Florida college news roundup, October 26th to November 1st, 2026. Everything below happened last week at UF, FSU, UCF, USF, straight from each university's own newsroom.
The week of October 26th through November 1st brought four stories from Florida's largest universities. UF released results from a workplace health study affecting thousands of state workers. FSU students won $85,000 in startup funding. UCF pulled off one of the biggest football victories in program history. USF landed a $47.3 million federal investment in cancer treatment training.
The short version
- UF: UF study tests exercise and ergonomic techniques to reduce chronic back pain in Florida's horticulture industry.
- FSU: Five FSU student startups won a combined $85,000 in the fourth annual Discovery Challenge competition.
- UCF: UCF defeated No. 2-ranked BYU in double overtime, marking the first win over a top 5 opponent in program history.
- USF: USF will receive $6 million of a $47.3 million federal investment to train nuclear pharmacists in emerging cancer treatments.
What is UF researching to help Florida landscape workers?
UF study tests exercise and ergonomic techniques to reduce chronic back pain in Florida's horticulture industry.
Researchers at the University of Florida College of Public Health developed accessible training videos and text-prompted exercise routines for landscape workers to use at home or on worksites. Early results show participating workers experienced reduced pain anxiety and improved physical function. Hundreds of thousands of Florida nursery and landscape workers face chronic low back pain daily, putting their livelihoods at risk.
This is the kind of research that matters to Floridians in everyday work. It also shows what kind of work UF produces as a research institution, which tells you something about the caliber of faculty and students there. UF admits about 20 percent of applicants, and the middle 50 percent of admitted students scored between 1420 and 1520 on the SAT.
Source: news.ufl.edu · What UF takes to get in
Did any FSU students win money for their startup ideas?
Five FSU student startups won a combined $85,000 in the fourth annual Discovery Challenge competition.
FSU held its Discovery Challenge event on Wednesday at the Herbert Wertheim College of Business during Discovery Days. Anosh Gomes with Cryton Biosciences won first place and $50,000. Kimberley Christopher with Radical Solutions took second place and $25,000, while Zachary Asarnow with Esperance Biotech won the audience choice award of $10,000.
Student entrepreneurship matters because it shows where a school channels its brightest minds beyond the classroom. It's also a signal: if your kid has startup ideas, there's infrastructure and real money behind them here. FSU admits about 22 percent of applicants, and the middle 50 percent of admitted students scored between 1380 and 1480 on the SAT.
Source: news.fsu.edu · What FSU takes to get in
Did UCF beat BYU in football?
UCF defeated No. 2-ranked BYU in double overtime, marking the first win over a top 5 opponent in program history.
UCF's homecoming victory over BYU is the highest-ranked opponent the school has ever defeated. The game went to double overtime, and fans rushed the field afterward, even climbing over roughly 8-foot tall field cabanas in the north end zone. UCF senior wide receiver Josh Derry had a team-best six catches, including one touchdown.
This is a genuine milestone for a football program. It's the kind of moment that builds school pride and gets recruits' attention. It also matters for campus culture: your kid will remember where she was when this happened. UCF admits about 41 percent of applicants, and the middle 50 percent of admitted students scored between 1310 and 1420 on the SAT.
Source: ucf.edu · What UCF takes to get in
What is USF getting the $47.3 million federal grant for?
USF will receive $6 million of a $47.3 million federal investment to train nuclear pharmacists in emerging cancer treatments.
The U.S. Economic Development Administration announced funding for FORGE, the Florida Oncology and Radiopharmaceutical Growth Engine, which will establish Tampa Bay as a national center for radiopharmaceuticals. USF's Taneja College of Pharmacy will develop specialized training in nuclear pharmacy. Nuclear pharmacists prepare radiopharmaceuticals that use radioactive materials to detect and treat cancer, often through an approach called theranostics.
Federal money flowing to a university's health colleges signals serious investment in the school's research capacity and future. It also means your kid studying pharmacy or related fields there would be learning on the cutting edge. USF admits about 41 percent of applicants, and the middle 50 percent of admitted students scored between 1290 and 1420 on the SAT.
Source: usf.edu · What USF takes to get in
What this week means for your student
Not sure what these schools actually require? Our Florida College Playbook has the SAT scores and GPAs for the top five, plus the Bright Futures cutoffs and a checklist by grade. Book a free SAT Game Plan call and we will map the score your student needs for the school on their list.
This roundup covers October 26th to November 1st, 2026. We publish one every week, compiled from the Florida universities' own newsrooms.