The Owls will head to the Music City next season. According to FB Schedules, Kennesaw State signed a deal to visit Vanderbilt on September 18th, 2027. Based on Kevin Kelley’s reporting, the agreement features a $1 million payday for the Owls that will also cover trips to Nashville in men’s and women’s basketball.
KSU is likely just a home FCS game away from completing the 2027 non-conference slate, which will be a little road-heavy as the Owls already open the season at Indiana and complete a home-and-home at Louisiana later in the month. Payouts from those Indiana and Vanderbilt buy-games will net the Owls $2.3 million, via previous reporting from The Sentinel.
Out-of-conference scheduling in football has been one of the rare high points on the business side. They’ve done a good job booking profitable fan-friendly road trips - Wake Forest, Tennessee, Vanderbilt - and the package deal with basketball is a nice touch in an era of hoops where the power leagues aren’t as interested in scheduling mid-majors. Nashville is such a great destination for a weekend road trip like this. I’m already getting emotional thinking about stumbling into a Broadway honky-tonk and demanding a country cover of the War chant.
A couple coaching staff connections between the two programs: Owls DC Marc Mattioli worked at Vanderbilt for five seasons prior to heading overseas. Current Commodores OL coach Chris Klenakis led the KSU offense during the transition to the pistol offense during the 2023 season.
Other headlines
247 Sports named Owls RB coach Aston Walter to the publication’s 30 Under 30 list, spotlighting up-and-coming assistants throughout college football. Former WR coach David Whitlow, who moved to UGA during the offseason, picked up the honor last season.
KSU’s latest Football Film Review is worth your time, in the absence of local media paying any attention to the Owls during camp. We have to scratch the itch somehow. OC Mitch Militello takes us inside a drive from the New Mexico State game. This entire series has been good, but he goes deeper into the art of play-calling than Mack and Mattioli in their respective editions.
FIU has named a starting quarterback, via Pete Thamel. App State transfer JJ Kohl will officially take the reins from Keyone Jenkins and Joe Pesansky. I wouldn’t be surprised if Kennesaw’s Detective Thamel post wasn’t far behind.
Liberty, on the other hand, finally trimmed down its quarterback battle - sorry, checking my notes - to four guys. Redshirt freshman Ethan Houck bowed out of the race this morning, asking for a position change to tight end. Here’s how Chadwell descibed the position after practice this morning:
Dude Perfect and Barstool Sports birthed a child and that mutant offspring grew up to sponsor Sam Houston with a jersey patch and promises for “at least 50 pieces” of behind-the-scenes content this season. This company is certainly not aimed at me, but watching these guys Phil Longo’s descent into madness will be absolute cinema. As the founder puts it: “Making a bowl game is a championship.” Hard to evaluate the deal until knowing how much cash changed hands.
