When you stop and think about it, what Lane Kiffin has done with Florida Atlantic University’s football program over the last three seasons is remarkable.

And with that success comes calls from other colleges wanting Kiffin to turn their programs around, too. ESPN is reporting that Ole Miss is working on a deal that would make Kiffin the Rebels’ new coach.

Kiffin hasn’t been one to sit still very long during his coaching career. He has changed jobs nine different times – either as head coach or assistant in college and the NFL – since 1997. So if Kiffin does goes elsewhere it wouldn’t be a surprise.

Saturday, Kiffin’s FAU Burrowing Owls will play for another Conference USA title, the second in three years.

In 2017, FAU won the conference crown with a convincing 41-17 win over North Texas. Saturday’s test will likely be tougher, as Florida Atlantic (9-3 overall, 7-1 C-USA) hosts the University of Alabama at Birmingham (9-3, 6-2).

Game time is 1:30 p.m. on Howard Schnellenberger Field at FAU Stadium, and will be televised on the CBS Sports Network.

The fact that Kiffin has FAU playing for another conference title is a feat in itself. But how far the program has come under his watch is even more telling.

Kiffin’s Owls have already won 25 games in his three years against 13 losses – with a chance to add two more victories this season.

In the previous six seasons (2011-2016), Florida Atlantic won a combined 19 games against 53 losses.

Remember, Schnellenberger’s final 2011 season ended with a 1-11 record. Carl Pelini followed (2012-13) with a 5-15 mark, Brian Wright (2013) was a perfect 4-0 after relieving Pelini mid-season, and Charlie Partridge (2014-16) went 9-27.

Schnellenberger, of course, will always be the one remembered most as time goes on. From 1979 to 2011, his college teams went 158-151-3 – which included a national title at Miami in 1983. He was FAU’s first football coach and also coached in the NFL and was part of Don Shula’s staff when Miami went unbeaten in 1972. Plus, he was the one who got the current stadium built.

The field will forever bare Schnellenberger’s name.

But what Kiffin has done stands in a class by itself, too.

Sure he’s an offensive genius – why do you think Alabama’s Nick Saban had him calling the plays for the Crimson Tide. But FAU’s defense has also improved dramatically in three seasons, currently leading the nation in turnover margin (+1.58) and turnovers gained (29).

Yes, his team did under-performed with a 5-7 finish a year ago. However, Kiffin used that as a motivator, perhaps more than anything else, to inspire his team to earn another title shot Saturday.

That’s the sign of a good coach – one you would like to keep.

UAB presents a different challenge for Kiffin and his Owls. Unlike 2017, when FAU beat North Texas 69-31 in the regular season, before the 24-point title game win, Florida Atlantic hasn’t played UAB this season.

“It makes it a little more difficult,” Kiffin said earlier this week on playing UAB. “The last time (2017 vs. North Texas) we were playing a team that we had already played, so we already had broke down everything.

“We really don’t know much about these guys.”

What we do know is that UAB has the nation’s 5th ranked defense.

In a 26-21 win at North Texas last Saturday, UAB recorded seven sacks, 11 tackles for loss, intercepted two passes and held the hosts to 21 yards rushing.

Obviously, UAB’s defensive play was the difference in that West Division title clincher vs. North Texas, just like it has been all season.

FAU, a 34-17 winner at home last week against Southern Mississippi to secure the East Division crown, is coming off of a uncharteristic, sub-par performance offensively.

“Very lopsided play-count game – 54 (FAU) snaps,” Kiffin said in reference to last Saturday’s win. “We are normally about 80 (snaps) or something. There was some inefficiency on offense and also two, two-play drives and a one-play drive, so it was kind of out of whack.

“Those (UAB) guys give you problems on defense, very multiple … a lot of good players.”

FAU has its share of good players, too.

Kiffin will rely on what’s got his team this far, the play of quarterback Chris Robison, the tight-end duo of Harrison Bryant/John Raine, a running game by committee – plus that improved defense.

Robinson has completed 246-397 passes for 3,125 yards and 22 touchdowns. He’s thrown just five interceptions.

Bryant, a top choice to win the John Mackey Award that goes to the nation’s top tight end, has 61 receptions for 965 yards and six touchdowns. Three of those scoring catches came last week against Southern Mississippi.

Raine has 30 recpetions for 261 yards and five TDs, making him and Bryant one of the top tight-end combinations in all of college football.

Malcolm Davidson leads a group of 16 players who have run the ball for FAU this season. Davidson has rushed 90 times for 574 yards and nine touchdowns. Larry McCammon III isn’t far behind with 89 attempts for 315 yards and seven scores.

B.J. Emmons has returned from an injury he received in the season opener at Ohio State, rushing for 124 yards and 21 attempts in the past two games – scoring three touchdowns.

And don’t forget the speedy Deangleo Antoine, the fifth-year senior who has caught 56 passes for 659 yards (4 TDs), and rushed eight times for 146 yards (1 TD).

That FAU defense is led by linebackers Akileis Leroy and Rashad Smith. Leroy is tops in tackles (94), tackles for loss (14.5) and sacks (7.5). Smith has 78 total tackles, 10.5 TFLs and 3.5 sacks.

Smith leads the nation in fumble recoveries (4) and FAU defensive back Meiko Dotson tops all FBS players in interceptions (8).

Oddsmakers put FAU out as a 7.5-point favorite, thinking FAU’s fast-moving offense will be better than UAB’s stubborn defense.

To the winner goes the Conference USA title – a goal Kiffin has had made the No. 1 priority for his team all year long.

And regardless of the outcome, it’s plain to see that Kiffin has FAU on the right track.

The burning question is, will Kiffin stay at Florida Atlantic?

IF YOU GO

Who: University of Alabama-Birmingham (9-3, 6-2) at Florida Atlantic (9-3, 7-1)

What: Conference USA championship game – UAB won the title in 2018, FAU in 2017. This is the 7th meeting between the two teams and FAU holds a 4-2 advantage

Where: Howard Schnellenberger Field at FAU Stadium, (Capacity 29,142) Boca Raton, FL

When: 1:30 p.m. Saturday

TV/Radio: CBS Sports Network/Fox Sports 640 AM

Line: Florida Atlantic is a 7.5 point favorite

Did you Know: UAB won the 2018 Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl, beating Northern Illinois, 37-13

Photos contributed by: Bob Markey / Courtesy of www.FAUOwlsNest.com