Good Morning, FAU Fam. It’s a Thursday night showdown in Florida! UTSA comes to Boca Raton at 7-1 and unbeaten in league play, which makes this the toughest test the Owls have had at home all year.
Easton Messer leads the country in catches and Caden Veltkamp leads it in completions per game, and Kelby Valsin is right behind Messer at 7.5 grabs a game. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m., and we’ll see you there.
Plus: Tomorrow' night’s ESPN showdown with UTSA comes loaded with reasons to show up early, starting with tailgating lots at 3:30 p.m. and Publix Paradise Plaza opening at 5 with food trucks, inflatables, and a Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars tribute band at 5:30. Inside, Beer Gardens run happy hour pricing through the end of the first quarter, dollar dogs are on sale all night, and LED lighting effects sync up with player intros and scoring plays. Flagler Credit Union is handing out $200 to a random fan for every Owls touchdown, and tickets start at $15. More details here.
What else do we have mixed into today’s Brew? Check it out below!
🌴 This Week in Paradise
🏈 Next Level
🦉 And much, much more
📈 STOCK UP
🔼 SportsCenter Comes Calling. ESPN brings ‘SportsCenter on Campus’ to Florida Atlantic for the first time ever tomorrow, a free 30-minute live show from Publix Paradise Plaza starting at 5 p.m. ET. Matt Barrie hosts before calling the Owls-UTSA game at 7:30 p.m. ET alongside Chase Daniel. The plaza opens at the same time with rally towels, food trucks, a Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars tribute band, and dollar dogs waiting inside the stadium all game long.
🔼 Primetime Week in Paradise. With basketball already underway after Monday’s openers and the coaches radio show in the books Tuesday, the headliner in Paradise this week arrives tomorrow night when ESPN comes to Boca Raton for Florida Atlantic’s 7:30 p.m. football game against UTSA. Volleyball takes the floor today against South Florida and again Friday against UAB, both on ESPN+. Softball opens a three-day stretch Friday, and women’s basketball hosts Kennesaw State on Saturday afternoon.
🔼 Closing Time. LIU hung around all night and even tied it at 52 with under ten minutes left, but FAU men’s hoops finished on a 22-8 run and never let the Sharks hit another field goal over the final five minutes of a 74-60 win. Kanaan Carlyle led everyone with 20 points, nine rebounds, and a career-high five steals, with Josh Harris, Felipe Quinones, and Milhan Charles all joining him in double figures. The Owls head to Wright State on Friday, a 7:30 p.m. tip on ESPN+.
🏆 NOMINATE YOUR HOMETOWN COACH! 🏆
Every great athlete has a coach who believed in them. Now, it’s time to give that coach the spotlight they deserve! 🦉
In collaboration with Dynasty Custom, nominate your favorite hometown coach for a chance to be recognized as our Hometown Coach Spotlight!
Whether they’re coaching the next generation of stars, inspiring their players, or making
a difference in the community, we want to hear their story. 💙❤️
👉 Nominate your hometown coach today!
🔼 Nothing Hit the Ground. Easton Messer caught every single ball thrown his way at North Texas (all 16 of them!), setting an FAU single-game record and matching the most by any FBS receiver this season. The fifth-year wideout piled up 189 yards and three scores, and the American handed him Honorable Mention honors, his third weekly nod of the fall.
🔼 Next Level. The Shriner Children’s East-West Bowl tabbed Caden Veltkamp its “Monday Morning Quarterback,” an honor that goes to the all-star-eligible passer showing off the most NFL traits in a given week. He earned it by topping every FBS quarterback with 452 yards at North Texas while matching the FAU single-game record with five touchdown throws.
🔼 Locked Down. Alfred Mikkelsen takes American Conference Goalkeeper of the Week for the third time in his career after posting his sixth clean sheet of the season in a 3-0 win over South Florida, tying the single-season shutout record for the second straight year. DJ Koulai grabbed his first weekly honorable mention of the fall, scoring against the Bulls and setting up David Jesus’ game-winner in Sunday’s 3-2 result at UAB. The Owls host Memphis in Friday’s quarterfinal on ESPN+.
🏈💰 TAKE IT TO THE HOUSE! 💰🏈
The stakes are HIGH and the end zone is worth $10,000! 🔥
If the Owls take the opening kickoff TO THE HOUSE, one lucky fan could take home $10,000!
Think the Owls are going all the way? 🦉🏠
👉 Enter now for your chance to win!
🔼 Sweeping the Honors. A perfect road trip through Tulsa and Wichita State got three Owls on the American’s weekly list: Sara Gamboa as Offensive Player of the Week, Maya Van Heyst as Setter of the Week, and Sequoia Layne as an Honorable Mention. Gamboa piled up 31 kills on a .400 clip, Van Heyst posted double-doubles in both matches with a league-best 90 assists, and Layne put up 18 blocks.
🔼 Afternoon Road Trip. The Owls head to Tulsa on Saturday, Nov. 14, with ESPN+ carrying a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff against the Golden Hurricane. Florida Atlantic has taken three straight in the series and can push the all-time lead to 4-1, having handled Tulsa 40-21 last November. First, though, UTSA comes to town tomorrow night for a 7:30 p.m. date on ESPN.
WPBF 25 IS PROUD TO BE AN OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNER OF FLORIDA ATLANTIC ATHLETICS.
🦉 PARADISE TRIVIA
Florida Atlantic has now won its season opener five years running, a program record. Which seasons did the previous four-year streak cover?
Have a guess?
Scroll to the bottom to find out!
Season tickets for the 2026-27 Florida Atlantic men’s and women’s basketball seasons are now on sale through the Owls Ticket Office. Season tickets to support your Hometown Team start at just $350 for men’s hoops and $75 for the women’s season. Purchase 2026 season tickets!
🗓️ THE SCHEDULE AHEAD
*All Times Are in ET
Wednesday, Nov. 4
🎾 Women’s Tennis @ ITF W15 (Sumter, S.C.)
🏐 Volleyball vs. South Florida @ 6 p.m. | Watch: ESPN+
Thursday, Nov. 5
🎾 Women’s Tennis @ ITF W15 (Sumter, S.C.)
🎾 Men’s Tennis @ ITA South Sectional Championship (Gainesville, Fla.)
🏈 Football vs. UTSA @ 7:30 p.m. | Watch: ESPN | Tickets
Friday, Nov. 6
🎾 Women’s Tennis @ ITF W15 (Sumter, S.C.)
🎾 Men’s Tennis @ ITA South Sectional Championship (Gainesville, Fla.)
🎾 Men’s Tennis @ Bonita Bay (Naples, Fla.)
🏀 Men’s Basketball @ Wright State @ TBA (Dayton, Ohio)
🏖️ Beach Volleyball @ AVCA Fall Pairs Championship (Huntsville, Ala.)
⚽ Men’s Soccer vs. Memphis @ 7 p.m. @ American Conference Championship | Watch: ESPN+
🥎 Softball vs. Miami Dade @ 6 p.m. (10 Innings)
Saturday, Nov. 7
🎾 Women’s Tennis @ ITF W15 (Sumter, S.C.)
🎾 Men’s Tennis @ ITA South Sectional Championship (Gainesville, Fla.)
🎾 Men’s Tennis @ Bonita Bay (Naples, Fla.)
🏖️ Beach Volleyball @ AVCA Fall Pairs Championship (Huntsville, Ala.)
⚽ Men’s Soccer @ American Conference Championship | Watch: ESPN
🏊 Swim @ South Florida Diving Invitational @ 12 p.m. (Coral Springs, Fla.)
🥎 Softball vs. Florida Southwestern @ 1 p.m.
🏀 Women’s Basketball vs. Kennesaw State @ 2 p.m. | Watch: ESPN+
Sunday, Nov. 8
🎾 Women’s Tennis @ ITF W15 (Sumter, S.C.)
🎾 Men’s Tennis @ ITA South Sectional Championship (Gainesville, Fla.)
🎾 Men’s Tennis @ Bonita Bay (Naples, Fla.)
🏖️ Beach Volleyball @ AVCA Fall Pairs Championship (Huntsville, Ala.)
⚽ Men’s Soccer @ American Conference Championship | Watch: ESPN
⚽ Women’s Soccer @ American Conference Championship (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.)
🥎 Softball Red vs. Blue Intrasquad @ 12 p.m. (10 Innings)
Monday, Nov. 9
⚽ Women’s Soccer @ American Conference Championship (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.)
🎾 Men’s Tennis @ ITF M15 (Naples, Fla.)
🎾 Women’s Tennis @ ITF W35 (Weston, Fla.)
Tuesday, Nov. 10
⚽ Women’s Soccer @ American Conference Championship (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.)
🎾 Men’s Tennis @ ITF M15 (Naples, Fla.)
🎾 Women’s Tennis @ ITF W35 (Weston, Fla.)
Wednesday, Nov. 11
⚽ Women’s Soccer @ American Conference Championship (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.)
🎾 Men’s Tennis @ ITF M15 (Naples, Fla.)
🎾 Women’s Tennis @ ITF W35 (Weston, Fla.)
🏀 Women’s Basketball vs. South Alabama @ 1 p.m. | Watch: ESPN+
🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. William & Mary @ 7 p.m. | Watch: ESPN+
Thursday, Nov. 12
⚽ Women’s Soccer @ American Conference Championship (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.)
🎾 Men’s Tennis @ ITF M15 (Naples, Fla.)
🎾 Women’s Tennis @ ITF W35 (Weston, Fla.)
Friday, Nov. 13
⚽ Women’s Soccer @ American Conference Championship (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.)
🎾 Men’s Tennis @ ITF M15 (Naples, Fla.)
🎾 Women’s Tennis @ ITF W35 (Weston, Fla.)
👟 Cross Country @ NCAA South Regionals (Tallahassee, Fla.)
⚾ Baseball vs. Nova Southeastern @ 4 p.m.
🏐 Volleyball vs. East Carolina @ 6 p.m. | Watch: ESPN+
🥎 Softball @ Nova Southeastern @ 6 p.m. (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) (10 Innings)
Saturday, Nov. 14
⚽ Women’s Soccer @ American Conference Championship (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.)
🎾 Men’s Tennis @ ITF M15 (Naples, Fla.)
🎾 Women’s Tennis @ ITF W35 (Weston, Fla.)
🏈 Football @ Tulsa @ TBA (Tulsa, Okla.) | Listen: Fox Sports South Florida
🥎 Softball vs. Palm Beach Atlantic @ 12 p.m. (10 Innings)
🏀 Women’s Basketball @ FGCU @ 2 p.m. (Fort Myers, Fla.) | Watch: ESPN+
🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. Coastal Georgia @ 2 p.m. | Watch: ESPN+
⚾ Baseball vs. Lynn @ 4 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 15
⚽ Women’s Soccer @ American Conference Championship (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.)
🎾 Men’s Tennis @ ITF M15 (Naples, Fla.)
🎾 Women’s Tennis @ ITF W35 (Weston, Fla.)
🥎 Softball: Red vs. Blue Intrasquad @ 12 p.m. (10 Innings)
🏐 Volleyball @ Charlotte @ 1 p.m. (Charlotte, N.C.) | Watch: FAUSports.com
🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER
Answer: 1988-89 through 1991-92, the program’s first four seasons.
🦉 Have a great Wednesday, Owl Fam!
