BOCA RATON – Never before has FAU won more than 10 games in a season.

Tonight, the reigning Conference USA champions can make history be doing just that with a win in the Boca Raton Bowl against MAC runner-up Akron.

Many analysts are predicting a blowout win for the Owls (10-3), who are considered a 22-point favorite over the Zips (7-6).

But first-year head coach Lane Kiffin, who just signed a 10-year deal to stay at FAU, is not one to get too excited about preparations for any game. He’s focused on getting his players prepared to play with precise execution on offense, defense, and special teams.

“With all the bowl distractions going on, I needed to refocus them (the players) and stop them from listening to people saying how good they are,” Kiffin said in a recent press conference. “I told them, ‘If you don’t have the right mindset, you can get beat.’ Hopefully we can get focused (on what we need to do for the game).”

FAU sophomore running back Devin Singletary chimed in on his team’s preparation for the Boca Raton Bowl against Akron’s defense.

“They fly to the ball and they try not to give up a lot of big plays,” Singletary said. “Our offensive line is always on their ‘A’ game. They try to give you their best effort every time. Like I always say, all I have to do is just run. I wouldn’t have had half the yards I got without them this season.”

FAU junior safety Jalen Young chose to keep this bowl game in perspective.

“We can’t forget where we came from,” Young said. “They (Akron) will come and give us their best, so we have to come into this game and prepare the way we prepared for every team we played this year. This is a big week for us.”

The kickoff for tonight’s Boca Raton Bowl between FAU and Akron is 7 p.m. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.

NOTE: New Era Prep staff reporters Keith Forde and Kenneth Stephens contributed to his story.

PHOTO CREDITS: Keith Forde