Florida Atlantic Owls is 0-1 on the season, 0-1 against the spread, and holds a power rating of -9.6. Florida Atlantic Owls enters the season with a power rating of -9.6, placing them below average relative to the FBS midpoint. The Florida Atlantic Owls host Navy next in Week 2. In 2025, Florida Atlantic Owls went 4-8 overall, 7-5 against the spread, and 7-5 on totals.
In Week 1 of 2026 the Florida Atlantic Owls Power Rating of -9.6 is 9.6 points below the FBS average according to Blue Chip Analytics. Florida Atlantic Owls have logged 528 miles of travel so far, out of a season total of 10,250 miles, ranking 27th heaviest in the FBS.
Caden Veltkamp QB, Easton Messer WR, Kaden Shields-Dutton RB, Kelby Valsin WR
Leon Hart Jr. LB, CJ Doggette Jr. DT, Joseph Sipp Jr. LB, Blake Burris DT, Ahlston Ware S
Reed Chandley P, Collin Rogers K
| After | Record | ATS | O/U |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1 | 0-1 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| Week 2 | 1-1 | 1-1 | 1-1 |
| Week 3 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 2-1 |
| Week 5 | 1-3 | 1-3 | 3-1 |
| Week 6 | 2-3 | 2-3 | 3-2 |
| Week 7 | 3-3 | 3-3 | 4-2 |
| Week 8 | 3-4 | 3-4 | 4-3 |
| Week 9 | 3-5 | 4-4 | 5-3 |
| Week 11 | 4-5 | 5-4 | 6-3 |
| Week 12 | 4-6 | 6-4 | 6-4 |
| Week 13 | 4-7 | 7-4 | 7-4 |
| Week 14 | 4-8 | 7-5 | 7-5 |
A season record is a record, not a forecast. Blue Chip Analytics' own research finds that beating the closing line repeats at close to zero from one season to the next - see most underrated and overrated teams. Read the table as what happened, not as what is likely to happen next.
Opened -14.8 in the preseason and finished -9.3 after the postseason, a move of +5.5 points. High -9.3 (the postseason), low -14.8 (the preseason).
PrePost
SP+ is an independent opponent-adjusted efficiency rating, one of the systems blended into the Blue Chip Analytics power rating rather than a Blue Chip Analytics number itself. Defensive SP+ measures points allowed, so a lower figure is a better defence - the rank beside it already accounts for that.
Source spread is how far apart the independent rating systems are on this team, not a margin of error on our own number. A wide spread means the models disagree, which is itself worth knowing.
The measured and applied home field advantage agree to within 0.6 points here, so smoothing changes little for this venue.
| Opponent | Met | Record | ATS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 1 | 0-1 | 1-0 |
| Navy | 2 | 0-2 | 1-1 |
| Florida International | 9 | 7-2 | 7-2 |
| Army | 1 | 0-1 | 0-1 |
| Rice | 4 | 3-1 | 3-1 |
| North Texas | 5 | 2-3 | 4-1 |
| UTSA | 4 | 2-2 | 1-3 |
| Tulsa | 3 | 3-0 | 2-0-1 |
| South Florida | 3 | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| East Carolina | 3 | 0-3 | 0-3 |
No meeting on record since 2016: UL Monroe, Texas Southern.
Week 010,250 mi total
| Week | Opponent | Distance | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 0 | - | Bye | |
| Week 1 | Florida | 264 mi | 528 mi |
| Week 2 | Navy | Home | 528 mi |
| Week 3 | Florida International | Home | 528 mi |
| Week 4 | UL Monroe | 836 mi | 2,199 mi |
| Week 5 | Texas Southern | Home | 2,199 mi |
| Week 6 | - | Bye | |
| Week 7 | Army | 1,092 mi | 4,384 mi |
| Week 8 | Rice | Home | 4,384 mi |
| Week 9 | North Texas | 1,126 mi | 6,635 mi |
| Week 10 | UTSA | Home | 6,635 mi |
| Week 11 | Tulsa | 1,152 mi | 8,939 mi |
| Week 12 | South Florida | Home | 8,939 mi |
| Week 13 | East Carolina | 656 mi | 10,250 mi |
| Week 14 | - | Bye | |
| Week 15 | - | Bye | |
| Week 16 | - | Bye | |
| Postseason | - | Bye | |
Head coach Zach Kittley enters his second season in Boca Raton after a 4-8 debut. The offense returns five starters, including quarterback Caden Veltkamp and wide receiver Easton Messer, who reunited from Western Kentucky. Kittley's pass-heavy system showed flashes last year, averaging near 30 points per game, but consistency was a problem. The Owls hope that a full offseason in the system, plus a more featured role for running back Kaden Shields-Dutton, can stabilize the attack and reduce the turnovers that plagued them in 2025.
Veltkamp led the FBS with 17 interceptions last season, and the Owls ranked last nationally with 29 giveaways. Those mistakes put a defense that allowed a program-worst 36.3 points per game in constant trouble. FAU also forced only eight turnovers, the fifth fewest in the country. The unit brings back more than half of its starters, including top tackler Leon Hart Jr. and sack leader CJ Doggette Jr., but it must show significant improvement for the team to reach bowl eligibility.
The Owls added key transfers to address weaknesses. Linebacker Joseph Sipp Jr. (Kansas) and defensive tackle Blake Burris (SMU) should help against the run, while safety Ahlston Ware arrives from Ferris State as a Division II All-American and national champion to boost the secondary. On special teams, punter Reed Chandley (Georgia State) led the Sun Belt with a 45.8-yard average, and kicker Collin Rogers (SMU) is the Mustangs' all-time leading scorer. These newcomers could provide immediate upgrades.
FAU opens the 2026 season on the road against Florida, a game where they are heavy underdogs. The Gators are a top-tier opponent, and the Owls will need to avoid an early blowout to keep confidence high. With a difficult non-conference slate and a competitive American Athletic Conference, every game matters. The team's path to a first bowl bid since 2020 likely depends on stealing a few wins in conference play and staying healthy through the early stretch.
The season hinges on two things: Veltkamp protecting the football and the defense creating takeaways. If Veltkamp can limit interceptions and the defense improves its turnover margin, FAU has the offensive firepower to compete in most games. The return of Messer as a punt returner, who led the conference with a 20.8-yard average, adds another dimension. Watch how the new defensive transfers mesh and whether the run game becomes reliable enough to take pressure off the passing attack.
Florida Atlantic Owls is 0-1 against the spread in the 2026 season, covering 0% of games.
Florida Atlantic Owls holds a Blue Chip Analytics power rating of -9.6, representing their expected point margin against an average FBS team on a neutral field.
Florida Atlantic Owls's home field advantage rating is 2.3 points, the venue adjustment Blue Chip Analytics applies for games at their home stadium.
Florida Atlantic Owls's consensus regular-season win total for 2026 is 5.5 wins, priced at -160 over and +120 under. This is the betting market's expectation, not a Blue Chip Analytics projection.
Florida Atlantic Owls travels 10,250 miles in the 2026 season, ranking 27th heaviest in the FBS.
Cumulative travel distance counts both the outbound and return journey for every away game. For example, if a team travels 374 miles to play an away game, Blue Chip Analytics counts 748 miles (374 miles there, 374 miles back) toward the cumulative total. Home games and bye weeks add zero miles. The per-week Distance column shows the one-way distance only, as the return trip happens after the game is played.
Florida Atlantic Owls: 0-1 overall, 0-1 ATS, power rating -9.6 (2026 records).
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