Top Storylines:
• The stage is set for one of the biggest games in Conference USA history when Kennesaw State (7-2, 5-0 CUSA) travels to Jax State (6-3, 5-0 CUSA) in a nationally televised showdown on Saturday night at 8 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
• Separated by just 86 miles -- only New Mexico State and UTEP are closer in Conference USA -- Saturday marks the sixth all-time meeting between the two schools and the first since 2024.
• Saturday also marks only the second time since 2012 in Conference USA history that two teams with undefeated records in conference play are meeting this late in the calendar year.
• The last time two teams with unblemished CUSA records met this late in a season came on Nov. 17, 2012 when UCF (8-2, 6-0 CUSA) played Tulsa (8-2, 6-0 CUSA). The Golden Hurricane defeated the Knights, 23-21.
• The Owls and Gamecocks are the last two remaining teams that are undefeated in Conference USA play this season and are the only two of the eight teams nationally remaining with undefeated conference records -- Indiana, Ohio State (Big Ten); Alabama, Texas A&M (SEC); and James Madison, Southern Miss (Sun Belt) -- scheduled to face off in the regular season.
• Kennesaw State has won seven-straight games, good for the longest active win streak among Group of Six teams and tied for fifth-longest active win streak among all FBS programs.
• The Owls’ only blemishes this season have been Power 4 losses to Wake Forest (6-3) and No. 2-ranked Indiana (10-0).
• Kennesaw State is joined by Notre Dame as the first FBS teams since Washington State in 2016 to win seven-straight games after starting the season 0-2.
• The Owls have won the battle in the trenches thus far this season, leading Conference USA in sacks allowed (1.00/game) and team sacks (2.67/game), also ranking top-20 nationally in both categories.
• In league play, Kennesaw State leads CUSA in both scoring (32.2) and points allowed (18.0).
• Kennesaw State continued to earn accolades after its 24-21 triumph over NM State last week, as r-So. OL Josiah Chenault (CUSA Offensive Lineman of the Week), Fr. DL Elijah Hill (CUSA Freshman of the Week) and Sr. DB Kody Jones (Thorpe Award National Defensive Back of the Week) all received recognition.
