Florida Atlantic Drops Season Opener at Florida - Florida Atlantic University Athletics

Saturday, September 5

Gainesville, Fla.

7:45 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

0-1 , 0-0

Florida

1-0 , 0-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Fla. Atlantic	0	14	7	0	21
Florida	17	21	14	14	66

Game Notes #1

Photo by: Jessica Marshall Vernof

9/6/2026 12:43:00 AM | Football

Box Score

By: Ben Paul

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – In its 2026 season opener, the Florida Atlantic football team fell to Florida by a score of 66-21 on Saturday evening at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

The Owls' (0-1) offense made strides with four trips to the red zone and three touchdowns but ultimately came up short in preventing responses from the Gators' (1-0) offensive unit.

THE BEGINNING
On the opening possession, the Owls marched into Gator territory with 11 consecutive passes before a turnover stalled the drive at Florida's 32-yard line. The Gators then scored on their ensuing possession for a 7-0 lead.

Florida tacked on another touchdown and field goal before the first quarter ended to go up 17-0.

THE TURNING POINT
As the second quarter began, the Owls again found themselves in Gator territory and this time came away with points. Graduate QB Caden Veltkamp used his legs in the red zone to scramble to the 1-yard line and sophomore RB Ethan Ervin finished the drive with his first collegiate touchdown.

Florida had an answer, scoring six plays later to grow the lead to 24-7. A 25-yard grab by fifth-year WR Easton Messer sparked an Owls drive that culminated in Veltkamp taking it into the end zone from seven yards out, to close the gap to 24-14.

The Gators scored two more touchdowns to send the Owls into the locker room trailing 38-14 at the half.

THE FINISH
Florida scored twice out of halftime to extend the lead. As the third quarter neared its conclusion, Veltkamp hit senior WR Kelby Valsin 20 yards downfield and into the end zone for the team's first touchdown pass of the season.

The Owls offense reached Florida's 1-yard line in the fourth quarter but were stopped on fourth down.

OFFENSE

In his Florida Atlantic debut, Valsin was Veltkamp's primary target, leading the team with 10 receptions for 92 yards and a score. He was the only player in the American Conference to haul in double-digit catches in Week 1.
Ervin's career day also saw him record collegiate highs in carries (16) and yards (50) in addition to his touchdown.
Veltkamp completed 34 of his 52 passing attempts. Both the completions and attempts are the fourth most in the program's single-game history.

DEFENSE

Graduate DB Jayden Sweeney recorded a late first half interception, his first since joining Florida Atlantic.
Picking up where he left off from last season, graduate LB Leon Hart Jr. led FAU with seven tackles.
Graduate DL Enyce Sledge tallied his first solo tackle for loss as an Owl.

POSTGAME PRESSER

POSTGAME QUOTABLE
Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Zach Kittley
"Clearly there is no victory at all here. I am frustrated with our performance and with how we coached, but at the end of the day, like I told the team, we start a whole new season this next week with American Conference play, with Navy coming to town. We have to be ready to go and that is what I am going to challenge these guys to do: get past this first one and be critical of ourselves, me included and get after it and get ready for Navy next week."

PHOTO GALLERY

Gallery: (9-5-2026) Florida Atlantic at Florida

UP NEXT
The Owls will host their 2026 home opener on Howard Schnellenberger Field at Flagler Credit Union Stadium, facing American Conference foe Navy on Saturday, Sept. 12. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. on ESPNU.

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