The Florida Atlantic Owls are back in action this week, facing off against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane for their Homecoming game in Week 11. It is set to be a very interesting matchup, as Tulsa is much better this year compared to previous seasons. They can throw the ball at a decent clip and have a defense that will make quarterback Caden Veltkamp go to work once again.
On the FAU side of things, the Owls need to find their rushing attack and pass rush to have a great shot at winning this game. They have the talent to beat Tulsa, but the execution will be the biggest question on Saturday.
How will things pan out? And what do you need to watch for? Let’s find out in this FAU vs. Tulsa 2025 college football game preview.
FAU vs. Tulsa 2025 College Football Preview
Game History
In the history of both programs, FAU is on the winning side of the matchup.
Through four all-time games, the Owls hold a 3-1 record against the Golden Hurricane. FAU has also won the past two matchups, including last year’s game by a score of 63-18 to end the 2024 season. That game saw Xavier Terell and Gemari Sands both score touchdowns on the ground, while current Rutgers running back CJ Campbell had over 100 yards in both the passing game and running game.
Key Players for FAU
Offensively, the key players for FAU are Caden Veltkamp and the entire offensive line unit. On the season, the Tulsa defense has allowed a 43.9-percent defensive success rate, which slots in at 98th in the country. However, the unit is not that bad below the surface against the run, as the Golden Hurricane has allowed an EPA/rush of -0.03 (46th in the country).
Where Tulsa is vulnerable, though, is through the air. This is where Veltkamp comes into play; the quarterback has thrown for 2312 yards and has registered 14 big-time throws already. He has shown a great ability to not only push the ball down the field, but also play on time and execute Zach Kittley‘s offense. With a run game that has been struggling, it will once again likely fall to Veltkamp to power the FAU offense on Saturday. How much he does will likely determine the ultimate outcome of the game.
More so than Veltkamp, though, the offensive line will have a huge impact on this game. The overall unit has been bad in the run game, as no player has over a 60.0 PFF run blocking grade. In the passing game, the Owls have had some standouts, but the overall unit has been very inconsistent and has struggled against upper-level opponents.
Tulsa may not be the most threatening unit on the defensive line, but they are no pushover. The Owls need a great performance from their unit against the Golden Hurricane; if they do not get one, they may be in danger of dropping this game.
Defensively, linebacker Tyler Stolsky and edge rusher Deshaun Batiste will be key.
Stolsky has been very solid for the Owls this season as a run defender and pass rusher. He has 45 tackles, 22 defensive stops, and four pressures, including one sack. However, the reason he’s worth highlighting is because he needs to step up in coverage. On the year, the Minnesota transfer has allowed 22 receptions on 24 targets for 138 yards, with 121 of those yards have come after the catch in 2025.
Tulsa’s passing game flows through a tight end, as Brody Foley leads the team with six touchdowns this season. The Golden Hurricane will likely attack Stolsky and fellow linebacker Leon Hart Jr. in this game; how they fare in the passing attack will likely determine what path this game takes.
Batiste has been held in check over the past few weeks, but he leads the Owls with 15 pressures this season. He has shown the ability to win with both power and speed, with his best game coming against Memphis, where he recorded five pressures and two sacks. FAU will need to cause havoc against the Golden Hurricane on Saturday, and Batiste will have to be a key member of the operation for them to succeed.
Key Players for Tulsa
For Tulsa, tight end Brody Foley and edge rusher J’Dan Burnett are key in this matchup.
Foley, as mentioned above, has been the focal point of the Tulsa offense. On the season, the tight end has 387 yards and six touchdowns, and is coming off of a two touchdown performance against Temple. FAU’s defense has struggled with coverage at times up the middle, leaving a Golden opportunity for Tulsa to exploit. If the rest of the offense finds its footing, Foley could have a big game in Boca Raton.
Burnett has been a dominant force for Tulsa this season. In eight games, the edge rusher has 21 pressures, seven sacks, 14 defensive stops, and a forced fumble. He has registered at least one sack in every game and only has three games where he has not registered at least two defensive stops. Against a struggling offensive line in FAU, Burnett could not only have a good game, but could have a chance to wreck the game on Saturday.
Keys to Victory: FAU Owls
To beat Tulsa, here is what the Owls need to accomplish.
Get the run game finally rolling
This can be a blocking thing, a play-calling thing, or a running back thing. FAU must get their rushing attack rolling on Saturday against Tulsa, no matter what. This offense cannot be caught, becoming one-dimensional, forcing Veltkamp to save them on third and fourth downs all game. They may have historic success against Tulsa, but another bad rushing night could flip the script on the Owls.
Rush. The. Passer
The Owls have lost multiple games this season due to their inability to get after opposing quarterbacks. Whether it is through blitzing or using new personnel, FAU has to find a way to change this issue. Otherwise, it could be a long night for the defense once again.
Finish Strong
FAU has played great to start a lot of games this year. They have competed against the majority of their opponents on their schedule, including potential playoff teams like USF and Memphis. However, they have faltered down the stretch, resulting in the Owls getting blown out late in games. Starting against Tulsa, FAU needs to find a way to finish strong. Not only is this important for the rest of 2025, but also for setting a culture that players will want to be a part of going forward.
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Brandyn Pokrass
Graduated Summa Cum Laude from Fairleigh Dickinson University in May 2023 with a Communications Degree, a concentration in Multimedia Journalism, and a minor in Broadcasting. Received an M.A. in Communication from Fairleigh Dickinson University in May 2024. Wrote for Jets Insider for two years, was previously a beat writer for Jets X-Factor, previously hosted a Knicks podcast for Let's Talk Knicks, and contributed to Inside the Iggles. Currently writes for Metsmerized Online, contributes to Badlands, and contributes video content to Couch Potato Sports Coverage. Avid movie watcher, gym goer, music listener, and overall sports fan.