2023 Kennesaw State Owls football team

The 2023 Kennesaw State Owls football team represented the Kennesaw State University as a new independent during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by ninth-year head coach Brian Bohannon, the Owls played their home games at the Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia.

2023 Kennesaw State Owls football

Conference	Independent
Record	3–6
Head coach	Brian Bohannon (9th season)
Offensive coordinator	Chris Klenakis (1st season)
Offensive scheme	Pistol option
Defensive coordinator	Nathan Burton (1st season)
Base defense	4–2–5
Home stadium	Fifth Third Bank Stadium
Seasons ← 2022 2024 →

2023 NCAA Division I FCS independents football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
Kennesaw State*		–		3	–	6

* Note: Kennesaw State ineligible for FCS postseason play due to start of transition to FBS. Rankings from AP Poll

The 2023 season was the last for the Owls on the FCS level as after the conclusion of the season they joined Conference USA in 2024.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 31	7:00 p.m.	Tusculum	Fifth Third Bank Stadium Kennesaw, GA	ESPN+	W 38–7	10,108
September 9	6:00 p.m.	at Chattanooga	Finley Stadium Chattanooga, TN	ESPN+	L 20–27	8,123
September 16	5:00 p.m.	No. 7 Furman	Fifth Third Bank Stadium Kennesaw, GA	ESPN+	L 28–31	6,993
September 23	7:00 p.m.	at Tennessee Tech	Tucker Stadium Cookeville, TN	ESPN+	L 7–17	9,923
September 30	6:00 p.m.	at Charleston Southern	Buccaneer Field North Charleston, SC	ESPN+	L 10–13	3,087
October 7	3:00 p.m.	Tennessee State	Fifth Third Bank Stadium Kennesaw, GA	ESPN+	L 20–27	10,436
October 28	3:00 p.m.	Lincoln (CA)	Fifth Third Bank Stadium Kennesaw, GA	ESPN+	W 28–12	6,013
November 4	1:00 p.m.	at Sam Houston	Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX	ESPN+	L 21–24	7,143
November 11	3:00 p.m.	Virginia–Lynchburg	Fifth Third Bank Stadium Kennesaw, GA	ESPN+	W 63–3	5,735
Homecoming Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

Game summaries

vs Tusculum

at Chattanooga

vs No. 7 Furman

at Tennessee Tech

at Charleston Southern

vs Tennessee State

vs Lincoln (CA)

at Sam Houston

Kennesaw State Owls at Sam Houston State Bearkats – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Owls	14	7	0	0	21
Bearkats	0	7	7	10	24

at Bowers Stadium, Huntsville, Texas

Date: November 4
Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
Game weather: Sunny
Game attendance: 7,143
Referee: Joe Lehring
TV: ESPN+
Box score, Recap

Game information

First quarter

KENN - Michael Benefield 75-yard run (Conor Cummins kick), 11:00. Owls 0-7. Drive: 3 plays, 83 yards, 1:03.
KENN - Micheal Benefield 3-yard run (Conor Cummins kick), 2:13. Owls 0-14. Drive: 4 plays, 6 yards, 1:57.

Second quarter

SHSU - Noah Smith 24-yard pass from Keegan Shoemaker (Colby Sessums kick), 7:18. Owls 7-14. Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards, 2:35.
KENN - Jonathan Murphy 57-yard run (Conor Cummins kick), 4:58. Owls 21-7. Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:20.

Third quarter

SHSU - Elijah Sohn 5-yard pass from Keegan Shoemaker (Colby Sessums kick), 0:33. Owls 14-21. Drive: 13 plays, 74 yards, 5:08.

Fourth quarter

SHSU - Jay Rockwell 2-yard pass from Keegan Shoemaker (Colby Sessums kick), 3:49. Tied 21-21. Drive: 16 plays, 80 yards, 9:24.
SHSU - Colby Sessums 35-yard field goal, 0:00. Bearkats 24-21. Drive: 9 plays, 36 yards, 2:59.

Statistics	KSU	SHSU
First downs	9	27
Total yards	291	347
Rushing yards	247	105
Passing yards	44	242
Turnovers	1	3
Time of possession	24:06	35:54

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Kennesaw State	Passing	Johnathan Murphy	8/14, 44 yards, INT
	Rushing	Micheal Benefield	11 rushes, 108 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Rowan Darnell	2 receptions, 18 yards
Sam Houston State	Passing	Keegan Shoemaker	30/38, 242 yards, 3 TD, INT
	Rushing	Zach Hrbacek	18 rushes, 50 yards
	Receiving	Noah Smith	7 receptions, 78 yards, TD