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~ Kennesaw State Owls ~
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Kennesaw State Owls Football Stories
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KSU Football Opens Home FBS Slate vs. Louisiana
Kennesaw State readies to host its highly anticipated opener on Saturday, Sept. 7 against Louisiana in its first home FBS game in program history. After a hard-fought loss last Saturday on the road at UTSA, Kennesaw State will once against have to fight above its weight-class, taking on another veteran, sizable FBS opponent in Louisiana. The Ragin’ Cajuns have made bowl games the last five-straight years. Kennesaw State and Louisiana are facing off for the first time in program history on Saturday.
Show More![](https://footballatlanta.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Brian-Bohannon-Press-Conference-8-26-24.png)
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HC Brian Bohannon Weekly Press Conference Previewing Louisiana
Coming back home, our first FBS home game in the history of this program. I hope Fifth Third Stadium is as loud as it was for us in the Alamo Dome. We are playing another veteran football team. (Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns). They've got a majority of their guys back. The offensive line's back. Mostly seniors on offense. Another bowl team that's been to five in a row...won a lot of conference titles. They had their way last Saturday (40-10 over Grambling). They got on them early and it was really over pretty quick.
Show More![](https://footballatlanta.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Louisiana-Michael-Desormeaux-Press-Conference.png)
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Louisiana HC Michael Desormeaux Weekly Presser Previewing KSU
This is a good football team. They’ve got a lot of guys back. They look like a really good Group of Five football team. They’ve got guys who run around and strike and play physical. Overlooking anyone is not going to happen. They’re in a lot of heavy sets. They do have a lot of option elements, zone-read option. We’ve played UTSA, We’ve seen what it looks like. We know the type of football they play, and it was one-possession game with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter and they had a turnover.
Show More![](https://footballatlanta.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/CUSA-POW-8-29-24.png)
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Conference USA
Players of The Week
Sam Houston’s Hunter Watson and Christian Pavon, along with NM State’s Tayden Barnes, earned the first CUSA Player of the Week honors of the season. Watson earned the start in the season opener and showed why, staying in control of the game throughout Saturday evening in leading the Kats to a 34-14 win at Rice. Barnes came up with one of the biggest plays of the Aggies’ 23-16 season-opening win over SEMO with a game-sealing interception on the Redhawks’ final possession.
Show More![](https://footballatlanta.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/KSU-vs-UTSA.png)
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KSU's Comeback Bid Stalls Late, Falling 28-16 to UTSA
With 7:44 left in fourth quarter, Kennesaw State football began its drive trailing by just five points, but a tough-luck turnover stalled its momentum, falling 28-16 to UTSA Saturday at the Alamodome. In his second career start, Davis Bryson finished 14-for-28 for 202 yards and a touchdown – all career highs. Carson Kent led all receivers with three catches for 40 yards and a touchdown, while redshirt junior wideouts Gabriel Benyard and Tykeem Wallace finished with 39 and 38 receiving yards, respectively.
Show More![](https://footballatlanta.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Michael-Benefield-running2.png)
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Owls’ Top Returning Players in 2024 Include JeRico Washington Jr., Michael Benefield
The Kennesaw State Owls are hoping to become the next FCS-to-FBS success story, but times might be rough in 2024. With a transitional offense and a general difficulty in adding and retaining talent, the Owls could struggle early. Who are KSU’s top returning players? Michael Benefield was dominant enough last season to secure the clear No. 1 spot in 2023. In this run-heavy attack without much quarterback experience, he’ll be vital to the team’s success.
Show More![](https://footballatlanta.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/11-Alive-Brian-Bohannon-interview.png)
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11Alive's Maria Martin Interviews KSU's Brian Bohannon
11 Alive's Maria Martin sat down with Kennesaw State football's head coach Brian Bohannon to talk about his plan to make sure that his guys are ready as the Owls move up to the FBS level and Conference USA in a few weeks after nine seasons as an FCS team.
Q: There is a lot of happening...a lot of change. What's the most exciting part about the move?
A: There's a lot of exciting things for a young school. What a great opportunity for our team when you talk about the exposure on national TV.
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KSU Unveils Specialty Dates, Promotions for Football Season
Kennesaw State has officially announced its full slate of specialty dates and promotions – including Homecoming and Family Weekend – for the 2024 football season. The specialty dates and promotions for the Owls' six-game home schedule include Sept. 7 vs. Louisiana - Halftime Fireworks, Oct. 4 vs. Jacksonville State - Lights Out! Postgame Fireworks, Sept. 28 vs. UT Martin - Homecoming, Nov. 16 vs. Sam Houston - Family Weekend, Hall of Fame Weekend. KSU will hold 15 practices during fall camp.
