2018 Kennesaw State Owls football team

The 2018 Kennesaw State Owls football team represented Kennesaw State University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by fourth-year head coach Brian Bohannon and played their home games at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia as fourth-year members of the Big South Conference. They finished the season 11–2, 5–0 in Big South play to win the Big South conference championship for the second consecutive year. The Owls received the Big South's automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs. The Owls earned a No. 4 seed and a first round bye. They defeated Wofford in the second round before losing in the quarterfinals to No. 5 South Dakota State.

2018 Kennesaw State Owls football
Big South champion
FCS Playoffs Quarterfinals, L 17–27 vs. South Dakota State
ConferenceBig South Conference
Ranking
STATSNo. 5
FCS CoachesNo. 4
2018 record11–2 (5–0 Big South)
Head coachBrian Bohannon (4th season)
Offensive coordinatorGrant Chesnut (4th season)
Defensive coordinatorBrian Newberry (4th season)
Home stadiumFifth Third Bank Stadium
(Capacity: 8,318)
2018 Big South Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
No. 5 Kennesaw State $^  5 –0     11 –2  
Monmouth  4 –1     8 –3  
Charleston Southern  3 –2     5 –6  
Gardner–Webb  2 –3     3 –8  
Campbell  1 –4     6 –5  
Presbyterian  0 –5     2 –8  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – FCS playoff participant
Rankings from STATS Poll

Previous season

The Owls finished the 2017 season 12–2, 5–0 in Big South play to win the Big South conference championship.[1] The Owls received the Big South's automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs, their first trip to the playoffs in school history.[2][3] In the first round of the playoffs, the Owls defeated Samford in a rematch of their only regular season loss and marked the school's first ever playoff win.[4] In the second round, the Owls upset No. 3 seed Jacksonville State to advance to the quarterfinals.[5] In the quarterfinals, despite a furious second half comeback, they lost to Sam Houston State.[6]

On January 9, 2018, head coach Brian Bohannon was named the American Football Coaches Association's Coach of the Year.[7][8]

Preseason

Big South poll

In the Big South preseason poll released on July 23, 2018, the Owls were predicted to finish as Big South champions.[9]

Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1Kennesaw State107 (17)
2Monmouth82 (1)
3Charleston Southern75
4Gardner–Webb52
5Campbell36
6Presbyterian26

Preseason All-Big South team

The Big South released their preseason all-Big South team on July 23, 2018, with the Owls having fourteen players selected along with two more at three positions on the honorable mention list.[10] Quarterback Chandler Burks was named preseason offensive player of the year and linebacker Bryson Armstrong was named the preseason defensive player of the year.

Award watch lists
Award Player Position Year
Walter Payton Award[11] Chandler Burks QB SR
Buck Buchanan Award[12] Bryson Armstrong LB SO

Schedule
DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendance
August 307:00 p.m.at Georgia State*No. 5
ESPN+L 20–2423,088
September 67:00 p.m.at Tennessee Tech*No. 7
ESPNUW 49–104,118
September 156:45 p.m.Alabama State*No. 7
ESPN+W 62–138,799
September 226:00 p.m.Clark Atlanta*No. 5
  • Fifth Third Bank Stadium
  • Kennesaw, GA
ESPN+W 70–136,009
September 296:00 p.m.Samford*No. 4
  • Fifth Third Bank Stadium
  • Kennesaw, GA
ESPN3W 24–106,304
October 62:00 p.m.PresbyterianNo. 4
  • Fifth Third Bank Stadium
  • Kennesaw, GA
ESPN3W 56–06,414
October 131:30 p.m.at Gardner–WebbNo. 3
ESPN3W 56–174,150
October 276:00 p.m.at Charleston SouthernNo. 2
ESPN+W 38–101,242
November 32:00 p.m.CampbellNo. 2
  • Fifth Third Bank Stadium
  • Kennesaw, GA
ESPN+W 49–06,012
November 1012:00 p.m.at MonmouthNo. 2
ESPN3W 51–142,332
November 173:00 p.m.vs. No. 6 Jacksonville State*No. 2
  • SunTrust Park
  • Atlanta, GA
FSSW 60–52 5OT16,949
December 12:00 p.m.No. 13 Wofford*No. 2
  • Fifth Third Bank Stadium
  • Kennesaw, GA (FCS Playoffs Second Round)
ESPN3W 13–103,515
December 82:00 p.m.No. 5 South Dakota State*No. 2
  • Fifth Third Bank Stadium
  • Kennesaw, GA (FCS Playoffs Quarterfinals)
ESPN3L 17–273,242

