The Owls are on the board after a rout of Florida A&M last Saturday night, giving Zach Kittley his first win as a Head Coach in what was an emotional evening for the youngest FBS leader this season.
And while it didn’t take place on the field, the team rewarded him with his first dose of celebratory “hydration” in the locker room afterwards.
#FAU scored 56 points last weekend against #FAMU but @ZKittley says the Owls should have scored 80, adding that the team juiced to face #FIU 👀 pic.twitter.com/St5LmfwYNY
— FAU Owls Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) September 9, 2025
The offense was finally humming, setting up a record tying five touchdown passes through the air as Kittley and his much improved roster of Owls will now turn their attention to the upcoming Shula Bowl XXIII against what looks to be an also improved Florida International squad.
Kittley met with the media on Tuesday for his Week Three session to reflect one final time on the win over the Rattlers, while offering some initial insight on the Panthers.
Below is our select compilation of what he had to say during out time together.
On Executing and the Focus for Game Week
“We’ve got to execute our assignments and make it about us. Clearly we’ve got to understand schematically what they’re doing and understand their personnel and all that. But at the end of day, comes down to us doing our job and playing our football, how we’re supposed to play it. So that’s really been my message going into it and try not to make it bigger than just a football game.
On the Progress of the Defense as a Whole
“We’ve done a really good job these first two weeks of stopping the run, and that’s been huge. Knowing you can stop the run, that’s going to take some pressure off your secondary and some stuff like that.”
“I’d like to still get a little bit more pressure on the quarterback and get some takeaways, but other than that I’m proud of those guys. They’re flying around. We’re a physical football team.”
Initial Thoughts on the Panther’s Defense
“They’re extremely physical in the trenches on both sides – offense and defense. Defensively they’ve got the defensive end, number 44. Dude plays with an absolute motor and so I challenge both of our offensive tackles that ‘Hey man, he can’t outplay us with effort.’ He’s a good football player. I’m not saying we’re going to win every single rep, but don’t let him outplay us by how hard he plays. “
“And then they got one of the top linebackers in the country with number zero. I think he’s like eighth in the country in tackles or something like that right now. Really flies around, makes a lot of plays. They’re big and they got a lot of length. They got a six, seven defensive tackle out there on the defensive end.”
Tendencies of the Panther’s Offense
“They’re going to get into a of 12 personnel and they’re going try to pound the rock a little bit on us. So it starts with us tackling, getting our gaps, having great eyes.”
“They do a lot of shifts, a lot of motion, some of that stuff. But they like to set the tempo with their offensive line and trying to pound it downhill. And then clearly they’ve got skilled players and their quarterback can really extend and make plays. So we’ve got to really do a really good job with trying to make him uncomfortable and keep him in the pocket as much as we can. But ultimately, it’s going to start with us shutting down the run game first and trying to make him put in the air a little bit more.”
On Limiting FIU’s Third and 4th Down Conversation Rates
“I think first and foremost you try to get them in the in the third and toughs – the third and seven, third and eight plus. Third and ones you look at statistically the offense usually can win. And then the fourth down calls again, if you’re in fourth and one versus fourth and five, those are some game changing plays.”
On the Success of Specials Teams Play and Ratings So Far
“Yeah, I am (pleased) and I’m a coach, so I go back to all the nitpicking. Take a couple of those punts away at the first game we should be a lot higher in punt returns overall too. We let a couple of balls hit the ground that bounced in favor for Maryland and that’s some of the stuff we’ve got to take away.
I think Coach Schovanec is one of best in the country at what he does. He always comes with a great plan and our guys are executing what we’re asking of them. Since I’ve been here I’ve harped on special teams because you can create game changing plays. Week one we had a couple big kick returns. So we’ve got to keep doing that. Extremely proud of where those guys are.”
On Focusing on the Game and not the Rivalry
“This week’s a big game because we’re playing in it down in Miami against FIU. I’m trying to make it about us. I want this team to focus on us doing our job. I’m not naïve, I know it’s a big rivalry and we’ve had the upper hand in the in the series…there’s a trophy on the line and all that stuff but I’m just trying to take it day by day and get our guys to focus on being us.”
The Owls will be looking for thier 8th straight win over the Panthers on Saturday night. They are 5-3 all-time in contests played at FIU Stadium.