GAME 1: Kennesaw State (0-0) at No. 19 Samford (0-0)

Aug. 31, 2017 | Seibert Stadium | 7 p.m. ET (6 p.m. CT)  TV: Peachtree TV |  STREAM: ESPN3 RADIO: ESPN Radio 1230 The Fan 2 (WFOM-AM) KSU Notes | Samford Notes | Live Stats | 2017 Record Book | Media Center Offensive Position Breakdown | Defensive/Specialists Breakdown   Samford Hype Video |  Enemy Territory | Press Conference | The Final Word Podcast Follow Along: @KennesawSTFB | #GoKSUOwls

1. Kennesaw State enters its third season in program history with a 14-8 (.636) overall record, finishing 2016 with an 8-3 overall mark and a 3-2 record in the Big South – both program records for most wins in a single season.
2. The Owls joined Old Dominion as the only Division-I programs since 2008 to post winning seasons in the program's first two years of existence. With 14 wins throughout the first two seasons, the Owls have the third-most wins of any D-I program in their first two seasons (since 2008).
3. Head Coach Brian Bohannon guided the Owls to their second consecutive winning season in 2016 and earned himself a spot among 15 finalists for the STATS FCS Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award. 
4. KSU returns 16 of 22 positional starters, including QB Chandler Burks, WRs Justin Sumpter and Xavier Harper, four of the five on the offensive line, and six of the front seven on defense. KSU lost CB Dante Blackmon, who inked a contract with the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL, along with DB Derrick Farrow, two-year starting C Malik Letatau, and dynamic RB Chaston Bennett. 
5. The Owls were named Big South co-favorites and received a league-leading eight Preseason All-Conference selections. KSU's honorees included RB Darnell Holland, WR Justin Sumpter, and OL Zach Mitchler on offense. On defense, DL Tonarius Portress, DL Desmond Johnson, Jr., LB Anthony Gore, Jr., LB Izzy Sam, and DB Taylor Henkle were also recognized. 
6. Kennesaw State finished as the only team ranked in the Top 10 nationally in total offense (479.5 ypg), scoring (38.9, ninth), rushing (320.6 ypg, third), third down conversions (49%, ninth) and in fourth down conversions (70%, eighth) in 2016.
7. The Owls out-gained 10 of their 11 opponents in 2016, accumulating a 1,735 total yard margin -- an average margin of 157.7 per game. Kennesaw State rolled up 500 or more yards in six of the 11 games.  
8. The defense was also impressive in 2016, ranking first in the Big South in scoring defense (21.7), rushing defense (130.3 ypg), third down conversions defense (32%), fourth down defense (32%), and second in total defense (321.8 ypg). 
9. Kennesaw State's latest historic announcement came on June 9, 2017 when the Owls and the Atlanta Braves announced the Black & Gold will host the first football game at SunTrust Park in 2018 versus Jacksonville State. 
10. Kennesaw State opens its 2017 season on Thursday, Aug. 31 at Samford. The 2017 home opener is slated for Saturday, Sept. 9 versus Tennessee Tech. The Owls' challenging non-conference slate also includes Montana State, Texas Southern, Alabama State and North Greenville.

GAMEDAY HASHTAGS/ SOCIAL MEDIA HUBS
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Twitter: @KSUOwlNation; @KennesawStFB; @mikedegeorge; @jdorow19
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Fifth Third Bank is the Official Bank of Kennesaw State Athletics. Fifth Third Bank Stadium, the signature athletics landmark on the Kennesaw State University campus, is a world-class facility that has been recognized as one of the premier multi-use outdoor athletics venues in the country. In the fall of 2015, it become the official home of Owls football team and is home to Owls soccer and lacrosse as well.
 
Keep up with Kennesaw State Athletics by following KSU on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and or by liking Kennesaw State Owls on Facebook. You also can follow Kennesaw State football at @KennesawSTFB and The Owls fund on Twitter at @TheOwlsFund.

--#GoKSUOwls--

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