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Amari Odom threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Navelle Dean in the final minute after Kennesaw State let a 12-point fourth-quarter lead slip away, and the Owls rallied to beat regular-season champion Jacksonville State 19-15 in the Conference USA championship game Friday night. Kennesaw State first-year coach Jerry Mack led his team to the title after the Owls finished 2-10 last season. Odom and the Owls (10-3) took over at their own 25-yard line after fourth-quarter touchdown runs by Caden Creel and Cam Cook had given the Gamecocks a 15-12 lead with 4:04 left to play. Odom hit Christian Moss for a 26-yard gain on third-and-27 before Coleman Bennett picked up the first down with a 3-yard run with two minutes left. Odom ran 14 yards on a fourth-and-14 keeper, and a late-hit penalty gave Kennesaw State the ball at the Gamecocks' 11 with 63 seconds left. Dean, a sophomore, caught the go-ahead pass from Odom on the next play for his first collegiate touchdown. Dean finished with two catches for 19 yards after entering with two receptions on the season.

Kennesaw State used Bennett's 3-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and Britton Williams' 38-yard field goal in the third to take a 10-0 lead. Momentum swung Jacksonville State's way after Davis Bryson fumbled on a free kick following a safety with 12:39 remaining. Cook, the leading rusher in the FBS with 1,581 yards entering play, turned the turnover into a 1-yard scoring run to cut it to 12-7. Creel's 19-yard touchdown run and his conversion pass to Deondre Johnson gave the Gamecocks a brief lead. Odum completed 26 of 32 passes for 246 yards. Bennett carried 17 times for 82 yards. Creel totaled 96 yards on 12-for-21 passing with an interception. He rushed for 112 yards on 18 carries. Cook totaled 78 yards on 19 rushes. The Owls avenged a 35-26 road loss to the Gamecocks on Nov. 15. - Kennesaw State/AP College Football

(DS#28 QB) rSo/2028

QB Amari Odom, Kennesaw State
News Source: Kennesaw State/AP College Football
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12/04/25 - Baron Hopson, rSr/2026, Kennesaw State, 6-0, 215 (DS#87 OLB) + More +

2025 CUSA CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR (COACHES): Baron Hopson, Kennesaw State,...Hopson finished as Kennesaw State's leading tackler on CUSA's No. 2 scoring defense team (22.7). He ranks second in CUSA with 104 tackles, averaging 9.5 per game. Hopson's 104 tackles rank No. 13 in the nation. He's also recorded 7.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks and a crucial interception - the first of his career - in the win over Missouri State. Hopson's 7.5 TFL's rank 14th in CUSA. He has totaled a whopping seven 10+ tackle games this season, ranking tied for fourth nationally. Hopson is the first Owl to reach 100 tackles in a single season since 2021. - Conference USA Football

(DS#87 OLB) rSr/2026

OLB Baron Hopson, Kennesaw State
News Source: Conference USA Football
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11/29/25 - Amari Odom, rSo/2028, Kennesaw State, 6-3, 205 (DS#28 QB) + More +

Amari Odom threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Christian Moss on the first play of a second overtime and Kennesaw State's defense did the rest in a 48-42 victory over Liberty on Saturday in a regular-season finale. Odom misfired on the mandatory two-point conversion for the Owls (9-3, 7-1), who found out at halftime they'd be playing in the Conference USA title game after Western Kentucky lost 37-34 to regular-season champion Jacksonville State. But it didn't matter. Baron Hopson tackled Evan Dickens for a 1-yard loss on first down. Tywon Christopher held Dickens to a yard on his second carry and then teamed up with Elijah Hill for a sack. Michael Merdinger threw incomplete to end it.

Odom completed 14 of 23 passes for 240 yards and four touchdowns. He had a 12-yard touchdown pass to Gabriel Benyard in the first quarter and a 25-yarder on first down in the first OT. It was Benyard's school-record ninth touchdown catch this season. Odom added a 9-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter and finished with 72 yards on 13 carries. Coleman Bennett rushed 14 times for 92 yards and a score. Bennett also had a touchdown catch. Dickens, a sophomore, carried 43 times for 267 yards and four touchdowns for Liberty (4-8, 3-5). It was the third most yards gained in school history. Dickens raced 95 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter to put the Flames up 28-21. Liberty got the ball back at its own 29 with 2:20 to go, but Jay Billingsley missed a 32-yard field goal with 5 seconds left to force OT. Merdinger finished with 212 yards and a touchdown on 12-for-21 passing. - Kennesaw State/AP College Football

