Upcoming Event: Football versus UTSA on November 5, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
Football
vs. UTSA
Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Photo by: Cadence Whitehouse
10/27/2026 12:00:00 PM | Football
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Following his historic five-touchdown performance in a 51-49 victory over Rice, Florida Atlantic football's fifth-year WR Easton Messer has been selected by the National College Football Awards Association as the Paul Hornung Award National Player of the Week, announced Tuesday afternoon by the Louisville Sports Commission.
The award denotes the most versatile player in college football. Messer more than earned that distinction in an afternoon that saw him record 262 all-purpose yards to go with five total touchdowns: two rushing, two receiving, and an 82-yard punt return that was the longest in program history.
His five scores tie Florida Atlantic's single-game program record and are the most against an FBS opponent. He is not only the first FBS player this season to have scored a punt return, rushing, and receiving touchdown in the same game, but the first in at least 20 years to have recorded two of the latter along with one of the former.
Through seven games of the 2026 season, Messer is tied for the national lead in punt return touchdowns with two. He ranks No. 2 in receptions per game (8.3), No. 9 in receiving yards per game (101.3), No. 13 in all-purpose yards per game (131.86), and No. 18 in receiving touchdowns (6).
Now in his fifth year, the Louisville, Kentucky native is the active FBS leader in receptions (260) and is No. 2 in receiving yards (3,082) as well as all-purpose yards (4,437).
The annual Paul Hornung Award presented by Texas Roadhouse, of which Messer was a preseason watch list member, will be given at the end of the year. Fans who want to vote for Messer to become a finalist can do so HERE.
2026 COMPLETE SCHEDULE
Click HERE.
2026 ROSTER, COACHES AND SUPPORT STAFF
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FOLLOW THE OWLS
Inside the Owls' Burrow airs on The Spot, South Florida 39 (WSFL-TV), will air the show weekly on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. in the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale DMA with replays running to be determined. The Spot, South Florida 9 (WHDT-TV), will air the show on Thursday at 6 p.m. in the West Palm Beach-Fort Pierce DMA with replays to be determined.
Florida Atlantic's Coaches Show, presented by Duffy's Sports Grill, will be on Tuesday, Oct. 27 from 6-7 p.m. at the Duffy's Sports Grill on St. Andrew's Boulevard in Boca Raton.
Fans can join in person or listen live on FOX Sports South Florida 640 AM. Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Zach Kittley will be joined by Tight Ends Coach Jajuan Dulaney as well as Head Men's Basketball Coach John Jakus.
PURCHASE TICKETS NOW
2026 Florida Atlantic tickets are available now. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit HERE, email tickets@fau.edu, or call 1-866-FAU-OWLS during normal business hours to order tickets or speak with a ticket sales representative.
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Stay informed by reading FAUSports.com or through football's Twitter and Instagram accounts @FAUFootball.
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