BOCA RATON, Fla. — Florida Atlantic was picked to finish fourth in its final season in Conference USA.
The Owls were picked just behind UTSA, UAB and Western Kentucky by a panel of media members Monday in the now 11-team league, which will play without divisions in 2022.
C-USA Predicted Order of Finish in 2022
| Media Pick | Team | 2021 C-USA Record |
| First | UTSA | 7-1 |
| Second | UAB | 6-2 |
| Third | Western Kentucky | 7-1 |
| Fourth | Florida Atlantic | 3-5 |
| Fifth | North Texas | 5-3 |
| Sixth | UTEP | 4-4 |
| Seventh | Charlotte | 3-5 |
| Eighth | Middle Tennessee | 4-4 |
| Ninth | Louisiana Tech | 2-6 |
| 10th | Rice | 3-5 |
| 11th | Florida International | 0-8 |
UTSA earned 14 first-place votes as the Roadrunners attempt to defend their C-USA crown.
UAB, which earned eight first-place votes, was picked to finish second and play for the C-USA title. A last-second loss to UTSA last season kept the Blazers from winning the West Division and earning a spot in the title game.
Western Kentucky was the East Division champion last season. Third-year FAU head coach Willie Taggart once played for and coached the Hilltoppers.
FAU started last season 5-3 but went winless in November to finish with a losing record and miss a bowl game for the first time since 2018.
The Owls, led by returning starting quarterback N'Kosi Perry, will host UAB and Western Kentucky this season. FAU lost both games – 31-14 at UAB and 52-17 at Western Kentucky – a season ago.
FAU announced earlier this year that it will join the American Athletic Conference for the 2023-24 academic year.
The top two teams in the regular-season standings will meet in the C-USA Championship game.