(DS#28 QB) rSo/2028

QB Amari Odom, Kennesaw State
News Source: Kennesaw State/AP College Football
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11/24/25 - Clayton Coppock, Fr/2029, Kennesaw State, 6-0, 155 (DS#55 WR) + More +

WEEK 13 CONFERENCE USA FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK: Clayton Coppock, Kennesaw State - Fr. - WR - Atlanta, Ga.,...Coppock turned in a key performance in the 41-34 win over Missouri State with career highs in receiving yards (87) and touchdowns (2) while failing to record a drop. He has now caught a touchdown pass in three-straight games. Coppock is one of only 13 freshmen wideouts nationally to haul in two scores and 80 receiving yards in a single game and one of only two in CUSA (UTEP's Wondame Davis, Jr. - Sept. 20). - Conference USA Football

(DS#55 WR) Fr/2029

WR Clayton Coppock, Kennesaw State
News Source: Conference USA Football
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11/24/25 - Amari Odom, rSo/2028, Kennesaw State, 6-3, 205 (DS#28 QB) + More +

WEEK 13 CONFERENCE USA OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Amari Odom, Kennesaw State - R-So. - QB - Inglewood, Calif.,...Odom rewrote the Kennesaw State (8-3, 6-1 CUSA) record book en route to winning a shootout, 41-34, over Missouri State to finish a perfect 6-0 at home. He set program records for passing yards (387), total offense (419), passing touchdowns (5) and touchdowns responsible for (6), including the 14-yard game-winner with 27 seconds left to Chase Belcher. Odom helped lead KSU to back-to-back games with 500 yards of offense for the first time since 2019. He is one of only three FBS quarterbacks this season to record 350 passing yards, five passing TD's, one rushing TD and amass more than 400 yards of offense overall in a single game, joining Vanderbilt's Diego Pavia and Syracuse's Steve Angeli. - Conference USA Football

(DS#28 QB) rSo/2028

QB Amari Odom, Kennesaw State
News Source: Conference USA Football
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11/22/25 - Chase Belcher, Sr/2026, Kennesaw State, 6-0, 213 (DS#999 RB) + More +

Amari Odom found Chase Belcher for a go-ahead 14-yard touchdown with 27 seconds remaining and Kennesaw State beat Missouri State 41-34 on Saturday. Odom danced around in the pocket before drifting back for a lob to the front of the end zone for a wide-open Belcher to set the school record for touchdown passes in a game with five. Odom was 24 of 34 for 387 yards. Odom gave Kennesaw State a 34-27 lead on a 25-yard connection with Clayton Coppock with 5:51 left in the fourth, but Missouri State answered two plays later when Shomari Lawrence raced for a 70-yard touchdown to tie it at 34-all.

After Kennesaw State went three-and-out, Missouri State drove past midfield before being stopped on fourth-and-10 at the 34. Odom started the game-winning drive with a 7-yard rush and followed with a 40-yard completion to Christian Moss to set up the Belcher play. Kennesaw State (8-3, 6-1) rebounded from its first Conference USA loss in 350 days and its first loss overall in 70 days. The loss to Jacksonville State snapped the Owls' seven-game win streak. Coppock and Gabriel Benyard each had two touchdown grabs and 85-plus yards receiving for the Owls. Lawrence finished with 173 yards on 20 carries for Missouri State (7-4, 5-2). Jacob Clark threw for 344 yards and three touchdowns, but he was intercepted two times. Jacksonville State lost to FIU on Saturday to put three 6-1 teams atop the conference standings with one game to play. - AP College Football

(DS#999 RB) Sr/2026

RB Chase Belcher, Kennesaw State
News Source: AP College Football
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11/19/25 - Josiah Chenault, rSo/2028, Kennesaw State, 6-3, 302 (DS#14 C) + More +

WEEK 11 CONFERENCE USA OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK: Josiah Chenault, KSU - R-So. - OL - Sanford, Fla.,...Chenault once again led an impressive performance from the Kennesaw State offensive line, playing every single snap in the Owls' seventh-straight victory, a 24-21 triumph on the road over NM State. Chenault and Co. turned in a clean sheet for the Owls, not surrendering a single sack all game, while also helping KSU roll up 208 rushing yards and 427 yards of offense for the game. Chenault recorded the seventh-best PFF pass blocking grade (83.0) among FBS centers for Week 11 (min. 70 blocking snaps) and the 8th-best overall offensive grade (70.5) among FBS centers for Week 11 (min. 70 blocking snaps). While commanding the offensive line, Chenault surrendered zero sacks, QB hits, hurries or pressures in 78 snaps of work. - Conference USA Football

(DS#14 C) rSo/2028

C Josiah Chenault, Kennesaw State
News Source: Conference USA Football
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11/19/25 - Elijah Hill, Fr/2029, Kennesaw State, 6-2, 230 (DS#20 DE) + More +

