By: Michael Goss
KENNESAW, Ga. – The schedule is set for Kennesaw State football as the team begins its transition into the FBS and Conference USA next season. The slate consists of nine total games with five being held inside KSU's Fifth Third Bank Stadium.
The Owls enter 2023 with a new-look offense led by college football coaching veteran and recently hired offensive coordinator,
Chris Klenakis. Klenakis coached both Lamar Jackson and Colin Kaepernick who are two of only three players in FBS history to rush for 50 touchdowns and pass for 50 touchdowns in a career.
The Kennesaw State defense also debuts a new face as
Nathan Burton takes over the defensive coordinator responsibilities. Burton, who holds over 15 years of football coaching experience, arrives to KSU after working at the Power Five level.
Bohannon and the Owls begin the new season on a Thursday night for the third consecutive year as KSU welcomes the Tusculum Pioneers to Fifth Third Bank Stadium on Aug. 31. The game will mark another Thursday night under the lights after Owl fans packed the house to enjoy a KSU victory in 2021.
In week two, Kennesaw State hits the road for the first time as the team travels up Interstate 75 to face the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC). The Owls and Mocs meet on Sept. 9 with kickoff set for 6:00 p.m. inside Finley Stadium. Despite the close proximity, this will be the first meeting between the two programs in series history.
KSU returns home on Sept. 16 to face a Southern Conference opponent for the second-straight week as the team welcomes the Furman Paladins. The matchup is the first since 2016, which saw Kennesaw State earn a 52-42 shootout victory in Greenville, S.C.
The Owls return two road trips from the 2022 schedule in back-to-back weeks as the team goes to Tennessee Tech (Sept. 23) and Charleston Southern (Sept. 30). KSU was victorious over both teams last season and holds an 8-2 combined record over these two opponents.
Fans get to watch two home games during the month of October as Kennesaw State is set for first-time matchups against Tennessee State University (Oct. 7) and Lincoln (CA) University (Oct. 28). In their eight seasons, the Owls have won more games in the month of October than any other month with a 25-4 record.
The final road trip of the 2023 season is set for Nov. 4 as Kennesaw State flies to Huntsville, Tex. to square off with future Conference USA opponent, Sam Houston State. The Owls and Bearkats have only met one time in series history, with the matchup being during the 2017 FCS Quarterfinals at Bowers Stadium.
Kennesaw State concludes its season when Virginia-Lynchburg comes to Fifth Third Bank Stadium on Nov 11. Under Bohannon, the Owls are 41-7 when playing at home and are 20-6 in the month of November.
Season ticket renewals for the upcoming season will be available later this month. New season ticket sales will begin in April.
For more information on Kennesaw State athletics, follow @KennesawStFB on Twitter or like Kennesaw State Football on Facebook and Instagram.
