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Goodbye Shula Bowl. Hello Clemson. FAU unveils 2023 football schedule.

zach weinberger
·3 min read

Florida Atlantic has its first American Athletic Conference football schedule and it's noteworthy for which team is not on it as well as which team is on it.

Tom Herman’s first season as the Owls' head coach coincides with the transition away from Conference USA to the AAC.

"I'm excited to not only see our full schedule laid out before us, but also to have the opportunity to guide this program through the conference change," Herman said. "I believe we are fortunate in the fact that we can get two games under our belts before we head off to play two Power 5 schools in back-to-back weeks. The break before we start the conference season also comes at an opportune time. It's a schedule that will challenge our team and is certain to be exciting for our fans."

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Missing is the annual game with Florida International - the Shula Bowl - but FAU will be playing Clemson. Yes, that Clemson.

Here are three games to watch:

Saturday, Sept. 2 – Monmouth

The Owls will open the season at home against a new opponent.

Also, both programs have one thing in common. Monmouth also will be playing its first game in a new conference as the Hawks joined the Colonial Athletic Conference.

Each team wants to make an early splash before heading to play conference opponents, but the Owls also have two tough games on the road - at Clemson and Illinois - later in the month.

Saturday, Sept. 16 – at Clemson

In the third game of the season, FAU will take on a college football juggernaut in a high-profile matchup against Clemson.

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney reacts to a missed field goal during the first half of the Orange Bowl game between the Tennessee Vols and Clemson Tigers at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. on Friday, Dec. 30, 2022. Orangebowl1230 1859
Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney reacts to a missed field goal during the first half of the Orange Bowl game between the Tennessee Vols and Clemson Tigers at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. on Friday, Dec. 30, 2022. Orangebowl1230 1859

While the Tigers haven't played for the national championship in a couple of years, Dabo Swinney's program will be among the top teams in 2023. Clemson was 13th in the final poll with a 11-3 record last season - and that was considered a down year.

The last time these two teams faced off was on Sept. 2, 2006 when Clemson made easy work of FAU, 54-6.

Saturday, Oct. 14 – at USF

With the Shula Bowl put on pause this season before restarting in 2024, FAU looks to begin another in-state rivalry, this time versus fellow conference member USF.

As fans of both programs have started to argue with each other on social media, this will be a must-watch for any avid viewer of Florida college football. It will be the Owls' second conference game following the Tulsa game the week before.

A key aspect FAU needs to improve on is its road performance; the Owls have not won more than one away game since 2019.

FAU 2023 football schedule

Saturday, Sept. 2 – Monmouth

Saturday, Sept. 9 – Ohio

Saturday, Sept. 16 – at Clemson

Saturday, Sept. 23 – at Illinois

Sept. 30 – Open

Saturday, Oct. 7 – Tulsa

Saturday, Oct. 14 – at USF

Saturday, Oct. 21 – Texas-San Antonio

Friday, Oct. 27 – at Charlotte

Saturday, Nov. 4 – at Alabama-Birmingham

Saturday, Nov. 11 – Eastern Carolina

Saturday, Nov. 18 – Tulane

Saturday, Nov. 25 – at Rice

Saturday, Dec. 2 – AAC Championship

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: FAU Owls 2023 football schedule includes games vs. Clemson, Illinois