By: Aury St. Germain
KENNESAW, Ga. - The No. 7 Kennesaw State football team journeys to Kent State on Saturday, looking for its first win against a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team in program history.
The Rundown
Opponent: Kent State (0-1, 0-0)
Date: Saturday, September 7
Site: Kent, Ohio (Dix Stadium)
Kickoff: 12 p.m.
TV: ESPN3
Live Stats: Click Here
Radio: Atlanta Sports X - 1230 AM; 106.3 FM
TuneIn App: Click Here
Game Notes: KSU |
Kent State
Top Storylines
• The Owls are looking to become the fourth program in Big South Conference history to defeat an FBS opponent and the first since Liberty beat Baylor in the 2017 season opener. The Big South holds six total wins over FBS opponents.
• The Owls are set to take on their second FBS opponent in program history after falling to Georgia State 24-20 in the season opener last year. So far in 2019, Central Arkansas' victory at Western Kentucky is the only FCS-over-FBS upset of the season.
• After the opening week of the season, Kennesaw State leads all FCS programs in rushing offense, kick return average, scoring defense and passing efficiency. The Owls' 433 rushing yards are the most among any FCS or FBS team in week one.
• KSU recorded its sixth shutout in program history in the season opener and posted its largest margin of victory with a 59-0 victory over NAIA member Point University.
• With the season-opening victory, the Owls have not lost a regular season home contest since Oct. 15, 2016, winning 14 consecutive games.
• Kennesaw State entered the 2019 season looking to become the first team in Big South history to win three straight outright conference championships.
• Dating back to Week 2 of the 2017 season, KSU has won 24 of its last 27 games, including going 5-2 against FCS ranked teams.
• The Owls return just 29.3 percent of their scoring from a year ago and return just one starter on offense, the fewest of any team in the Big South.
• Kennesaw State has finished in the top three nationally in rushing offense each of the last three years, including a program-best and Big South record 352.9 yards per game last season.
• Excluding the inaugural class of the "OG's" that featured 74 freshmen, the 2019 roster features the most freshmen that have been on a Kennesaw State roster with 48.
Noting Kent State
• Kent State opened the year with a 30-7 loss at Arizona State after trailing 10-0 at the half.
• The Golden Flashes were picked to finish fourth in the MAC East Division in 2019, returning 17 starters, including nine on offense.
• Kent State has lost to an FCS opponent 11 times in school history, including five times in the last 25 seasons.
• The Golden Flashes' last FCS loss came at the hands of North Carolina A&T during the 2016 season, a 39-36 defeat in four overtimes.
• After rushing for 657 yards and seven touchdowns last year, running back Jo-El Shaw opened the season with 16 carries for 67 yards, averaging 4.2 yards per rush.
• Starting quarterback Woody Barrett threw for 2,339 yards and 11 TD's last season and was 9-of-16 for 83 yards and a score in the season opener at Arizona State.
• The Golden Flashes return their top three receivers from 2018, as the trio combined to score 10 touchdowns.
For more information on Kennesaw State athletics, follow @KSUOwlNation on Twitter or like Kennesaw State Owls on Facebook and Instagram.
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