Game summaries

at Georgia State
See also: 2018 Georgia State Panthers football team
Kennesaw State at Georgia State
1 234Total
No. 5 Owls 7 760 20
• Panthers 0 14010 24
  • Date: August 30
  • Location: Georgia State Stadium
    Atlanta, GA
  • Game start: 7:00 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:16
  • Game attendance: 23,088
  • Game weather: 83°F • S 6 • Mostly sunny
  • Referee: Marshall Lewis
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Matt Stewart, Wayne Gandy, Jael Rucker
Overall record Last meeting Result
First meeting

at Tennessee Tech
See also: 2018 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles football team
Kennesaw State at Tennessee Tech
1 234Total
• No. 7 Owls 7 14217 49
Golden Eagles 3 007 10
  • Date: September 6
  • Location: Tucker Stadium
    Cookeville, TN
  • Game start: 7:00 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:02
  • Game attendance: 4,118
  • Game weather: 74°F • 10 mph • Early rain
  • Referee: D. Whitehead
  • TV announcers (ESPNU): Tiffany Greene, Jay Walker
Overall record Last meeting Result
1–0 2017 KSU, 27–14

Alabama State
See also: 2018 Alabama State Hornets football team
Alabama State at Kennesaw State
1 234Total
Hornets 3 370 13
• No. 7 Owls 14 28200 62
  • Date: September 15
  • Location: Fifth Third Bank Stadium
    Kennesaw, GA
  • Game start: 6:45 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:06
  • Game attendance: 8,799
  • Game weather: 78°F • 6 mph • Light rain
  • Referee: Jeff Page
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Brian Katrek, Tutan Reyes, Chris Mooneyham
Overall record Last meeting Result
1–0 2017 KSU, 20–14

Clark Atlanta
Clark Atlanta at Kennesaw State
1 234Total
Panthers 13 000 13
• No. 5 Owls 14 212114 70
  • Date: September 22
  • Location: Fifth Third Bank Stadium
    Kennesaw, GA
  • Game start: 6:00 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:03
  • Game attendance: 6,009
  • Game weather: 88°F • 6 mph • A few clouds
  • Referee: Douglas Mercer
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Brian Katrek, Tutan Reyes, Chris Mooneyham, Lauren Hoffman
Overall record Last meeting Result
1–0 2016 KSU, 56–0

Samford
See also: 2018 Samford Bulldogs football team
Samford at Kennesaw State
1 234Total
Bulldogs 3 007 10
• No. 4 Owls 7 773 24
  • Date: September 29
  • Location: Fifth Third Bank Stadium
    Kennesaw, GA
  • Game start: 6:00 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 2:41
  • Game attendance: 6,304
  • Game weather: 83°F • 6 mph • Partly Cloudy
  • Referee: Stephen Hazle
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): Brian Giffin, Brandon Joseph, Nathan McCreary
Overall record Last meeting Result
1–1 2017 FCS Playoffs KSU, 28–17

Presbyterian
See also: 2018 Presbyterian Blue Hose football team
Presbyterian at Kennesaw State
1 234Total
Blue Hose 0 000 0
• No. 4 Owls 14 14217 56
  • Date: October 6
  • Location: Fifth Third Bank Stadium
    Kennesaw, GA
  • Game start: 2:00 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 2:51
  • Game attendance: 6,414
  • Referee: Marcus Woods
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): Brian Katrek, Tutan Reyes, Chris Mooneyham, Lauren Hoffman
Overall record Last meeting Result
2–1 2017 KSU, 28–0

at Gardner–Webb
See also: 2018 Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs football team
Kennesaw State at Gardner–Webb
1 234Total
• No. 3 Owls 7 211414 56
Runnin' Bulldogs 3 0014 17
  • Date: October 13
  • Location: Ernest W. Spangler Stadium
    Boiling Springs, NC
  • Game start: 1:30 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 2:45
  • Game attendance: 4,150
  • Game weather: 65°F • 7 mph • Sunny
  • Referee: Duane Heydt
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): Fabian Fuentes, Renaldo Wynn, Brendan Boylan
Overall record Last meeting Result
3–0 2017 KSU, 17–3

at Charleston Southern
See also: 2018 Charleston Southern Buccaneers football team
Kennesaw State at Charleston Southern
1 234Total
• No. 2 Owls 7 1777 38
Buccaneers 3 700 10
  • Date: October 27
  • Location: Buccaneer Field
    North Charleston, SC
  • Game start: 6:00 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 2:57
  • Game attendance: 1,242
  • Referee: Thomas Graham
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Kevin O’Rourke, Danny Croghan III, Danielle Hensley
Overall record Last meeting Result
1–2 2017 KSU, 38–0

