Liberty has a chance to make a statement in the Conference USA race, but history suggests the Flames should be prepared for a fight.
The Flames head to Georgia on Thursday night to face defending CUSA champion Kennesaw State, a team that has beaten Liberty in each of the past two seasons despite taking very different paths in those matchups.
Liberty enters the game 5-1 overall and riding a five-game winning streak after opening the season with a loss at James Madison. The Flames have won their first two conference games and are beginning to look like a legitimate contender to reclaim the CUSA title.
Kennesaw State, meanwhile, has experienced a much more difficult start to its title defense. The Owls are 1-5 following four consecutive losses, including a pair of three-point defeats in their most recent games. But don’t let the record fool you. Kennesaw State has been competitive in several of those losses, and the Owls have already demonstrated that they can make life difficult for Liberty. The Flames will have to travel to Georgia, handle the atmosphere at Fifth Third Stadium and find a way to beat a team that has had their number recently.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET Thursday, Oct. 22, on CBS Sports Network.
Analyzing the Owls
Kennesaw State enters the matchup as the defending Conference USA champion after a remarkable turnaround in 2025. Under head coach Jerry Mack, the Owls went from 2-10 in 2024 to 10-4 last season, finishing 7-1 in conference play and earning a spot in the CUSA Championship Game where they defeated Jacksonville State.
That success came just one year after the Owls struggled through their first season as an FBS program. The challenge in 2026 has been sustaining that momentum while replacing significant production from a championship roster. Kennesaw State entered the season with just seven returning starters, and the transition has not been seamless. The Owls opened the season with a 47-0 win over West Georgia, but things quickly turned. They lost 31-17 to Georgia State, fell 42-9 at Tennessee and dropped a 17-14 decision at Arkansas State.
The two most recent defeats have been especially painful. Kennesaw State lost 27-26 to Jacksonville State on Oct. 7 before falling 24-21 at Missouri State on Oct. 14. The Owls have now lost four straight games, but the narrow margins in their last two contests show how close they have been to turning their season around. The defending champions may be struggling, but they are not a team Liberty can afford to overlook.
Positions, Players to Watch
Rickie Collins, QB, Kennesaw State
Collins is one of the most important pieces of Kennesaw State’s offense as the Owls attempt to get their season back on track. The former LSU (and Syracuse) quarterback brings Power Four experience to the position and gives the Owls a quarterback with the physical tools to challenge defenses through the air and with his legs. Liberty will need to make him uncomfortable in the pocket, limit his opportunities to extend plays and force Kennesaw State into difficult third-down situations.
Zion Booker, WR, Kennesaw State
Booker is one of the veteran options in the Owls’ receiving corps. The senior transfer from Tulsa gives Collins an experienced target, and Kennesaw State will need its passing game to produce against a Liberty defense that has been playing with growing confidence. The Flames must avoid allowing explosive plays that can quickly swing momentum in a game that could come down to the final possessions.
The Kennesaw State Defense
The Owls’ defense will be tasked with slowing down a Liberty offense that has found its rhythm over the past several weeks. Kennesaw State has struggled to consistently turn close games into victories, and keeping the Flames from establishing their preferred offensive tempo will be critical. If the Owls can generate pressure, force a turnover or create a short field for their offense, they could put themselves in position to pull off another upset against Liberty.
The Matchups
Liberty’s rushing attack vs. Kennesaw State’s defense
Liberty’s ability to run the football could determine how comfortable the Flames are offensively. The Flames have relied on a balanced attack throughout their winning streak, using the ground game to create favorable situations for Purdie and the passing offense.
Kennesaw State, meanwhile, has had to navigate a challenging opening schedule and a series of narrow losses. The Owls will need to be physical up front and prevent Liberty from consistently winning first down. If the Flames establish the run early, they can control the tempo and put pressure on Kennesaw State to keep pace. If the Owls force Liberty into obvious passing situations, the game could become much more difficult.
