August 29, 2025

In This Issue 

Kennesaw State Owls Campus Sports

Along with News from the

Conference USA (C-USA)

Kennesaw State Opens Football Season Tonight at Wake Forest

 Kennesaw State Owls (0-0, 0-0 CUSA)

@ Wake Forest Demon Deacons

(0-0, 0-0 ACC)

Date: Friday, August 29

Site: @ Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium, Winston-Salem, NC



Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET

TV: ACC Network: Click Here

Play-by-Play: Chuckie Kempf

Analyst: Darius Walker

Sideline: Ashley Stroehlein

Radio: KSU Owls Radio Network

Play-by-Play: Nolan Alexander

Analyst: Caleb O'Neal

Sideline: Brandon Sutton

Mobile Apps: KSU Owls App,

• Online: KSUOwls.com

• Satellite: SiriusXM Ch. 380

KSU Game Notes: Click Here

Wake Forest Game Notes: Click Here

Wake Forest Preview: Click Here

C-USA Weekly Release: Click Here

Kennesaw State Sports: Click Here

Football Atlanta: Click Here

By Don Stone, KennesawStateSports.com

>>Kennesaw State and Wake Forest are set to clash in their season opener tongiht in Winston-Salem. Both programs are guided by new head coaches—Jerry Mack for KSU and Jake Dickert for Wake Forest—promising a matchup defined by fresh energy, uncertainty, and a hunger to prove themselves under new leadership.

>>Coach Mack steps into his first FBS campaign after a tough inaugural season for the Owls. He emphasized the team’s defensive potential: “One thing that has really stood out is just the play of our defense so far…their communication has continued to improve. The athleticism that we’ve shown on the defensive side of the ball has really impressed me.” Mack added, “Right now our motto is kind of hit everything that moves and they exemplified that with the way they play.”

>>He noted pride and motivation among his players: “These guys have a pride about themselves. They do have a chip on their shoulder. They want to have a winning season. The guys that were here before, they don’t want the same thing to happen this year that happened last year”.

>>Jake Dickert, fresh off his move from Washington State, has transformed Wake Forest’s atmosphere. He pointed out that both teams face similar rebuilds, saying “Both teams, while trying to figure each other out, are very likely to be doing the same with themselves.” Dickert put forward the importance of strong leadership: “Eight players received over 20 votes in the captain-voting process, which speaks to the tight-knit leadership throughout the locker room”.



Click Here For The Full Story

Watch Head Coach Jerry Mack's Weekly Press Conference Previewing Season Opener at Wake Forest

>>Kennesaw State head coach Jerry Mack addressed the media ahead of his team's week one matchup against Wake Forest, offering insight into preparations and expectations for the season opener.

>>“We’re excited to open our season against an ACC opponent with a tradition like Wake Forest,” Mack started, emphasizing the significance of the challenge ahead.

Assessing Wake Forest

>>Coach Mack spoke highly of his opponent’s strengths: “Wake Forest presents a dynamic offense and a disciplined defense that will push our guys to compete at the highest level,” he explained, noting the experience and athleticism of the Demon Deacons. “Their tempo and execution force you to be sharp every snap, so our preparation has focused on detail and fundamentals,” Mack added.

Preparing the Owls

>>Mack expressed confidence in his own squad’s readiness: “Our players have bought into the process throughout camp and have worked hard to put themselves in position to succeed,” he said. “The leadership in our locker room has been outstanding—we’ll rely on our veterans to set the tone early,” Mack remarked, praising his captains and upperclassmen for setting an example in practice.

Click Here To Watch

The Full Press Conference

Watch Wake Forest Head Coach Jake Dickert's Weekly Press Conference Previewing Opening Game With KSU

>>Wake Forest head coach Jake Dickert previewed his inaugural game against Kennesaw State with a candid press conference, outlining both his confidence in his squad and the challenges his team will face.

>>Looking toward the matchup with Kennesaw State, Dickert stressed fundamentals and focus: “It’s not what you do, it’s how you do it. We believe in a very specific process that focuses on the details and not the results. Can’t wait to maximize each day with our guys”. Dickert acknowledged the rebuilding nature of the program but emphasized, “Our process is about competing each snap and building on every opportunity we get. I’m excited to see our team respond together”.

