Top Storylines:
• Coming off its first bye week after a grueling road schedule to open 2024 that included 3,100 miles of travel, Kennesaw State returns home for two-straight weeks and, appropriately, Homecoming on Saturday against UT Martin.
• The Owls and Skyhawks played each other once before in 2022 when KSU downed No. 15-ranked UT Martin, 44-27.
• Kennesaw State is 6-2 overall against members of the Ohio Valley Conference.
• Despite its 0-3 start to the season, Kennesaw State now enters the main part of its schedule after playing three-straight bowl teams from last year, hosting UT Martin on Saturday and beginning its first season in Conference USA on Friday, Oct. 4.
• A bright spot for the Owls has been the play of r-Fr. DB Isaac Paul, who turned recorded five tackles at San Jose State and recovered his first career fumble. Paul leads KSU on the year with 18 tackles.
• In addition to Paul’s fumble recovery, Kennesaw State racked up the turnovers, forcing three fumbles for the first time since 2021.
• Since 2015, only Sam Houston averages more turnovers per game (1.86) than Kennesaw State (1.78).
• On the offensive side, r-Sr. RB Michael Benefield enters the weekend on milestone watch, needing just 44 rushing yards to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for his NCAA career.
• r-Jr. WR Tykeem Wallace and r-So. RB Qua Ashley have also shined as Swiss Army Knives, racking up 225 and 164 all-purpose yards, respectively.
• Ashley currently leads the Owls with 119 receiving yards on seven receptions this season, averaging 17 yards per catch.
• 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.
• One of the most relied upon newcomers has been Fr. OL Jacob Norcross, who leads CUSA and ranks third in Group of 5 in snaps by true freshman offensive linemen at 188.
