Kennesaw State shocked undefeated Liberty 27-24 to pick up the program’s first FBS win after an 0-6 start. The loss shakes up the Group of Five race for the College Football Playoff and potentially eliminates the Flames from contention.
Liberty got the ball one last time with six seconds left near midfield and heaved a long desperation pass. It fell short, prompting fans to rush the field, but one second was added back onto the clock in all the mayhem. Fans had to leave the field, but were able to storm back on to the turf again when a final pass fell incomplete.
The Owls came into Week 9 after leading for only 29:43 against all teams through six games, the second-worst mark in college football. However, quarterback Davis Bryson completed 41-yard passes on back-to-back KSU plays to help give the Owls a lead early in the second quarter. Liberty tied the contest near halftime, but Kennesaw State running back Qua Ashley ran for a score in the third quarter as Kennesaw State took the lead for good.
Liberty had a chance to tie the game in the fourth quarter as it faced third-and-1 from the Kennesaw State 24-yard line. However, the Flames were embarrassingly called for false starts on consecutive plays and burned a timeout in the proccess, setting up an incomplete pass from quarterback Kaidon Salter on fourth-and-11.
Liberty was seen as a strong contender for the College Football Playoff from the Group of Five after earning a slot in the New Year’s Six last season. The Flames had not lost a regular season game under Jamey Chadwell. Their last regular season defeat was 49-14 to New Mexico State under former coach Hugh Freeze. Current Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia scored six touchdowns in the win for the Aggies.
For Kennesaw State, the performance was a cathartic moment as the Owls transition up to FBS. KSU was 0-6 heading into the game, including a 24-13 loss to FCS UT-Martin. The program was 0-10 against FBS opponents all time, including their time as an FCS program.
