Kennesaw State is one of the feel-good stories of the 2025 college football season. And the story got even better Friday night. Behind first-yer coach Jerry Mack the Owls had already made a seven-win jump this season. On Friday, they added a Conference USA Championship game win in just the program’s second year in FBS.
‘A team that was 2-10, to turn it around and win 10 football games in one year. What a difference a year makes,’ Mack said postgame. ‘Who does that? Where I’m from, they say, ‘Where you at?”
A goal-line stand. A kicker forcing a fumble. A safety. A last-minute touchdown to win.
The CUSA Championship game had a little bit of everything — except some big-time offense. Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State entered Friday’s game averaging a combined 59 points per game. We didn’t get anywhere close to that, in Kennesaw State’s 19-15 win in Jacksonville, Alabama.
Kennesaw State (10-3) bottled up Jax State running back Cam Cook, the nation’s leading rusher. But Gamecocks’ QB Caden Creel hurt the Owls with his legs, rushing for 112 yards, including a 19-yard touchdown with 4:40 in the fourth quarter to give Jax State (8-5) its first lead.
But then KSU QB Amari Odom engineered a game-winning drive that included a 4th-and-14 conversion and a 26-yard completion on 3rd-and-27 that set up another 4th-down conversion. With 50 seconds left, Odom hit Navelle Dean in the end zone for a touchdown and the 19-15 win.
Here’s how it happened.
Kennesaw State vs Jax State football score
FINAL: Kennesaw State 19, Jacksonville 15
0:51 4Q: Kennesaw State 19, Jacksonville State 15
Kennesaw State gets into Jax State territory on its final drive and on 4th-and-14, KSU decides to go for it instead of attempting a 54-yard field goal potential tying field goal… and QB Amari Odom is flushed to his left and gets a massive first down pickup. Plus an unnecessary roughness, late hit penalty.
Odom then hits Navelle Dean for an 11-yard TOUCHDOWN. Really bold call from Jerry Mack on that 4th-and-14. Tip of the cap, sir.
2:00 4Q: Jacksonville State 15, Kennesaw State 12
Amari Odom hits Christian Moss down the middle on 3rd-and-27. He got 26 yards. 4th-and-1 when we come back from 2-minute timeout. Drama.
4:04 4Q: Jacksonville State 15, Kennesaw State 12
Caden Creel’s legs continue to drive Jax State forward. On 4th-and-2 at midfield, Creel runs for seven yards to keep drive alive. And then he breaks loose for a 19-yard touchdown run and the Gamecocks’ first lead of the game. Looks like Jax State got away with a false start on the touchdown play, no call.
On the 2-point conversion to take a three-point lead, Creel hits 6-8 receiver Deondre Johnson in the corner of the end zone. Smart. He’s tall. And makes a great grab.
8:20 4Q: Kennesaw State 12, Jacksonville State 7
Not a great sequence for Kennesaw State. Coleman Bennett loses two yards on first down. Then a 3-yard pass is followed up by a sack and loss of nine yards. Punt back to Jax State. Momentum is swinging.
10:20 4Q: Kennesaw State 12, Jacksonville State 7
TOUCHDOWN! Jax State’s best offense hasn’t been the nation’s leading rusher, but the legs of quarterback Caden Creel. Creel has 84 yards on 12 carries, but Cam Cook finally finds some room and walks into the end zone with a 1-yard score. Gamecocks turn the fumble into points. Needed that.
12:24 4Q: Kennesaw State 12, Jacksonville State 0
Oh my! On the free kick after the safety, Jax State kicker Garrett Rippa makes a big play, forcing a fumble on the return. Kennesaw State’s Davis Bryson had a good return going before the kicker came up with the goods. The ball was jarred loose on the hit, popped into the air and recovered by the Gamecocks. Just the break they needed.
12:33 4Q: Kennesaw State 12, Jacksonville State 0
SAFETY. Marcus Patterson tackles Cam Cook in the end zone for two points for the Owls. So the gamble to go on fourth down doesn’t come back to bite Kennesaw State. Cook, the nation’s leading rusher, has 35 yards on 14 carries.
12:40 4Q: Kennesaw State 10, Jacksonville State 0
Amari Odom tries a QB sneak on 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line and gets stuffed. Play is under review to see if he was pushed into the end zone before his forward progress was stopped. A massive play. If he’s in, KSU takes a three-score lead. But review upholds the call, short. It stays a two-score game. Jacksonville State ball in shadow of their own end zone.
End 3Q: Kennesaw State 10, Jacksonville State 0
Owls will begin the fourth quarter in Jax State territory and looking for a knockout blow.
4:31 3Q: Kennesaw State 10, Jacksonville State 0
A missed field goal from 35 yards out for Jax State. Gamecocks still scoreless. Worth a reminder: JSU is Conference USA’s top scoring offense (30.2 ppg).
9:57 3Q: Kennesaw State 10, Jacksonville State 0
Britton Williams hits a field goal from 38 yards out to extend the Owls’ lead. Amari Odom and Coleman Bennett did much of the heavy lifting on the first drive of the second half.
15:00 3Q: Kennesaw State 7, Jacksonville State 0
KSU WR Gabriel Benyard didn’t come out for the second half. He took a brutal hit late in the first half that drew a targeting call. His is the Owls’ leading receiver on the season.
HALFTIME: Kennesaw State 7, Jacksonville State 0
A scary hit from Trevor Woods, who lays out defenseless Kennesaw State receiver Gabriel Benyard and gets called for targeting. Just a brutal hit. Woods is ejected for the hit.
