After completing their inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference in 2023, FAU Football aims to make a resounding statement in their sophomore year in the league this fall. On Thursday, the team received clarity on their upcoming matchups as the American portion of the schedule was officially unveiled by the league office. As a prelude, non-conference season opener action will see the Owls facing off against Big Ten’s Michigan State in East Lansing on August 31st before an intriguing conference opener against new AAC member Army on September 7th in what will mark the first-ever meeting between the two programs. Non-conference play will also include showdowns against in-state rival FIU for the annual Shula Bowl on September 14th, a road clash with UConn on September 21st, and a home matchup against FCS opponent Wagner on September 28th. Additionally, the team will benefit from two bye weeks during the season, with the first scheduled for the weekend of October 5th, providing ample time for preparation. Conference action kicks into gear with a home game against North Texas on October 12th, followed by a challenging road trip to face defending AAC champions UTSA on October 19th. The team’s second bye week will take place just afterwards on October 26th. A game to circle on the calendar will be Week 8’s match-up against USF, with the Bulls visiting Schnellenberger Field on Friday November 1st under the lights. The Owls will look replicate last season’s dominant 56-14 victory over the instate foe and the contest is likely to be televised nationally as part of the American’s ESPN contract. The following weeks entail back-to-back road games against East Carolina on November 7th and Temple on the 16th, with the latter marking a new addition to FAU’s schedule and the inception of the Battle of the Owls. Senior Day and the home finale are set for November 23rd against Charlotte, where FAU aims to extend their five-game winning streak against the 49ers after a convincing 38-16 victory in 2023. The regular season slate concludes with a matchup against Tulsa in Oklahoma on November 30th, which is a rematch from FAU’s inaugural AAC victory. The full schedule is detailed below, and remains subject to possible revisions with television arrangements pending: 08-31 @ Michigan State 09-07 Army 09-14 FIU 09-21 @ UConn 09-28 Wagner 10-05 BYE 10-12 North Texas 10-19 @ UTSA 10-26 BYE 11-01 South Florida 11-07 @ ECU 11-16 @ Temple 11-23 Charlotte 11-30 @ Tulsa Contest kick-off times will be predicated by television network selections, and announced with 12 days of their scheduled dates. Ahead of the regular season kickoff, Florida Atlantic will commence their spring drills and practice sessions on Tuesday, March 12th at the Schmidt Center.