>>“We are very confident in this choice,” Dickert stated, referencing his announcement that transfer Robby Ashford would start at quarterback. “I want to ensure that everyone comprehends that. I believe our timing was appropriate, we provided every individual in that room an opportunity, and I feel Robby earned the position,” Dickert said, reinforcing a sense of fairness and competition within the team.

Click Here To Watch

The Full Press Conference

CONFERENCE USA FOOTBALL This Week's Games

AUGUST 28 - 30

(All times Eastern)

Thursday, August 28

Jax State at UCF 

(ESPN+) 7:00 p.m.

Delaware State at Delaware 

(ESPN+) 7 :00 p.m.

Friday, August 29

Kennesaw State at Wake Forest

(ACCN) 7:00 p.m.

Bethune-Cookman at FIU

(ESPN+) 7:00 p.m.

UNLV at Sam Houston

(CBSSN) 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, August 30

Maine at Liberty

(ESPN+) 4:00 p.m.

Austin Peay at MTSU

(ESPN+) 7:00 p.m.

North Alabama at WKU 

(ESPN+) 7:00 p.m.

UTEP at Utah State

(CBSSN) 7:30 p.m.

Southeastern at LA Tech

(ESPN+) 7:30 p.m.

Missouri State at USC

(BTN) 7:30 p.m.

Bryant at NM State

(ESPN+) 9:00 p.m

____

C-USA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Offensive Player of the Week –

 Maverick McIvor, WKU  - QB

Defensive Player of the Week –

Jaylen Lewis, WKU - Safety

Special Teams Player of the Week – Cole Maynard, WKU - Punter

Conference USA Website - Click Here

Owls Kick Off New Era Under the Lights at Wake Forest

>>A new era for Kennesaw State football officially begins on Friday night when the second head coach in program history, Jerry Mack, leads the Owls into the 2025 season opener versus ACC foe Wake Forest.

>>• A veteran coach, Mack arrives at KSU after having coached at a myriad of places, including Tennessee (2021-23), Rice (2017-20), NC Central (2014-17) and most recently the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024.

>>• Kennesaw State will debut new schematics on both sides of the ball, installing a tempo spread attack on the offensive side and a 4-2-5 base setup on the other side of the ball.

>>• In just its second full-fledged season in Division I FBS, the Owls are set to open 2025 against its second and third Power 4/5 opponents in its all-time history, traveling to Wake Forest and Indiana (Sept. 6) in back-to-back weeks.



>>• Kennesaw State is meeting its second opponent from the Atlantic Coast Conference (Georgia Tech, 2021) and is opening the season on the road for the third time in the last six years. 

Click Here For The Full Story

Volleyball Season Starts Friday at Shocker Volleyball Classic

>>For the seventh time in the past eight years, Kennesaw State will start the season on the road as the Owls will compete in the 16th Shocker Volleyball Classic this weekend in Wichita, Kan.

>>KSU is returning a trip to Wichita State after hosting the Shockers in a pair of games a year ago in the Kennesaw State Invitational in Kennesaw. KSU dropped both matches in 2024, 3-1 on Aug. 30 and 3-2 on Aug. 31 in what was the first-ever meetings between the two schools. The two teams will battle on Friday night in the season opener for both teams, while the Owls will then take on an Arkansas team that is receiving votes in the preseason Top 25 on Saturday afternoon. This will be the first-ever meeting between KSU and the Razorbacks.



Click Here For The Full Story

Owls Face Familiar Foes in the Peach State

>>The Kennesaw State women's soccer team fell to in-state rival Georgia State Thursday night by a score of 4-0.

>>Captain Mai Jensen made her first appearance for Owls this season, returning from the devasting injury she suffered last season. She logged 49 minutes in her first contest back.

The Owls continue play this weekend as they host former ASUN rival North Florida on Sunday.

>>Since shutting out Howard 2-0 on opening day, the Ospreys lost to Campbell, tied FIU, then lost their last two against SEC opponents Florida 0-5 and UGA 0-6.

Thursday, August 28

7 p.m. – Kennesaw State (0-3-0, 0-0-0 CUSA) vs. Georgia State

(3-1-0, 0-0-0 Sun Belt)

Lost 4-0

Sunday, August 31

6 p.m. – Kennesaw State (0-3-0,

0-0-0 CUSA) vs. North Florida

(1-3-1, 0-0-0 Atlantic Sun)

Location: Walens Family Field at

Fifth Third Stadium | Kennesaw, Ga.  

Click Here For The Full Story