October 2, 2026

In This Issue 

Kennesaw State Owls Campus Sports

Along with News from the

Conference USA (C-USA)

Owls Have Extra Days To Prep For Jax State Mid-Week Home Game on Wednesday

 Jax State Gamecocks (3-2, 1-0 CUSA) @ Kennesaw State Owls

(1-3, 0-0 CUSA)

Date: Wednesday, October 7

Site: Fifth Third Stadium, Kennesaw



Kickoff: 7:00 p.m.

By Don Stone - KennesawStateSports.com

>>An old rivalry renews as the Kennesaw State Owls prepare for a critical October 7 gridiron clash against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. It's the first of several midweek Wednesday night games for KSU.

>>This matchup represents much more than a typical conference game; it is a direct rematch of last December's thrilling Conference USA Championship Game, where the Owls secured a narrow 19-15 victory on the Gamecocks' home turf.

>>Both programs are entering their initial stretch of Conference USA play for the season: KSU (1-3): Head coach Jerry Mack has the Owls looking to rebound following a narrow 17-14 road loss against Arkansas State. Their lone win came in their season opener, a 47-0 victory over West Georgia.

>>Jax State (3-2): comes into Fifth Third Stadium after a pair of home wins over Georgia Southern 31-27 and Middle Tennessee 23-13. They picked up two of Conference USA's Football Player of the Week honors Quarterback Caden Creel was the offensive player of the week after completing 19 of his 27 passes for 241 yards with a touchdown and a team-high 119 yards rushing on 12 carries with an additional TD.

>>The senior is the only FBS quarterback in the country with 1,100 or more passing yards and 300 or more rushing yards this season.

>>On special teams, fifth-year kicker Garrison Rippa scored 11 points going 3-for-3 on field goals and 2-for-2 on extra points.

>>Kickoff is 7:00 p.m. It can be seen on CBSSN. With national television cameras broadcasting the action and local ticket sales surging, school officials are advising fans to arrive early for what promises to be a raucous atmosphere.

Owls Soccer Shuts Out Aggies in Conference

Home Victory

>>Kennesaw State soccer picked up its second Conference USA win in as many games, defeating New Mexico State, 1-0, at home.

>>Anabel Orozco scored the lone goal of the evening, the seventh in six games and her eighth total. Her eight goals are the most by an Owl in a single season since 2012.

>>NMSU had a chance to equalize the game in the 89th minute. A ball was whipped in the box off a corner for Filucca Daugaard, who got a head on it but her shot went just wide right.

>>The loss moves the Aggies to 1-1 in conference play.

>>Up Next: The Black and Gold will have a quick turnaround as they face the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens this Sunday at Walens Family Field at Fifth Third Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for noon, and the match will be broadcast live on ESPN+

Click Here For The Full Story

CUSA Weekly Release - Click Here

CONFERENCE USA

FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

(All times Eastern)

Thursday, October 1

WKU 13 @ New Mexico State 34

Las Cruces, NM (Conf.)

Friday, October 2

Liberty @ Delaware,

7:00 p.m. Newark, DE (Conf.) (CBSSN)

Saturday, October 3

MTSU @ Kansas,

Lawrence, KS, 12:00 p.m. (ESPNU)

Wednesday, October 7

Jax State @ Kennesaw State,

7:00 p.m. Kennesaw (Conf.) (CBSSN)

New Mexico State @ FIU,

7:30 p.m. Miami, FL (Conf.) (ESPN2)

Florida Trip Awaits Owls Volleyball This Weekend

>>Kennesaw State volleyball heads to Miami for its first Conference USA road series of the season, facing FIU on Friday and Saturday.

>>The Owls are 3-1 all-time against the Panthers and have won three straight in the series, including a 3-2 victory in the most recent meeting on Oct. 4, 2025.   

>>KSU has produced several standout performances at FIU, including a career-high five service aces from Ava Holtz and a career-high seven blocks from Ashlyn Anderson in the Owls' Oct. 26, 2024 match in Miami.

>>KSU served a season-high 10 aces against Fordham on Sept. 18, with six different Owls recording at least one ace.

>>FIU has gone a perfect 3-0 in home games this season. KSU swept the Panthers last season in Georgia when the two teams met. FIU lost both games to Missouri State in Springfield over the weekend. 

>>Friday's match is at 6:00 p.m. (ESPN_). Saturday's is at 1:00 p.m. Also on ESPN+.