September 11, 2025

In This Issue 

Kennesaw State Owls Campus Sports

Along with News from the

Conference USA (C-USA)

Kennesaw State Owls gear up for home opener against Merrimack College

 Kennesaw State Owls (0-2, 0-0 CUSA)

vs Merrimack College Warriors

(1-1) FCS Independent

Date: Saturday, September 13

Site: @ Fifth Third Stadium,

Kennesaw, GA



Kickoff: 6:00 p.m. ET

TV: ESPN+:Click Here

Play-by-Play: Nolan Alexander

Analyst: Caleb O’Neal

Sideline Reporter: Jade Barkett

Radio: KSU Owls Radio Network

Play-by-Play: Bryce Gaubert

Analyst: Brandon Sutton

Sideline Reporter: Matthew Downing

Mobile Apps: KSU Owls App,

• Online: KSUOwls.com

• Satellite: SiriusXM Ch. 985

KSU Game Notes: Click Here

Merrimack Game Notes: Click Here

C-USA Weekly Release: Click Here

Kennesaw State Sports: Click Here

Football Atlanta: Click Here

By Don Stone, KennesawStateSports.com

>>The Kennesaw State Owls football team is set to open the home portion of their 2025 schedule on Saturday against the Merrimack Warriors at Walens Family Field at Fifth Third Stadium. The 6:00 p.m. kickoff, which will be broadcast on ESPN+, features a “FLIGHT29 Runout” where 2,000 first-year students will lead the Owls onto the field, and fans are encouraged to wear white.

>>Kennesaw State comes into the game with an 0-2 record after opening the season with two road games against Power 4 opponents, including #23/21 Indiana. Despite the early losses, some players have shown promise.

>>Wide receiver Gabriel Benyard has recorded seven receptions for 154 yards and is approaching a career milestone, needing 44 more receiving yards to reach 1,000 for his career, which would be the second-highest total in Kennesaw State history. Running back Coleman Bennett has also contributed with 100 rushing yards on 22 carries.

>>Defensively, linebacker Baron Hopson leads the team with 16 tackles, including 1.5 for a loss. Defensive backs Caleb Offord and Milon Jones both have 13 tackles.



Click Here For The Full Story

Watch Head Coach Jerry Mack's Weekly Press Conference Previewing Home Opener vs Merrimack

>>"We turn our attention now to Merrimack. First opportunity to have a home game. Everybody's just really excited to see the new style of Kennesaw State football. We're going to try to make it a great experience, not only for our fan base, but for our students. The buzz is going in the right direction and we're excited to showcase what we can do.

>>“I like to refer to it as a basketball-on-grass kind of mindset. We want to take advantage of the entire length and width of the field with varied formations and quick snaps to run as many plays as possible. That’s what we’re building toward.”

>>“We want to limit the mistakes more than anything else. Penalties, turnovers, and missed assignments—we’ve been working hard to eliminate those,” Mack said. “We’re going to use this opportunity to go out there, compete, and continue to get better at the things we need to work on against a team that looks different from us.”



Click Here To Watch

The Full Press Conference

Owls Host Bellarmine On Sunday after 0-0 Draw vs GSU

The Kennesaw State women's soccer team (0-4-3) will wrap up non-conference play against Bellarmine (4-0-2) on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Knights still have another contest tonight at Morehead State before taking on the Owls. Bellarmine also had a scoreless tie in their last match Sunday vs University of Southern Indiana.

The match will be streamed on ESPN+.

>>KSU extended their unbeaten streak at home to three following their 0-0 draw to Georgia Southern Wednesday.

>>Freshman Sara Hill got the start in net once again for the Owls, stopping all five shots she faced. 

CONFERENCE USA FOOTBALL This Week's Games

SEPTEMBER 13

(All times Eastern)

UConn @ Delaware 3:00 p.m. (ESPN+)

SMU @ Missouri State

3:30 p.m.(CBSSN)

UTEP @ Texas 4:15 p.m. (SEC Network)

MTSU @ Nevada 5:00 p.m. (MWN)

Liberty @ Bowling Green

5:00 p.m. (ESPN+)

Merrimack @ Kennesaw State,

6:00 p.m. (ESPN+)

Florida Atlantic @ FIU

6:00 p.m. (ESPN+)

Jax State @ Georgia Southern

7:00 p.m. (ESPN+)

NM State @ Louisiana Tech

7:30 p.m. (ESPN+)

____

C-USA PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Offensive Player of the Week –

Cam Cook, Jax State

Defensive Player of the Week –

Kanye Young, Missouri State

Special Teams Player of the Week –

Garrison Rippa, Jax State

Freshman of the Week –

Jeron Askren, Missouri State

Offensive Lineman of the Week –

Bubba Grayson, Jax State

Conference USA Website - Click Here

Football Opens Up Homestand vs. Merrimack

>>• Kennesaw State football opens up the home portion of its 2025 schedule, hosting four-straight games at Walens Family Field at Fifth Third Stadium against Merrimack on Saturday.

>>• The game will mark the first home game at Fifth Third Stadium for first-year head coach Jerry Mack, whose Owls’ battled previously against two Power 4 teams, including nationally ranked Indiana last week.

>>• Despite the Power 4 losses, KSU has seen several players shine as it enters its homestand, highlighted by the play of WR Gabriel Benyard at wideout. Limited for most of last season due to injury, a healthy Benyard has flourished early in 2025 with seven receptions for 154 yards.

Click Here For The Full Story

KSU Invitational Starts Tonight with Griffin's Game Contest against Michigan State

>>Kennesaw State Volleyball has a busy week ahead as the Owls are facing Michigan State (5-0, 0-0 B1G) for the first time in program history Thursday night in the opening game of the Kennesaw State Invitational. The Spartans are coming off a 3-1 win at Western Michigan Monday. Tonight is also Griffin's Game at KSU, the annual game to help support a local family dealing with childhood cancer. The contest starts at 6:30 pm. 

>>KSU will play Appalachian State (6-0,0-0 Sun Belt) on Saturday on the final day of the tournament at 12 p.m. Iy would be harder to find a tournament field with a better combined record this weekend, as the Owls are 4-1 coming into the weekend. The Mountaineers are coming off a 3-2 win at Virginia. 

>>The Owls then play Troy (1-3, 0-0 Sun Belt) Sunday to close out their non-conference home action at 1 p.m.. All stream on ESPN+.

>>Kennesaw State claimed its third sweep of the season on Sunday afternoon, as the Owls needed just 68 minutes to record a 3-0 victory (25-13, 25-13, 25-12) over South Carolina State from VyStar Arena. With their third straight win, KSU moves to 4-1 on the season.

>>Redshirt sophomore Haley Patterson continues to shine in her return to the court after missing the 2024 season, as she recorded a game-high 10 kills while hitting .444 (10K-2E-18TA) for the afternoon.



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