By: Michael Goss
KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State football hits the road to Cookeville, Tenn. where it will battle Tennessee Tech this Saturday, Sept. 23 inside Tucker Stadium. The two programs have met three times in series history as KSU aims to improve its series record to a perfect 4-0 over the Golden Eagles.
The Rundown
Opponent: Tennessee Tech (0-3)
Date: Saturday, Sept. 23
Site: Tucker Stadium; Cookeville, Tenn.
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. (ET)
TV: ESPN+
Radio: KSU Owls App
Live Stats: Click Here
Game Notes: KSU |
TTU
2023 Schedule: Click Here
FB Media Guide: Click Here
Top Storylines
- Head coach Brian Bohannon was busy this offseason, hiring both a new offensive and defensive coordinator. New OC Chris Klenakis joins KSU from Liberty and has coached both Heisman winner Lamar Jackson and former NFC Champion Colin Kaepernick in his career. KSU's new DC Nathan Burton previously spent time as Georgia Tech's co-defensive coordinator and as a secondaries coach for the USFL's New Orleans Breakers.
- Saturday's matchup will be the fourth in series history between the Owls and Golden Eagles. The two teams met for an overtime-thriller last season inside Fifth Third Bank Stadium which saw KSU earn a 33-30 victory on Homecoming.
- Against No. 7 Furman on Sept. 16, Jonathan Murphy set KSU individual single-game records for completions (17) and passing yards (308). Murphy became the only quarterback in school history to surpass the 300-yard passing mark in a single game.
- Jonathan Murphy finds himself inside the top three of three different FCS passing categories. The signal-caller is first in yards per pass attempt (10.89), second in passing yards per completion (17.27) and third in passing efficiency (176.9).
- The Kennesaw State offense has scored a point in 95-straight games and has reached the double-digit mark in each of its last 73 contests. The last time the Owls scored less than 10 points was in November 2016.
- In its 95 games as a program, Kennesaw State football has only been out-rushed seven times. In its 44 road contests, KSU has been out-rushed only five times.
Numbers to Know
- 349 – Gabriel Benyard has collected 349 yards of total offense in his last two games. The junior has tallied three receiving touchdowns and one rushing touchdown during this stretch.
- 236 – Jonathan Murphy is averaging 236.0 passing yards during KSU's first three games. This is the most of any Owl quarterback through the first three games of a new season.
- 70 – A victory would give Kennesaw State football head coach Brian Bohannon his 70th career win in nine seasons with the Owls.
- 37 – A Kennesaw State win would be the 37th non-conference victory in school history.
- 1 – 2023 is the final season for Kennesaw State football in the FCS classification. The Owls officially join the FBS and Conference USA effective July 1, 2024.
Best Ever
No other start-up program in college football history had more wins in its first five seasons than Kennesaw State with 48 victories.
Dynasty Mode
Dating back to week two of the 2017 season, Kennesaw State has won 55 of its last 72 games for an .764 winning percentage.
Double Up
The Owls are 49-7 when they score inside the last three minutes of the first half (37 TD's and 19 FG's). The team is 34-2 when it scores a touchdown inside three minutes and 15-3 when it kicks a field goal inside three minutes of the first half. When KSU scores within the last three minutes of the first half AND on its first possession of the second half, the team is 31-0.
Fourth Down Success
Since its inaugural season in 2015, Kennesaw State has the most fourth down attempts AND most successful conversions in the FCS (minimum 100 attempts). There have only been five games in the history of Kennesaw State football that the team has not attempted at least one fourth down conversion (Point University - 2015, 2016, Presbyterian College – 2018, Gardner-Webb – 2021 and Tusculum – 2023).
Season Tickets
Season tickets are still available for the 2023 season and feature discounted concessions, season long parking pass discounts and first right of refusal for seats heading into Conference USA in 2024. Click
here for more information.