WEEK 11 CONFERENCE USA FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK: Elijah Hill, Kennesaw State - Fr., - DL - Bryant, Ark.,...Hill was a nightmare in the backfield for Kennesaw State in the Owls' seventh-straight victory, a 24-21 triumph on the road over NM State. He recorded 1.5 sacks and 3.0 tackles for loss. Hill turned in the sixth-best overall PFF defensive grade (77.8) among FBS freshmen for Week 11 (min. 30 snaps) and the third-best pass rush grade (79.7) among FBS freshmen for Week 11 (min. 30 snaps). Hill now leads all FBS freshmen nationally with 6.5 sacks on the season. - Conference USA Football

(DS#20 DE) Fr/2029

DE Elijah Hill, Kennesaw State
News Source: Conference USA Football
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11/19/25 - Tywon Christopher, rFr/2029, Kennesaw State, 6-0, 217 (DS#999 OLB) + More +

WEEK 10 CONFERENCE USA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Tywon Christopher, Kennesaw State - R-Fr. - LB - Thomasville, Ga.,...Thrust into his first career start due to injury, Christopher had a career game as Kennesaw State (6-2, 4-0 CUSA) won its sixth-straight game, 33-20, against UTEP on Tuesday. He recorded a team-best 12 tackles on the night, including a tackle for loss. Christopher forced the fumble that was scooped and scored with on UTEP's first offensive drive of the game to give KSU its first points. He recorded the second-best PFF run defense grade (96.4) in the country for Week 10 (behind only Indiana's Devan Boykin), defending the run on 31 snaps (more than 40 percent of his 72 total snaps) Christopher recorded the sixth-best defensive PFF rating in the country (min. 70 snaps) with an 80.2, ranking second in Group of Six conferences. - Conference USA Football

(DS#999 OLB) rFr/2029

OLB Tywon Christopher, Kennesaw State
News Source: Conference USA Football
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11/19/25 - JaDarious Lee, rJr/2027, Kennesaw State, 6-3, 290 (DS#999 OG) + More +

WEEK 9 CONFERENCE USA OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK: JaDarious Lee, Kennesaw St. - R-Jr. - LT - Nashville, Tenn.,...In 60 snaps at left tackle, Lee did not surrender a single sack, QB hit, hurry or pressure and paved the way for the Owls (5-2, 3-0 CUSA) to win its fifth-straight game, dismantling FIU on the road, 45-26. He helped KSU roll up 498 yards of total offense, including a season-best 225 yards of rushing - CUSA's highest rushing mark for week nine. The Owls averaged 5.2 yards per rush and did not have a negative rush between the tackles the entire game, excluding kneel downs. KSU scored its most points against an FBS opponent (45) in program history. Despite limited offensive snaps for KSU, Lee posted top-10 grades in both run blocking (64.5) and pass blocking (81.2), according to Pro Football Focus. - Conference USA Football

(DS#999 OG) rJr/2027

OG JaDarious Lee, Kennesaw State
News Source: Conference USA Football
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11/08/25 - Amari Odom, rSo/2028, Kennesaw State, 6-3, 205 (DS#28 QB) + More +

Amari Odom threw three touchdown passes in the first half and Kennesaw State held on for a 24-21 victory over New Mexico State on Saturday. Odom connected with Gabriel Benyard for a 34-yard touchdown, then hit him again for a 23-yard score. Britton Williams added a 35-yard field goal and Kennesaw State (7-2, 5-0 Conference USA) took a 17-0 lead in the first eight minutes of the game. Odom fired a 55-yard scoring strike to Clayton Coppock midway through the second quarter for a 24-0 advantage. Dijon Stanley broke free for a 28-yard touchdown run for New Mexico State (3-6, 1-5) to cut it to 24-7 at halftime. After a scoreless third quarter, Logan Fife threw a pair of 2-yard touchdown passes to Donovan Faupel. The second one came with 5:28 remaining to make it a one-score game.

