Good Morning, FAU Family. EA SPORTS has announced Florida Atlantic football's top 10 player ratings for the upcoming College Football 26 video game, with a blend of newcomers and returners. To select your 2025 players and compete as an Owl, join the Athletic Department at the second annual EA SPORTS Launch Party, set for 3 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 8, in the University Center's eSports Arena.

The first 100 attendees will receive a custom game case with a special edition cover. One lucky case will contain the codes for a free game. Selected Owls will be on site to display their game skills in person.

🏈 : LIST OF PLAYERS

What else do we have mixed into today’s Brew? Check it out below!

📚 Women's and men's swim/dive teams were named Scholar All-American
🏀 MBB announces home-and-home with Boston College
🏈 One-on-one with Coach Kittley
🦉 And much, much more

Number of the Day: 5️⃣4️⃣

We’re counting down the days to the return of Florida Atlantic football on August 30 at Maryland! In honor of the 54 days left, we take a look at No. 54, incoming freshman Nikolas Turner. As a senior, Turner played for Cocoa High School, a 6X FHSAA State Champion. The two-sport athlete (he also played basketball) was listed as an Elite 100 Prospect.

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🔼 Zach’s Plan Of Attack. Florida Atlantic Football’s head coach, Zach Kittley, sat down with The AAC’s Maria Trivelpiece to discuss what attracted him to Paradise and what makes a program special.

Kittley arrived in Boca Raton as one of the brightest and most innovative offensive minds in college football. He has been the architect of prolific offenses at each of his stops while coaching the likes of future NFL signal-callers Patrick Mahomes II, Bailey Zappe, and Davis Webb. In his seven seasons as an offensive coordinator, quarterback coach, and playcaller, Kittley's teams averaged 457.3 yards and 34.8 points per game.

🎧 LISTEN NOW 🏈

🔼 Home-N-Home. The Florida Atlantic MBB team will take on Boston College in a home-and-away series starting in the upcoming 2025-26. The 2025 matchup will mark the first ACC opponent for second-year head coach John Jakus and his first opportunity to host a power conference school at the Elly.

It will be the Owls' first time hosting an ACC opponent since November of 2021, when FAU faced Miami. FAU will go up against BC in Paradise for game one of the two-game series on Nov. 3. The Owls will then take a trip to Boston during the 2026-27 season. 

🗣"We are very excited to start off the 2025-26 campaign at home in the Elly against an ACC opponent. We believe our fans will love our new group!" - Coach Jakus

🔼 Strokes Of Genius. The Florida Atlantic swimming & diving teams' success outside the classroom continues to shine under the direction of head coach Lara Preacco and staff.

For an eighth consecutive semester, both the women's and men's teams were named Scholar All-American by the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) for the spring of 2025.

In addition, the Owls had four athletes receive individual honors for their accomplishments during the spring 2025 semesters.

📚 HONOREES 🏊🏼

🔼 Knights Out. The Florida Atlantic softball team has hired Shannon Doherty as Director of Player Development, as announced by head coach Jordan Clark.

Doherty arrives to Paradise after six seasons with UCF. With Doherty as a member of the coaching staff in 2025, the Knights were selected to the NCAA Austin Regional following a 35-24-1 campaign. 

Doherty was a UCF student-athlete during its transition from the AAC to the Big 12, earning two all-conference selections. She can be found all over the Knights' record book.

🤓 In what year did the Florida Atlantic football team win its first bowl game?

Got a guess? Scroll to the bottom to find out!

🦉 ONE BIG THING

Different Strokes Of Genius. The 2024-25 Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American Scholar Team was announced, and Florida Atlantic was well represented with four selections. 

Sophomores Charlotte Perkins and Giulia Scarcello each earned their place on the list for the second consecutive year, while freshmen Nancy Cox and Maddie Rathjen put a bow on standout debut seasons.

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*All Times Are in ET

Saturday, Aug. 30
🏈 Football @ Maryland - Season Opener @ Noon TV: Big Ten Network | Radio: Fox Sports 640 South Florida

🦉 Go here for the complete Florida Atlantic University Athletics Calendar

Paradise Trivia is brought to you by Choice Mortgage Group, the Official Mortgage Lender of Florida Atlantic Athletics.

The Answer: 2007!

In 2007, the Owls won their first bowl game, beating Memphis in the New Orleans Bowl.

🦉 Hope you had a great holiday weekend, Owl Fam!