.jpg)
2 hours ago
2
In 2026, Georgia will have two teams representing the Peach State in March Madness: Georgia (No. 8, Midwest) and Kennesaw State (No. 14, West).
En route to the 2026 tournament, as a 6-seed in the Conference USA tournament, the Kennesaw State Owls defeated LA Tech 71-60. This is coach Antoine Pettway's first time coaching in March Madness, who became the Owls' head coach in April 2023.
The Kennesaw State Owls have qualified for their second NCAA Tournament in their school's history, but they are still vying for their first win. They will take on the No. 3 Gonzaga Bulldogs.
Here’s the rundown and brief history of the school nestled in Kennesaw.
MARCH MADNESS HQ: Live NCAA bracket | TV schedule | Printable bracket
Where is Kennesaw State located?
Kennesaw State is located 24 miles north of Atlanta in Kennesaw, and the school sits just above the city of Marietta. The university was founded in 1963 and has become Georgia's third-largest university.
As of fall 2024, Kennesaw State had an undergraduate enrollment of 42,840, per the U.S. News and World Report.
SN AWARDS: All-America team | Player of the Year | Coach of the Year
What conference is Kennesaw State in?
The Kennesaw State Owls, who have 18 Division I teams, compete in the NCAA's Conference USA. The conference was founded in 1995 and is based in the Southern and Western regions of the United States.
Kennesaw State joined the conference in 2024 and has been a member since. The CUSA currently includes 12 teams, which are as follows:
- University of Delaware
- Florida International University
- Jacksonville State University
- Kennesaw State University
- Liberty University
- Louisiana Tech University
- Middle Tennessee State University
- Missouri State University
- New Mexico State University
- Sam Houston State University
- University of Texas at El Paso
- Western Kentucky University
MORE UPSET PICKS: 10 seeds | 11 seeds | 12 seeds | 13 seeds
Kennesaw State name origin
While Kennesaw State's name doesn't have a bona fide origin, the most common theory relates to a nearby Indigenous group's vocabulary.
The school resides near Kennesaw Mountain, which has Indigenous roots. According to the National Park Service, the Cherokee Indian word, “Gah-nee-sah,” means cemetery or burial ground.
Kennesaw State NCAA Tournament history
As of 2026, Kennesaw State has made the NCAA Tournament twice in school history. The Owls first qualified in 2023 as a No. 14 seed, losing to No. 3 Xavier 72-67.
After winning the Conference USA tournament championship, the Owls are back to dancing in 2026. They are returning as a 14-seed and will play against the Gonzaga Bulldogs.
MORE MARCH MADNESS NEWS:
English (US)