 against Butch Davis and the Owls’ archrival FIU Panthers. Last year, the meeting in Miami was a season highlight, as the Owls won 49-14.
NOV. 23 | 6 P.M., ESPN+ (streaming)
at Texas-San Antonio
The Owls wrap up the regular season with back-to-back games against the C-USA Western Division. FAU won its last meeting with the Roadrunners, 41-37, in 2014.
NOV. 30 | 3:30 P.M., NFL NETWORK
vs. Southern Miss
FAU looks to send the seniors off in better fashion than in 2018’s loss to Charlotte, and this time aspire to be preparing for a bowl game following the regular season finale. Southern Miss was 6-5 last year, but 5-3 in C-USA.
