Top Storylines:
• Kennesaw State begins a new era on Saturday, Aug. 31 at UTSA as it begins its inaugural FBS season and first year as a member of Conference USA.
• Kennesaw State is currently in its final year of completing the NCAA-mandated two-year transition from Division I FCS to Division I FBS and will be bowl eligible in 2025.
• Kennesaw State and UTSA are facing off for the first time in program history on Saturday. The meeting marks only the second time the Owls have faced a member of the American conference, last playing at Cincinnati in 2022 where they fell 63-10.
• Kennesaw State opens the highly anticipated season with a host of new faces, welcoming in 49 newcomers to the Black and Gold - good for the second-most in Conference USA and Top 30 in the country.
• The 2024 season marks the 10th season of competition in the life of the Kennesaw State football program and after nine years holds the seventh-best win percentage in the country at .703.
• Kennesaw State is opening the season on the road for just the second time in the last five years. The last time the Owls opened on the road was a 27-17 loss at Samford in 2022.
• Kennesaw State is 5-4 all-time in season openers but just 1-3 on the road.
• The Owls begin with new coordinators on both sides of the ball as KSU promoted Greg Harris to defensive coordinator and promoted Chandler Burks and Stewart Cook to co-offensive coordinators. Cook has been on staff every season and Burks has played or coached in nine of the 10 campaigns.
• Thirteen Owls received preseason Conference USA honors from College Football Network, headlined by Michael Benefield as Preseason CUSA Newcomer and Offensive Newcomer of the Year and Donelius Johnson as Preseason CUSA Defensive Newcomer of the Year. Adam Watkins also joined the pair on the preseason first team all-CUSA.
• Joshua Huiet, Gabriel Benyard, Sidney Porter and JeRico Washington, Jr. were tabbed to the second team. Thomarius “Pooda” Walker, Benyard (returner) and Eli Leiataua were named third team.