Campbell
See also: 2018 Campbell Fighting Camels football team
Campbell at Kennesaw State
1 234Total
Fighting Camels 0 000 0
• No. 2 Owls 0 21217 49
  • Date: November 3
  • Location: Fifth Third Bank Stadium
    Kennesaw, GA
  • Game start: 2:00 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 2:40
  • Game attendance: 6,012
  • Game weather: 62°F • NW 1 • Sunny
  • Referee: Todd LaPenta
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Brian Katrek, Tutan Reyes, Chris Mooneyham, Lauren Hoffman
Overall record Last meeting Result
First meeting

at Monmouth
See also: 2018 Monmouth Hawks football team
Kennesaw State at Monmouth
1 234Total
• No. 2 Owls 7 101420 51
Hawks 7 700 14
  • Date: November 10
  • Location: Kessler Stadium
    West Long Branch, NJ
  • Game start: 12:00 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 2:56
  • Game attendance: 2,332
  • Game weather: 44°F • Sunny
  • Referee: David Epperley
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): Matt Harmon, Eddy Occhipinti, Suzi Mellano
Overall record Last meeting Result
3–0 2017 KSU, 52–21

vs. Jacksonville State
See also: 2018 Jacksonville State Gamecocks football team
Jacksonville State vs Kennesaw State
1 234OTTotal
No. 6 Gamecocks 7 710028 52
• No. 2 Owls 0 107736 60
  • Date: November 17
  • Location: SunTrust Park
    Atlanta, GA
  • Game start: 3:00 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 4:12
  • Game attendance: 16,949
  • Game weather: 64°F • WNW 3 • Partly Cloudy
  • Referee: Larry Adcock
  • TV announcers (FSS): Brian Katrek, Tutan Reyes, Chris Mooneyham
Overall record Last meeting Result
1–0 2017 FCS Playoffs KSU, 17–3

FCS Playoffs

Wofford–Second Round
See also: 2018 Wofford Terriers football team
Wofford vs Kennesaw State
1 234Total
No. 13 Terriers 0 1000 10
• No. 2 Owls 0 1003 13
  • Date: December 1
  • Location: Fifth Third Bank Stadium
    Kennesaw, GA
  • Game start: 2:00 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 2:55
  • Game attendance: 3,515
  • Game weather: 54°F • E 9 • Light Rain/Fog/Mist
  • Referee: Bruce Bondi
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): Jim Barbar, John Gregory
Overall record Last meeting Result
First meeting

South Dakota State–Quarterfinals
See also: 2018 South Dakota State Jackrabbits football team
South Dakota State vs Kennesaw State
1 234Total
• No. 5 Jackrabbits 3 1437 27
No. 2 Owls 3 0014 17
  • Date: December 8
  • Location: Fifth Third Bank Stadium
    Kennesaw, GA
  • Game start: 2:00 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 2:47
  • Game attendance: 3,242
  • Game weather: 40°F • E 7 • Light/Heavy Rain
  • Referee: Todd Boyd
  • TV announcers (ESPN3): Robert Lee, Matt Chatham
Overall record Last meeting Result
First meeting

Ranking movements
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Final 
STATS FCS 5 7 7 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 2 2 2  
Coaches 5 8 8 5 4 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

References
  1. Bednarowski, John. "Kennesaw State romps Monmouth for Big South title". MDJOnline.com. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  2. "Big South Conference - Kennesaw State Draws Samford in FCS Playoffs". bigsouthsports.com. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  3. Bednarowski, John. "Kennesaw State making playoff debut with chance at revenge". MDJOnline.com. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  4. "Samford vs. Kennesaw State - Game Recap - November 25, 2017 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  5. "Kennesaw State stuns No. 3 seed Jacksonville State in FCS second round". FOX Sports. 2017-12-02. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  6. "Kennesaw State vs. Sam Houston State - Game Recap - December 9, 2017 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  7. Bednarowski, John. "Kennesaw State's Brian Bohannon voted FCS Coach of the Year by AFCA". MDJOnline.com. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  8. "FB: Bohannon Named 2017 AFCA FCS Coach of the Year - Kennesaw State University". Kennesaw State University. Retrieved 2018-01-17.
  9. "Kennesaw State Voted 2018 Preseason Football Favorite". bigsouthsports.com. Big South Conference.
  10. "Burks, Armstrong Headline 2018 Preseason All-Conference Team". bigsouthsports.com. Big South Conference.
  11. "FCS football: 2018 Walter Payton Award watch list". August 1, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  12. "FCS football: 2018 Buck Buchanan Award watch list announced". August 2, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
  13. "2018 Football Schedule". ksuowls.com. Kennesaw State University. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
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