#2 Amari Odom stands on the sideline during Kennesaw State’s 33-20 win over UTEP. Photo by: Jackson Louneoubonh
Kennesaw State football is turning heads in just its second FBS season, achieving bowl-eligibility for the first time.
Owls football made history in last Tuesday’s matchup against UTEP. The Owls defeated the Miners 33-20 in the conference bout to elevate them to six wins, making them bowl eligible.
KSU now sits 6-2 and 4-0 in Conference USA play entering Week 11 under the leadership of head coach Jerry Mack.
To be eligible for an NCAA bowl game, a team generally must have a minimum of six wins and a nonlosing record.
For KSU, a program that consistently rounded out the bottom of power rankings in 2024, this bowl game berth means more than just an extra postseason game in December. Few programs in the modern era have made such a rapid jump from Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) to Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) competitiveness, making their current run even more impressive.
The postseason appearance also carries long-term implications. A bowl game brings national television exposure, athletic department revenue and more recruiting visibility.
KSU’s football program had a rather successful tenure in FCS from 2015 to 2023, when the Owls spent time in the Big South and ASUN conferences. They reached the playoffs four times and won three conference titles (2017, 2018, 2021) under coach Brian Bohannon before moving up to the FBS.
That transition to the FBS, however, brought expected growing pains.
In their first FBS season in 2024, the Owls finished 2-10 while adjusting to their new CUSA schedule.
That adjustment period was short-lived.
After the transition to the FBS, Brian Bohannon was let go as head coach in a controversial move, and KSU turned to Jerry Mack to lead its next era.
Mack arrived with a high-profile coaching background, having served as the offensive coordinator at Rice and running backs coach at both Tennessee and the Jacksonville Jaguars in the National Football League.
His experience at both the Power Four and professional levels gave the Owls a seasoned hand during one of their most pivotal periods in program history.
With bowl eligibility now secured, national attention has followed. KSU has made appearances in bowl projections and predictions across national outlets.
As of Week 11, ESPN’s latest bowl projections from Kyle Bonagura and Mark Schlabach list the Owls in the Independence Bowl against Kansas State in Shreveport, Louisiana.
As a member of CUSA, KSU will be selected into one of the league’s contracted bowl games.
CUSA has a primary tie-in with the New Orleans Bowl and the Independence Bowl, along with a rotating pool that includes the Armed Forces Bowl, Birmingham Bowl, Boca Raton Bowl, Cure Bowl, Fenway Bowl, First Responder Bowl, Frisco Bowl, Gasparilla Bowl, 68 Ventures Bowl, Myrtle Beach Bowl and New Mexico Bowl.
The official bowl announcement is set to be made in early December.
The athletic department has released a Bowl Central information page regarding selection, ticketing, travel and updates as the postseason approaches.
The Owls are set to face off against CUSA opponent New Mexico State on Saturday, as they look to extend their six-game winning streak and remain unbeaten in conference play as they move closer to a potential conference title.