Show More![](https://footballatlanta.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Conference-USA-Preseason-Watch-List.png)
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Four Owls Named to CUSA Preseason Watch List
Ahead of its first season in Conference USA, Kennesaw State placed four members to the CUSA preseason watch list. Gabriel Benyard, Ethan Newman, Sidney Porter, and Pooda Walker represented the Owls on CUSA's Friday announcement. Benyard was named to both the Offense and Special Teams watch lists. Newman joined him on the offensive side, while Porter and Walker represented the defense. Benyard played in four games last season and received a redshirt.
Show More![](https://footballatlanta.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/KSU-vs-San-Jose-State.png)
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KSU's Sept. 14 Game at San Jose St. to Air on TruTV
Kennesaw State is slated to have five games of its inaugural Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schedule air nationally after the Mountain West Conference released broadcast information. KSU visits San Jose State on TruTV/Max with a 7 p.m. ET start Saturday, Sept. 14. Kennesaw State faces an exciting lineup during its Conference USA debut. The Owls enter only their 10th year of competition with home matchups against defending champion Liberty and bowl-winner Jacksonville State.
Show More![](https://footballatlanta.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/KSU-Owls-3-players-white-jerseys.png)
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Nine Owls Earn Athlon Preseason All-CUSA Team Honors
Nine student-athletes were tabbed to Athlon Sports' Preseason All-Conference USA Team. Redshirt jr. Gabriel Benyard earned three selections including second team punt returner, third team kick returner and fourth team RB honors. Joining Benyard on the third team was RB Michael Benefield, DL Donovan Westmoreland and Jordan Miles and LB Garland Benyard. TE Carson Kent, LB Donelius Johnson and DBs JeRico Washington Jr., and Sidney Porter were named to the fourth team.
Show MoreKennesaw State Owls 2024 Football Schedule/Results
(2024 Record) Overall 0-1 / 0-0 Sun Belt Conference / Home 0-0 / Away 0-1 (7th Place)
Saturday, August 31
Season Opener
@ University of Texas San Antonio Road Runners
Lost 28-16
Alamodome,
San Antonio, TX
Saturday, September 7
Home Opener
vs Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns
7:00 p.m.
(ESPN+)
Fifth Third Stadium,
Kennesaw, GA
Saturday, September 14
@ San Jose State
Spartans
7:00 p.m.
(TRU-TV) (MAX)
CEFCU Stadium,
San Jose, CA
Saturday, September 28
Homecoming
vs UT-Martin Skyhawks
6:00 p.m.
(ESPN+)
Fifth Third Stadium,
Kennesaw, GA
Friday, October 4
C-USA Opener
vs Jacksonville State Gamecocks
(C-USA)
7:00 p.m.
(CBS Sports Network)
Fifth Third Stadium,
Kennesaw, GA
Tuesday, October 15
@ Middle Tennessee State
Blue Raiders
(C-USA)
8:00 p.m.
(CBS Sports Network)
Floyd Stadium,
Murfreesboro, TN
Wednesday, October 23
vs Liberty Flames
(C-USA)
7:00 p.m.
(CBS Sports Network)
Fifth Third Stadium,
Kennesaw, GA
Wednesday, October 30
@ Western Kentucky
Hilltoppers
(C-USA)
7:30 p.m.
(ESPN2)
Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium
Bowling Green, KY
Saturday, November 9
C-USA Opener
@ UTEP Miners
(C-USA)
4:00 p.m.
(ESPN Family of Networks)
Sun Bowl, El Paso, TX
Saturday, November 16
vs Sam Houston State Bearkats
(C-USA)
3:00 p.m.
(ESPN Family of Networks)
Fifth Third Stadium,
Kennesaw, GA
Saturday, November 23
vs Florida International Panthers
(C-USA)
3:00 p.m.
(ESPN Family of Networks)
Fifth Third Stadium,
Kennesaw, GA
Saturday, November 30
@ Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
(C-USA)
3:00 p.m.
(ESPN Family of Networks)
Joe Aillet Stadium,
Ruston, LA
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Football Atlanta, published since 1996, with coverage of the Georgia Bulldogs and the SEC,
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