To no one’s surprise, Kennesaw State was picked to finish last in the Big South preseason football poll released on Thursday.

The league’s coaches and media were the poll panelists.

The Owls are playing their first year of football and will open the season at East Tennessee State on Sept. 3.

Coastal Carolina, which reached the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs last year, were picked to finish first. Liberty, which also made the playoffs last year, were picked to finish second.

The Owls had no players make the preseason all-conference team.

Alpharetta’s Alex Ross, a quarterback at Coastal Carolina, was named the preseason offensive player of the year.

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Georgia State head coach Jonas Hayes greets Kennesaw State head coach Antoine Pettway before their game at the Georgia State Convocation Center, Friday, December 6, 2024, in Atlanta. The game between Kennesaw State and Georgia State is referred to as the I-75 Challenge. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

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Managing Partner at Atlantica Properties, Darion Dunn (center) talks with Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens during a tour following the ribbon cutting of Waterworks Village as part of the third phase of the city’s Rapid Housing Initiative on Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025.
(Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez