He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and later for the Cincinnati Bearcats.

[4] After spending the 2012 season on the depth chart behind Everett Golson, Tommy Rees, and Andrew Hendrix, Kiel announced his decision to transfer from Notre Dame.

After sitting out the 2013 season as required by NCAA transfer rules, Kiel made his college debut on September 12, 2014, against the Toledo Rockets.

[11] Prior to the 2016 season, Cincinnati head coach, Tommy Tuberville, announced that Kiel, now a fifth-year senior, would be the third-string quarterback behind sophomore Hayden Moore (starter) and redshirt freshman Ross Trail (second-string).

[12] On October 20, Kiel was named the starter for Cincinnati's homecoming game against East Carolina after Hayden Moore went down with injury.