Off the field, Lane Kiffin has brought exponentially more attention and exposure to the Florida Atlantic football program. On it, the first-year coach has brought the only thing that matters -- wins.
Coming into Week 12, FAU needed just one win in its last two games to claim it’s first-ever Conference USA East crown. Fittingly, they did just that at the expense of their rival Florida International, with Butch Davis’ Panthers offering little resistance as the Owls claimed a 52-34 win. FIU, at 4-2, was nearest to FAU prior to the game but needed to win its last two games while FAU lost its last two in order to win the East.
Instead, it’ll be the Owls playing in their first-ever Conference USA championship game next weekend against West champion North Texas. The Mean Green will also be playing in their first-ever title game.
By virtue of FAU’s perfect 7-0 league mark and Week 8 win over 6-1 UNT, that title game will be played in Boca Raton regardless of what happens in Week 13.
This milestone is the latest in a remarkable resurgence under Kiffin.
The former Alabama offensive coordinator took over a program that won three games in each of the last three seasons and turned it into one that’s won eight with three games remaining. It’s already tied for the second-most wins in school history with the 2007 team; one more win would match the mark set by the 2004 Owls, Howard Schnellenberger‘s fourth season with team and first as an FBS program.
And, yep, Kiffin’s name will, once again, be prominently mentioned for Power Five jobs as the 2017-18 coaching carousel cranks into high gear.