Top Storylines:
• One of the most anticipated games in Fifth Third Stadium history is on tap for Tuesday night when Kennesaw State hosts UTEP in a nationally televised Conference USA showdown. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. on ESPNU.
• Kennesaw State has won five straight games and is 3-0 in Conference USA action this season. The Owls’ only blemishes this season have been Power 4 losses to Wake Forest (4-2) and No. 2-ranked Indiana (7-0).
• Kennesaw State is looking to accomplish what only eight other programs have accomplished on Tuesday -- become bowl eligible in its first season of full-fledged FBS status.
• In its first away game in 45 days last week, Kennesaw State rolled up its most points (45) and yards (498) ever against an FBS opponent as it defeated FIU.
• The Owls also owned the trenches last week, totaling 214 rushing yards - a season high.
• On the flip side, Kennesaw State’s continues to bend, but never break, leading Conference USA in points allowed in league play (16.3) and ranking second in points allowed overall (21.3).
• r-Sr. LB Baron Hopson continues to top the charts in the CUSA leaderboard, recording his fourth-straight double-digit tackle game last week at FIU and his fifth overall, making 12 stops with two pass breakups and a QB hurry.
• Hopson’s 68 tackles on the season rank second in CUSA and are the most in KSU history for an Owl through six games. His five games with 10+ tackles is good for third-most in the nation.
• Continuing to anchor the backend is r-Sr. DB Caleb Offord, who is third on the team with 25 tackles this season.
• Offord has a whopping 10 passes defended this season to lead Conference USA, while his 1.67 passes defended per game rate ranks second nationally.
• r-Sr. WR Gabriel Benyard and r-Sr. WR Christian Moss were a deadly threat in space last week, combining for 190 receiving yards and a receiving TD.
• Benyard fell three yards shy of having his third 100-yard receiving game this season. No other CUSA wide receiver has more than one.
• The Owls offensive line continues to impress leading Conference USA with just eight sacks allowed on the season and one sack allowed in CUSA games.