Liberty’s defense vs. Rickie Collins
The Flames cannot afford to let Collins settle into a rhythm. Kennesaw State has struggled to score consistently during its losing streak, but its recent games show that the offense has been close enough to win. Liberty needs to keep the Owls from finding easy completions and converting third downs. The defensive front must also be disciplined when Collins looks to extend plays or scramble. Missed tackles and coverage breakdowns can be especially costly in a matchup where the margin for error may be small. Liberty has the opportunity to make Kennesaw State work for every yard. Doing so could be the difference between another close finish and a more comfortable road victory.
Can Liberty finish the job?
The most important matchup may be less about individual players and more about how Liberty handles the decisive moments. The Flames have lost to Kennesaw State by three points in 2024 and by six points in double overtime in 2025. Both games featured opportunities for Liberty to win or force a different outcome late.
This time, the Flames need to capitalize when those opportunities arrive. That means finishing drives with touchdowns, avoiding costly turnovers and executing in the red zone. It also means making the necessary plays in the fourth quarter if the game remains close. Liberty has been building momentum over the past month. Now it needs to prove it can carry that success into a difficult road environment against a familiar opponent.
A History of Heartbreak
Liberty’s recent history against Kennesaw State is difficult to ignore. The Owls have won each of the past two meetings, and both games have been painful for the Flames in different ways.
The first came on Oct. 23, 2024, when Liberty traveled to Kennesaw as one of the nation’s remaining undefeated teams. The Flames entered the game 5-0, while the Owls were winless in their first season at the FBS level. On paper, Liberty appeared to have a significant advantage.
Instead, Kennesaw State delivered one of the most shocking results of Liberty’s 2024 campaign.The Owls defeated the Flames 27-24, ending Liberty’s nation-leading regular-season winning streak. Kennesaw State controlled the game for stretches and did enough late to protect the upset, handing Liberty its first loss of the season.The result was a reminder that records and expectations mean little once the ball is kicked off.
One year later, the two teams met again in Lynchburg, and the result was just as painful for Liberty.The Flames and Owls traded touchdowns throughout regulation, with Liberty having an opportunity to win in the final seconds. But a 32-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right with one second remaining, sending the game to overtime.Both teams scored in the first extra period. Kennesaw State found the end zone again in the second overtime, while the Owls’ defense stopped Liberty on fourth down to seal a 48-42 victory.The game featured 503 combined rushing yards, including a season-high 291 on the ground for Liberty. Evan Dickens rushed for 267 yards and four touchdowns, including a 95-yard touchdown run that set a program record for the longest rushing touchdown in school history. Despite that production, the Flames came up short once again.
Kennesaw State now leads the all-time series 3-2 and has won the last three meetings between the programs. For Liberty, Thursday offers another chance to reverse that trend.
The Stakes in the CUSA Race
This matchup carries significant implications for both teams, even if their seasons have unfolded differently.
Liberty entered 2026 with championship aspirations after missing a bowl game last season. The Flames have responded to their opening loss with five straight wins and are positioned to make a run at the top of Conference USA. A road victory over the defending champions would be another important step. It would also help Liberty avoid a potentially damaging conference loss against a team that could still become dangerous as the season progresses.
For Kennesaw State, Thursday is an opportunity to stop the slide and begin rebuilding its title defense. The Owls have lost four consecutive games, but their back-to-back narrow losses against Jacksonville State and Missouri State show that they have not been far away from winning. Beating Liberty would provide a much-needed breakthrough and give the defending champions a chance to regain momentum in conference play.
The CUSA race is still developing, and neither team can afford to treat this game as just another week on the schedule. For Liberty, the mission is to keep winning and remain in the championship conversation. For Kennesaw State, it is about proving that last year’s title was not a one-season breakthrough.
The Bottom Line
Liberty is playing its best football of the season and has an opportunity to strengthen its position in the CUSA race. Kennesaw State is struggling to find wins, but the defending champions have been competitive in their recent losses and have repeatedly found ways to frustrate the Flames.
The history is clear. Liberty lost at Kennesaw State in 2024 in a shocking upset, then fell to the Owls again in a double-overtime thriller last November. The Flames have had opportunities to win both games, but they have not finished the job. Now they return to Georgia looking to change the narrative.
Liberty has the momentum. Kennesaw State has the recent history.
If the Flames want to remain in the hunt for a CUSA championship, Thursday night is an opportunity to show they can overcome both.
