The first six minutes at Fifth Third Stadium looked less like a football game and more like Kennesaw State running its own highlight tape. Double passes, bombs downfield, toe-tapping grabs in the end zone — the Owls came out swinging like they were trying to speedrun Middle Tennessee out of Conference USA. And for a while, it worked.
KSU’s 21-point first quarter — their second straight week opening with a full-on avalanche — was enough to withstand three quarters of grind-it-out defense and ball-control football from the Blue Raiders. When the dust settled, the Owls walked off their home turf with a 24-16 win, moving to 3-0 at home, 3-2 overall, and most importantly, 1-0 in their new CUSA digs.
This one was fireworks early, trench warfare late. And the Owls proved they can win both kinds of fights.
Kennesaw State didn’t just score early — they made a statement. On their first drive, the Owls broke out a double pass trick play that had wide receiver Christian Moss slinging a 13-yard touchdown strike to tight end Gerard Bullock Jr. Trick plays are supposed to be a momentum shift; for KSU, it was a warm-up jog.
Just four minutes later, quarterback Amari Odom uncorked a 53-yard bomb to senior wideout Chase Belcher, who turned the play into his first touchdown as an Owl. The Owls weren’t done. After Middle Tennessee finally scratched three points off a field goal, Odom went right back to work, this time dropping a 29-yard toe-drag dime to Gabriel Benyard in the back of the end zone.
21-0, Owls. End of the first quarter. The crowd barely had time to finish their nachos.
It wasn’t just the points — it was the swagger. KSU had three different players throw touchdown passes before halftime. It was the first time in five years they’ve pulled that off, and it set the tone: this is not your average Conference USA newcomer.
To their credit, the Blue Raiders didn’t pack it in. After getting buried early, they clawed back with the kind of ball-control offense that makes fans groan but coaches smile. They ended up holding the ball for nearly 29 of the final 45 minutes of game time, slowly grinding down the pace and leaning on the defense to keep them in it.
MTSU finally got into the end zone with a second-quarter touchdown, then again late in the fourth. Each time, it felt like they were almost back in it. But every rally was met by a big defensive stand or a timely KSU turnover.
The most brutal blow came with less than a minute left in the first half. The Blue Raiders had driven all the way to the KSU 1-yard line — only for redshirt sophomore Five Hamilton to step in front of a pass and snag a momentum-crushing interception. Instead of a one-score game at the break, the Owls jogged to the locker room still comfortably ahead.
That was the theme: MTSU moved the ball, but Kennesaw’s defense refused to break.
Amari Odom wasn’t asked to throw a ton — 11-for-17 for 162 yards — but when he did, he made them count. Two touchdowns, a clean sheet in the turnover column, and the confidence to pull the trigger on big plays early. He looked like a quarterback growing into a system that trusts him more every week.
Coleman Bennett deserves his flowers, too. The senior running back hit 101 yards on just 12 carries — an absurd 8.4 yards per touch — and became the 60th player in program history to notch a 100-yard game. That stat line is the definition of “we should probably feed him more.”
On the outside, Gabriel Benyard not only caught his third touchdown of the season, but also crossed 3,000 career all-purpose yards. He now joins an exclusive three-man club in KSU history. Reliable, clutch, and sneaky historic — that’s a résumé boost if we’ve ever seen one.
And then there’s the defense.
Kennesaw State doesn’t just have talent — they’ve got dudes who step up when it matters.
When Hamilton picked that ball at the 1-yard line, you could feel the shift. MTSU had weathered the storm, slowed the pace, and were about to slice the deficit to one score. Instead, they went into halftime shaking their heads, still chasing two touchdowns.
From that point on, KSU’s defense smelled blood. They bent — allowing time of possession and yardage to pile up — but they never snapped. The final drive summed it up: the Blue Raiders had a shot, driving late with a chance to tie, only for Offord to shut the door with back-to-back pass breakups. Game over.
If the first quarter was the fireworks show, the last three were sponsored by the defensive clinic.
This win isn’t just about going 1-0 in CUSA. It’s about identity.
Kennesaw State isn’t sneaking into this league quietly. They’re punching teams in the mouth early, daring them to catch up, then leaning on a defense that’s opportunistic and ruthless. The Owls are now riding their first three-game win streak since 2022 and have yet to lose at home this season.
They’ll head into the bye week with momentum, swagger, and a clear formula: jump on teams fast, let the defense suffocate them, and let the fans leave Fifth Third Stadium buzzing.
Louisiana Tech comes to town next, with a national ESPNU broadcast on deck. If the Owls can stack a fourth straight win, the conversation about them being a real CUSA problem gets very loud, very fast.
This game was the tale of two halves: one where KSU looked like a fireworks factory and one where they looked like a steel wall. Both are good identities to have in college football.
If you’re Middle Tennessee, you probably left feeling like you got ambushed early and stonewalled late. If you’re Kennesaw State? You left 3-0 at home, 1-0 in conference, and still undefeated in vibes.
And if you’re the rest of CUSA: maybe start preparing for those first quarters. Because the Owls? They come out hot — and they don’t miss.
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