FAU Owls vs. Florida Gators 2026 Preview: A Battle at the Swamp

At long last, the 2026 college football season has arrived! Florida Atlantic, a program filled with optimism surrounding the offense, draws a difficult Week 1 task in the form of the Florida Gators. Jon Sumrall, the new head coach in Gainesville, will look to have the Gators rolling in their home opener and send a message to their opponent to kick off the new season.

Who are the key players to watch? And what does each team need to try to accomplish to leave Week 1 with a win? It is time to find out!

It is so good to be back with college football coverage, folks! Let us dive into the first game preview of the season, featuring the FAU Owls and the Florida Gators.

FAU vs. Florida 2026 College Football Preview

Matchup History

The Gators are undefeated in their history against the Owls, currently holding a 4-0 record. The first matchup took place in 2007, where Florida won by a score of 59-20. In their last game against each other, the Gators defeated FAU by a score of 35-14. Future first-round pick Anthony Richardson ran for 160 yards and a touchdown, as well as throwing for 40 yards.

Key Players to Watch: FAU

QB Caden Veltkamp

At long last, it is showtime for the Owls’ quarterback. Caden Veltkamp showed plenty of promise in 2025, throwing for 24 touchdowns and 3,641 yards. The quarterback had some very big throws down the field, notching 10 touchdowns of over 20 yards and 23 overall big-time throws. However, Veltkamp struggled massively with the turnovers in 2025, throwing 17 interceptions and multiple other throws that could have gone for interceptions. These struggles were amplified by a shoulder injury, which Veltkamp had surgery on this offseason.

Now fully healthy, the expectations surrounding Veltkamp entering 2026 are high once again. The quarterback has his play-caller and confidant in head coach Zach Kittley, as well as his close friend/favorite target Easton Messer. FAU remade its offensive line and added some new weapons, such as wideout Kelby Valsin and tight end A.J. Johnson. Florida will be a tough test, but it will also be the first measuring stick to see how real the Owls are on offense. Veltkamp is a key player to follow on Saturday night.

DL Blake Burris

An older player who is new to the Owls, Blake Burris could be a massive difference-maker on the defensive line this season. Transferring in from SMU, Burris has the size and athleticism ot be a force in the run game. Kittley and his staff have lauded the ability Burris has shown in fall camp, whether against the run or even as a pass rusher. The veteran defensive tackle will have a major test against the Florida offensive line and the overall offense of the Gators. If he finds success, the sky is the limit for Burris in 2026.

WR Kelby Valsin

Sometimes, all a player needs is a real chance. And in 2026, I think that Kelby Valsin getting a chance with the Owls will result in some major success. Not only does Valsin have upper-tier speed, but he has the strength to make plays through contact. Look no further than the Owls’ spring game; on a jump ball, Valsin boxed out the defensive back and powered into the end zone for a touchdown. Kittley is sky-high on Valsin, and he is firmly within FAU’s starting group on offense. Florida’s secondary will be a tough test, but if Valsin gets open as I expect him to, he could make some big-time plays in this game.

Key Players to Watch: Florida

RB Jadan Baugh

One of the best running backs in the country, Jadan Baugh could be in store for a major game on Saturday night. In 2025, the star running back had 1,170 yards and eight touchdowns. He was a major problem, creating over 700 yards after contact and forcing 65 missed tackles. Baugh runs with smoothness and power. He uses his burst to get into open space, while also punishing defenders who attempt to bring him down. FAU will need to dedicate a lot of defensive attention to the running back, and even then, it may not be enough to prevent him from having a big day.

JACK Jayden Woods

One of Florida’s breakout defensive players in 2025, Jayden Woods returns to be a force for the Gators in 2026. Woods, as a true freshman last season, notched 28 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 18 defensive stops, an interception, one pass breakup, two QB hurries, and a fumble recovery. He uses both speed and power to stuff run plays and get after the passer on a consistent basis. FAU’s offensive line, while reconstructed, could still have some vulnerabilities on Saturday night. If there is an opening to cause issues for the Owls, Woods is one of the main players that will do so. He is a major player to watch in Week 1.

WR Dallas Wilson

He is not the most experienced wideout in this room, but Dallas Wilson is a player who could be ready for his breakout season in 2026. Despite only notching 174 yards on the season, Wilson burst onto the scene with a two-touchdown, six-catch, 111-yard performance against Texas. Wilson has the speed, route-running, and hands to make an impact at all levels of the field. Vernell Brown III, Eric Singleton Jr., among others, are very talented players in this Florida wideout room. Wilson has the talent to be the best of all of them, especially if he stays healthy. Look out for him to potentially have a big game against the Owls on Saturday night.

FAU Keys to Victory

Put the Pressure on the Gators When on Offense

The Gators have a plethora of new pieces on defense and a new play-caller for the unit. In contrast, Florida Atlantic returns the same quarterback and play-caller for 2025, in addition to multiple other places. Kittley and his unit, as a result, need to put immediate pressure on Florida from the jump on Saturday. Veltkamp needs to find a way to not only be consistent on a down-to-down basis, but hit multiple big throws against the Gators. He needs to have the offense force Florida into playing catch-up with the Owls, which will help unlock the perceived strengths of the FAU defense. In short,  the more success FAU’s offense has, the better the Owls’ chances of an upset will be.

Avoid Mental Miscues

In 2025, Florida Atlantic was crippled by mental miscues on an extremely consistent basis. They committed brutal penalties that could have been easily avoided, while assignments were blown on a very consistent basis. To kick off things in 2026, the Owls need to play a crisp game of football. Florida may be better than them in some key areas, but FAU cannot give the Gators extra chances or free plays on Saturday night. Without some legitimate improvement in this area, the Owls will be in big trouble fast against Florida.

Florida Keys to Victory

Test the Owls’ Secondary

FAU had to rebuild a large chunk of its secondary this offseason, whether through the transfer portal or through high school recruiting. As a result, Florida should test the Owls early and often in this regard on Saturday. Whether through screen plays, deep passes, or route combinations that require defensive communication, the Gators need to look to put the Owls on the back foot early and often. With players like Dallas Wilson and Vernell Brown III, I expect that to be an early strategy for Florida in Week 1.

Get After Veltkamp

On the defensive side of the ball, Florida’s early defensive game plan needs to revolve around pressuring FAU quarterback Caden Veltkamp. Led by head coach Zach Kittley, the Owls’ offensive scheme involves plenty of downfield shots and will look to test the Florida secondary. FAU has found plenty of success operating that way, but they have also dealt with struggles, mainly when their quarterback has come under duress. Between Jayden Woods, Kamran James, and the rest of the Florida defense, the unit has to make it a point of emphasis to get Veltkamp off of his spot. How they fare in this regard will influence how this game plays out.

Game Prediction

Florida, in the first game of the Jon Sumrall Era, beats FAU by a score of 35-20.