With time winding out in the half, KSU QB Amari Odom is called for intentional grounding with comes with a 10-second runoff and the half is over.
An unexpected defensive battle.
6:49 2Q: Kennesaw State 7, Jacksonville State 0
Jax State QB Caden Creel scrambles for 34 yards on 3rd-and-25 and gets the Gamecocks in business. But on 4th-and-1 from the KSU 9-yard line, Cam Cook is stopped for a four-yard loss. Turnover on downs.
13:03 2Q: Kennesaw State 7, Jacksonville State 0
Coleman Bennett punches it in from three yards out to break the deadlock. An 11-play, 80-yard drive led by Amari Odom gives us our first points of the night.
End 1Q: Jacksonville State 0, Kennesaw State 0
Owls are driving into JSU territory, will have a 2nd-and-9 from the Gamecocks’ 35-yard line.
2:36 1Q: Jacksonville State 0, Kennesaw State 0
INTERCEPTION! A 10-play, 61-yard drive ends with a pick in the end zone. JSU QB Caden Creel is intercepted by Milon Jones.
7:47 1Q: Jacksonville State 0, Kennesaw State 0
We’re trading punts. That’s two punts for each team. It’s a slow burn tonight in Jacksonville.
11:17 1Q: Jacksonville State 0, Kennesaw State 0
Owls pick up a first down before the Gamecocks tighten up and force a punt.
13:42 1Q: Jacksonville State 0, Kennesaw State 0
We’re underway, and the Owls force a three-and-out to get us started.
What time does Kennesaw State vs Jacksonville State football start?
Date: Friday, Dec. 5
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Where: AmFirst Stadium (Jacksonville, Alabama)
Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State will kick off at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Dec. 5 from AmFirst Stadium in Jacksonville, Alabama.
What TV channel is Kennesaw State vs Jacksonville State on today?
TV channel: CBS Sports Network
Livestream: Fubo (free trial)
The C-USA championship game between Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
Streaming options for the game include Fubo, which carries CBSSN and offers a free trial to new subscribers.
Conference USA Championship game predictions
Kennesaw State 31, Jacksonville State 27: Although Jacksonville State got the better of the Owls in their first matchup, Jerry Mack has shown his mettle this season. Kennesaw State is able to get the upper hand in this one with Amari Odom bouncing back from his three-interception outing in the first go-round. Protecting the ball gives the Owls the edge, and they avenge their one conference loss this season and cap off a monumental turnaround. — Kevin Skiver
Jacksonville State 35, Kennesaw State 27: Despite losing coach Rich Rodriguez to West Virginia, Jacksonville State rolls to its second straight Conference USA championship behind a three-touchdown performance from running back Cam Cook to run his season total to 18. — Ehsan Kassim
Kennesaw State 35, Jacksonville State 30: This one feels like a toss-up, but I’ll side with Kennesaw State getting its revenge against Jacksonville State and winning its first Conference USA title in just its second year as a member of the Division I FBS level. To do that, though, the Owls will need to be able to contain Jacksonville State running back Cam Cook, who ran for 132 rushing yards and a touchdown in the first meeting. — John Leuzzi
Conference USA Championship game betting odds
Moneyline: Kennesaw State (-145)
Spread: Kennesaw State (-2.5)
Over/under: 60.5
Kennesaw State football schedule 2025
Here’s a look at Kennesaw State’s schedule in 2025, including past scores.
Friday, Aug. 29: Wake Forest 10, Kennesaw State 9
Saturday, Sept. 6: Indiana 56, Kennesaw State 9
Saturday, Sept. 13: Kennesaw State 27, Merrimack 13
Saturday, Sept. 20: Kennesaw State 28, Arkansas State 21
Saturday, Sept. 27: Kennesaw State 24, Middle Tennessee 16*
BYE
Thursday, Oct. 9: Kennesaw State 35, Louisiana Tech 7*
BYE
Tuesday, Oct. 21: Kennesaw State 45, FIU 26*
Tuesday, Oct. 28: Kennesaw State 33, UTEP 20*
Saturday, Nov. 8: Kennesaw State 24, New Mexico State 21*
Saturday, Nov. 15: Jacksonville State 35, Kennesaw State 26
Saturday, Nov. 22: Kennesaw State 41, Montana State 34
Saturday, Nov. 29: Kennesaw State 48, Liberty 42 (OT)*
Friday, Dec. 5: Kennesaw State vs Jacksonville State | CBS Sports Network**
* – denotes Conference-USA game
** – denotes Conference-USA championship game
Jacksonville State football schedule 2025
Here’s a look at Jacksonville State’s schedule in 2025, including past scores.
Thursday, Aug. 28: UCF 17, Jacksonville State 10
Saturday, Sept. 6: Jacksonville State 34, Liberty 24*
Saturday, Sept. 13: Georgia Southern 41, Jacksonville State 34
Saturday, Sept. 20: Jacksonville State 45, Murray State 10
Saturday, Sept. 27: Southern Miss 42, Jacksonville State 25
BYE
Thursday, Oct. 9: Jacksonville State 29, Sam Houston 27*
Wednesday, Oct. 15: Jacksonville State 38, Delaware 25*
BYE
Saturday, Nov. 8: Jacksonville State 30, UTEP 27*
Saturday, Nov. 15: Jacksonville State 35, Kennesaw State 26*
Saturday, Nov. 22: FIU 27, Jacksonville State 21*
Saturday, Nov. 29: Jacksonville State 37, Western Kentucky 34*
Friday, Dec. 5: Kennesaw State vs Jacksonville State | CBS Sports Network**
* – denotes Conference-USA game
** – denotes Conference-USA championship game
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