After both quarterbacks threw interceptions, the Aggies forced a three-and-out with 1:51 left to play. Fife drove them 51 yards in 10 plays, but Ryann Hawk missed a 50-yard field goal with 32 seconds left to seal the Owls' victory. Odom finished with 219 yards on 14-for-30 passes with two interceptions. Coleman Bennett and Chase Belcher both topped 80 yards rush as the Owls outgained the Aggies 208-75 on the ground. Fife completed 28 of 46 passes for 241 yards with two picks. - Kennesaw State/AP College Football

(DS#28 QB) rSo/2028

QB Amari Odom, Kennesaw State
News Source: Kennesaw State/AP College Football
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10/28/25 - Chase Belcher, Sr/2026, Kennesaw State, 6-0, 213 (DS#999 RB) + More +

Chase Belcher ran for 113 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown with 1:10 remaining, and Kennesaw State beat UTEP 33-20 on Tuesday night for its sixth straight victory. Kennesaw State (6-2, 4-0 Conference USA), which has losses to Wake Forest and No. 2-ranked Indiana, became bowl eligible in its first season of full-fledged FBS status. Kennesaw State's first three scores came on Caleb Offord's 24-yard fumble return, Gabriel Benyard's 57-yard punt return and a safety to make it 16-10 at halftime. The Owls' first offensive score was late in the third quarter on a 5-yard touchdown run by Amari Odom to take a 23-20 lead. Belcher's touchdown capped a 11-play, 70-yard drive that was aided by two 15-yard penalties on UTEP. Odom and Dexter Williams II combined to go 14 of 32 for 154 yards with an interception for Kennesaw State. Skyler Locklear threw for 160 yards and two touchdowns for UTEP (2-6, 1-3). He also carried it 23 times for 77 yards. - Kennesaw State/AP College Football

(DS#999 RB) Sr/2026

RB Chase Belcher, Kennesaw State
News Source: Kennesaw State/AP College Football
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10/21/25 - Amari Odom, rSo/2028, Kennesaw State, 6-3, 205 (DS#28 QB) + More +

Amari Odom threw for 205 yards and a touchdown, and he ran for another score in Kennesaw State's 45-26 victory over Florida International on Tuesday night to end a 13-game road losing streak. It was the first win away from home for Kennesaw State (5-2, 3-0 Conference USA) since beating UT Martin on Nov. 5, 2022. Kennesaw State scored on four straight possessions in the first half to build a 24-7 lead. Alexander Diggs and Odom each had a 2-yard touchdown run and Coleman Bennett scored a 76-yard TD when he caught a short pass and raced down the right sideline.

Odom left the game in the third quarter. Dexter Williams II, who got the start last game against Louisiana Tech, connected with Christian Moss for a 70-yard touchdown on his first throw of the game to give the Owls a 31-17 lead. Diggs finished with 69 yards rushing for Kennesaw State. Gabriel Benyard caught five passes for 97 yards. Keyone Jenkins went 22 of 37 for 296 yards and a late touchdown for Florida International (3-4, 1-2). Kejon Owens carried it 20 times for 151 yards with a touchdown. - Kennesaw State/AP College Football

(DS#28 QB) rSo/2028

QB Amari Odom, Kennesaw State
News Source: Kennesaw State/AP College Football
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10/13/25 - JT Pennington, rSr/2026, Kennesaw State, 6-3, 321 (DS#130 OG) + More +

WEEK 7 CONFERENCE USA OFFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK: J.T. Pennington, Kennesaw State - R-Sr. - RG - Wilsonville, Ala.,...Pennington helped pave the way as Kennesaw State rolled up 400 yards of offense against first place LA Tech in the 35-7 victory. He played 65 snaps at right guard on Thursday, including 40 pass-blocking snaps, and recorded Conference USA's top PFF pass blocking rating (88.0) for week seven. Pennington did not incur a penalty or allow a sack, quarterback hit, hurry or pressure all night. He helped Kennesaw State record the PFF top pass blocking efficiency (94.7) as a unit, only allowing four total hurries and four total pressures. - Conference USA Football

(DS#130 OG) rSr/2026

OG JT Pennington, Kennesaw State
News Source: Conference USA Football
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10/13/25 - Tylon Dunlap, rSr/2026, Kennesaw State, 6-1, 266 (DS#134 DT) + More +

WEEK 7 CONFERENCE USA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Tylon Dunlap, Kennesaw State - R-Sr. - DL - Charlotte, N.C.,...Dunlap wreaked havoc on the LA Tech backfield in Kennesaw State's (4-2, 2-0 CUSA) stifling 35-7 victory on Thursday night. He finished with eight tackles, a career-high 2.0 sacks and also broke up a pass. Dunlap tallied the top pass rush PFF grade (90.3) and the second-highest defensive PFF grade and top for a defensive lineman in CUSA (90.4) for week seven. After the first LA Tech drive of the game, he helped lead a KSU defense that held the Bulldogs to a paltry 235 yards of offense (3.8 yards per play). The Owls forced three three-and-outs and six punts and surrendered only 136 rushing yards (3.4 yards per carry). - Conference USA Football

(DS#134 DT) rSr/2026

DT Tylon Dunlap, Kennesaw State
News Source: Conference USA Football
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