Good Morning, FAU Family. Ranked as a "Top 100 Public University" for the first time, Florida Atlantic University moved up to No. 100 in the U.S. News & World Report list of "Top Public Schools" for 2026, rising from No. 103 in last year's ranking of the nation's best universities.

"Florida Atlantic's ascent into the U.S. News Top 100 Public Schools ranking is a milestone that reflects the extraordinary momentum and impact our university has built over the years, defined by excellence, innovation and opportunity," said FAU President Adam Hasner.

🦉: FULL STORY

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

⚽️ Toure Named Defensive Player of the Week
⛳️ Men’s Golf Misses a Win By One Shot!
🏐 Volleyball Opens Conference Play in Tampa
🦉 And much, much more

🌀 HURRICANE IMPACT WINDOWS

Living in South Florida means facing the whims of Mother Nature head-on. Here, impact windows are more than just a home upgrade; they’re essential for hurricane protection and peace of mind.

Preparing for hurricane season doesn't have to be stressful. Our experts at Prestige Windows & Doors are here to help!

Call today at 561-464-3355 or contact us online to be one step closer to peace of mind.

🔼 Clean Slate. Following a bye week, the Florida Atlantic football team returned to the practice field on Tuesday, mindful of Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Zach Kittley's message, which is that the opportunity to win the American Conference is still ahead. The Owls are 0-0 going into this week's league play.

FAU is slated to play host to Memphis, who enter this week's contest 4-0 and is coming off a victory over last weekend's SEC opponent. The Owls are 1-2 and coming off a bye. The two teams have met twice previously, both in bowl contests, and each has come away with a victory.

🔼 Let’s Do It For Coach Nelson. Florida Atlantic volleyball opens American Conference play this week as the Owls head to Tampa, Fla., for a midweek matchup against the South Florida Bulls on Wednesday, Sept. 24. First serve is set for 6 p.m. ET at the Corral.

Florida Atlantic enters American play at 9-4 overall. The Owls are fresh off a 3-0 weekend that saw FAU capture the Owls Paradise Classic Championship, earning wins against George Washington, 3-2, Stetson, 3-0, and Bethune-Cookman, 3-0.

Head Coach Fernanda Nelson is just one win shy of her 200th career win, boasting a 199-169 (.541) career record over her 14 seasons in Paradise.

🔼 One Shot From the Win. A late rally by Florida Atlantic men's golf fell just short at the GMAC Invitational hosted by UAB on Tuesday afternoon. The Owls finished at +2, one shot behind North Alabama.

Quick Hits

• The Owls started the day two shots behind Lipscomb but quickly erased the deficit with early birdies from the trio of Biagio Gagliardi, NaShawn Tyson, and Guilherme Grinberg.

• Gagliardi circled three birdies in a row at 11, 12, and 13.

• Gagliardi finished fifth at -3, one ahead of Grinberg in seventh place.

🔼 These Guys = Goals. Florida Atlantic men's soccer senior Kerfalla Toure has been named the American Conference Defensive Player of the Week. Senior midfielder Aboubacar Traore was selected as a weekly honorable mention (his second of the season).

Toure provided the primary assist on Francesco Aiello's game-winning goal on Sunday vs. Temple. The center back from Dorval, Quebec, Canada, then provided the insurance marker for the Owls, heading home a corner kick later in the second half for his first goal as an Owl.

Traore put the Owls on the board less than a minute into Sunday's match and later delivered the corner kick that resulted in Toure's goal.

🔼 Freeland’s Foray Into Paradise. Florida Atlantic women's basketball officially kicked off its 2025-26 season on Tuesday as the Owls held their first day of official practice inside the Elly.

The Owls got after it on day one, starting with a review before moving into live play, which was broken up by 3-point shooting competitions.

FAU returns Erin Rodgers, Ta'Ziah Jenks, and Zahira Arizmendi from last year's roster, while welcoming eight newcomers. Head Coach LeAnn Freeland enters her first season in Paradise and her 19th season as a head coach in 2025-26.

🔼 Hoops Have Entered the Chat. The 2025-26 edition of the Florida Atlantic men's basketball team took to the court on Monday afternoon for the first official practice of the season. 

Head Coach John Jakus, entering his second season at the helm, welcomes a roster with 10 newcomers and five returners. The team will work for the next month ahead of a preseason exhibition against Florida Tech on Thursday, Oct. 30, at the Elly. The regular season officially opens on Monday, Nov. 3, when the Owls host Boston College. 

🗣 “It was the return of being able to do something that we all love,” said Coach Jakus.

🔼 Say, “Winning in Paradise!” Florida Atlantic fans, enjoy another week of "OWLFLICS", presented by Baptist Health South Florida, showcasing the top photos from FAU Athletics each week.

This week, photos of swim and dive senior Daniel Laureyssens celebrating his performance after breaking the program's 100 free record twice in the Owls’ season-opening sweep versus Indian River on Thursday; volleyball's Libby Ashline celebrating with her teammates during FAU's win over George Washington and more.

📸: SEE THIS WEEK’S OWLFLICS

🔼 Fielding Questions. Episode 7 of Inside the Owls' Burrow's 2025 football season will air tomorrow at 10 a.m. ET on FanDuel Sports Network Florida. It will re-air Saturday, Sept. 27, at 11:30 a.m.

The weekly show's seventh installment of the fall will feature host Frank Forte talking one-on-one with first-year Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Zach Kittley about the bye weekend and what the team did to prepare for the upcoming week's American Conference battle versus Memphis, which most recently upset Arkansas. 

🎥: FULL LIST OF GUESTS

🔼 On With the Show(s). Florida Atlantic's Coaches Show returns tomorrow at Duffy's Sports Grill of Boca Raton (drink and food specials for those attending). The show will air from 6-7 p.m. ET on Fox Sports 640 South Florida.

Hagerty Family Head Football Coach Zach Kittley is the featured guest throughout the fall along with host and voice of the Owls Ken LaVicka. This week, FAU Offensive Line Coach Stephen Hamby will also be featured. Join the trio as they review the bye week and Saturday's American home opener, which will be Saturday at 7 p.m. on ESPN2.

🤓 Back to the Beginning. In what year was the Florida Atlantic men’s soccer program founded?

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

🦉 ONE BIG THING

I See Red People. Have a student at FAU? Tell them to wear RED this Saturday!

🎟️ STUDENT TICKET INFO ℹ️

The Week Ahead is brought to you by our friends at Sage Dental, who are creating a modern, family-friendly approach to dentistry with one thing in mind—you. From pediatric dentistry and orthodontics to teeth cleanings and oral surgery, they work to provide you and your family with the best dental care all in one place.

*All Times Are in ET

Friday, Sept. 26
👟 Men’s X-Country @ FSU Invitational (Tallahassee, Florida) @ TBD
👟 Women’s X-Country/Track & Field @ FSU Invitational (Tallahassee, Florida) @ TBD
⚽️ Men’s Soccer vs. FIU @ 7 p.m. TV: ESPN+ | Watch | Live Stats

Saturday, Sept. 27
🏈 Football vs. Memphis @ 7 p.m. TV: ESPN2 | Radio: Fox Sports 640 South Florida | Watch | Listen | Tickets

Sunday, Sept. 28
🏐 Volleyball vs. East Carolina @ noon | Live Stats
⚽️ Women’s Soccer vs. Temple @ 1 p.m. TV: ESPN+ | Watch | Live Stats

🦉 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: 1980!

The Florida Atlantic men’s soccer program was founded in 1980, with its first team being fielded that year. The program has played in various divisions and conferences throughout its history, including a period in the NAIA before becoming an NCAA DI team in the 1990s.  

In case you missed this recent milestone:

🦉 Happy Wednesday, Owl Fam!