Top Storylines:
• Kennesaw State football looks to start Conference USA action on the right note, hosting longtime rival Jax State on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at Walens Family Field at Fifth Third Stadium in a rematch of the 2025 CUSA Championship Game.
• Separated by only 86 miles, Wednesday night marks the eighth all-time meeting between the two programs and third in the last two seasons.
• In in just seven all-time meetings between the two teams, five overall have been decided by 10 points or less with two having gone to overtime.
• Kennesaw State holds a 14-4 record all-time in home games decided by eight points or less since 2015, good four fourth best among all FBS/FCS teams nationally.
• Through four games, Kennesaw State ranks fourth in CUSA in points allowed (22.5), but has allowed just 16.0 points per game against unranked opponents.
• r-Sr. OLB Kai Russell continues to be a force for KSU, recording 17 tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and three passes defended on the young season. He is one of only six FBS players to register those numbers through four games this season and the 14th in CUSA history since 2005 - first since 2018.
• r-Jr. QB Rickie Collins has quietly put together one of the top starts of the seasons and has been especially good in the first quarter, ranking third nationally in completion percentage (85.7) in the opening 15 minutes behind only Miami’s Darian Mensah (92.5) and Georgia’s Gunner Stockton (90.5).
• Kennesaw State has scored at least 24 points in eight-straight regular-season conference games, tied for seventh-longest active streak in FBS.
• Averaging 159.4 rushing yards per game, KSU has been lead by r-Jr. RB Latrelle Murrell and r-So. RB Boogie Woods III.
• Murrell and Woods are the only CUSA teammates to rank top 3 in CUSA in Pro Football Focus run grades (83.4 and 79.4, respectively) and top 5 in overall offensive grades (81.5 and 76.3, respectively)
• Woods is coming off a red-hot performance in which he ran for 101 yards, scored twice and hauled in 20 receiving yards as well. He’s only the third CUSA player to rush for 100 yards and two rushing TD’s so far this season.
• Kennesaw State is the only CUSA team with four players who have rushed for at least 100 yards and a score in 2026 and one of only 20 teams in FBS.
2026 KENNESAW STATE FOOTBALL SINGLE-GAME TICKETS
Single-game tickets begin for as low as $25. Catch all the action of Kennesaw State’s Conference USA schedule that includes a rematch of the 2025 CUSA Championship Game vs. Jax State (Oct. 7), as well as matchups against Liberty (Oct. 22), Delaware (Nov. 7) and FIU (Nov. 21).
The Champions Fund
The Champions Fund is a newly created, 100% tax deductible, philanthropic opportunity to contribute strategic revenue to Kennesaw State Athletics, with the goal of strengthening our ability to recruit and retain top-tier talent in this new era of collegiate athletics. Contributions to the Champions Fund will help aid in funding student-athlete recruitment and retention, as well as helping the Owls provide competitive excellence through investments in coaching, travel and facilities. The fund will also give an elevated student-athlete experience, including enhanced academic, nutrition, wellness and leadership programs. Donate to the Champions Fund here and help us support our Kennesaw State Owls.
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