By SCOTT FELTS
The Opponent: Kennesaw State Owls
When: Saturday, September 19th, 7:45pm EST (SEC)
Where: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville
In the final non-conference game on the docket in 2026, the Volunteers take on Kennesaw, the defending Conference USA champion, for the first time ever.
This is the annual Salute to Service Game for Tennessee. In past seasons, Nike and the Vols used this game to showcase the season’s Smokey Grey uniforms. With the new apparel contract starting this summer, will Adidas offer a grey themed version for the Vols, or will it be something even more themed toward saluting service members?
Coach Background
A familiar face leads Kennesaw State in Jerry Mack, who served as the Volunteers’ running backs coach from 2021-23 under Josh Heupel. Mack enters his second year at Kennesaw State after leading the Owls to a 10-4 record in 2025, which was also the program’s first season as a full Football Bowl Subdivision member. Kennesaw went 2-10 in 2024 before Mack arrived.
Overall, Mack, a Memphis native, holds a 41-19 record across his head coaching career. He’s won three conference titles counting his stint at North Carolina Central. Mack was hired as KSU’s head coach in December 2024 after spending the 2024 campaign in the NFL, coaching running backs for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Staff Facts
Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Mitch Militello worked under Heupel at Tennessee from 2021-24. With him calling the plays, Kennesaw State led Conference USA in scoring (34.5 points per game) last season and tied for second in total offense (436.8 yards per game). Vols fans might remember the name of Kennesaw’s wide receivers coach, Dan Ellington. He led the Panthers to their season-opening 38-30 victory at Tennessee in 2019 with 200 yards of total offense and three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing). Defensive coordinator/safeties coach Marc Mattioli was nominated for the Broyles Award in 2025 after the Owls allowed 24.3 points per game in league play — the third-best mark in the conference — and led the league in sacks with 31.
Quarterback Preview
The likely starter is incoming transfer Rickie Collins (6-2, 222 lbs.), a redshirt junior who arrived through the portal from Syracuse following two seasons at LSU. In 2025 at Syracuse, Collins appeared in seven games, making five starts and completing 97 of 181 passes (53.6%) for 1,042 yards, six touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while rushing 54 times for 126 yards and a score. Collins has shown dangerous dual threat ability but yet to prove he can take over a game against bigger competition. Based on his numbers, Collins needs to become more accurate: the Owls went 7-0 last season when completing 65% or more of their passes, nearly 12% higher than his success rate in 2025.
Key Offensive Player
Another arriving transfer, senior Zion Booker (5-10, 186) led Tulsa with 46 catches last season, racking up 418 yards and two touchdowns. He’s the clear top offensive weapon after the Owls lost their top two receivers from 2025. Booker also led Tulsa in punt returns so he could make some guys miss in space and have an impact in the kicking game.
Key Defensive Player
Linebacker Baron Hopson (6-1, 222) paced the Owls in 2025 with 138 total tackles (66 solo), showcasing sideline-to-sideline playmaking in Mattioli’s scheme. He returns as a tackling machine to anchor the front seven.
X-Factor
The Kennesaw staff includes four former Tennessee assistants: Mack, Millitello, running backs coach Aston Walter, and Kyle Blocker, who oversees both special teams and tight ends. Walter is actually a UT graduate; he got his Master’s while on the Tennessee staff. All four know Heupel and the atmosphere of Neyland well. This adds personal motivation and potential schematic familiarity that could help the Owls stay competitive longer in the game than many might expect.
How Kennesaw State Can Win
The Owls win by leaning on their 2025 identity: a physical, balanced offense featuring Booker’s versatility and Collins’ mobility to control tempo and avoid turnovers. On defense, they must generate stops and force mistakes from Tennessee’s skill players, capitalizing on any early-season lack of focus from the Vols ahead of a nine-game SEC gauntlet. Success hinges on winning the line of scrimmage and limiting big plays in Neyland’s loud environment. If they do all that, the Owls could fly high.
How Kennesaw State Can Lose
KSU loses if the game becomes a track meet, or if Collins struggles with accuracy and decision-making against Tennessee’s speed and pass rush. Depth issues in the trenches and Neyland’s crowd noise easily can lead to communication breakdowns and penalties. If the Vols contain Booker and the other transfer receivers, the talent gap will show and the Owls get plucked.
Prediction: Tennessee 45, Kennesaw State 13.
Expect the start to be loud in a raucous Neyland at Night kickoff, as the Vols build a 24-10 lead by halftime through explosive plays. Kennesaw State could hang tough early with Collins’ production and the game plan of the four “Heupel Disciples” on the Owls’ staff. However, Tennessee’s superior talent and depth should make for a comfortable victory, if not a total blowout. This should be a statement win for the Vols rather than a four-quarter nail-biter.