Liberty Flames vs Kennesaw State Owls Final — October 22, 2026
LIBOffense2026 regular season to dateKENN
LIBDefenseKENNLIBRecent formKENNLIBHome and roadseason to dateKENNLIBLast 10 gamesKENNRest & travelrest and travel
LIBRest & travelKENNAbout these numbers
2026 regular season to date, captured before kickoff. League rank in small type (138 teams); the gold side ranks higher. Bars show rank, longest = 1st. Source: Gridiron & Wine public Analytics tables.
Last five results this season, oldest to newest. Records are season to date, with home and road splits. Against-the-spread (ATS) and over–under records use the consensus closing line.
Margin of each of the last 6 games this season, oldest to newest (gold = won). Hover a bar for the score margin.
Distance is straight-line from each team's home arena; time-zone change is at game time. Rest counts days since each team's previous game.
The pre-game matchup
Liberty (4-1) visited Kennesaw State (0-5) on Thursday, October 22 at 7:00 PM ET.
Liberty has the 26th-ranked offense by EPA per play (expected points added per snap) and the 51st-ranked defense (ranks among the 138 teams with play-by-play data). Meanwhile, Kennesaw State has the 80th-ranked offense and the 99th-ranked defense. When Liberty has the ball, a 26th-ranked offense (+0.208 EPA per play) meets a 99th-ranked defense (+0.151 allowed); when Kennesaw State has it, a 80th-ranked offense (+0.038) meets a 51st-ranked defense (+0.020 allowed).
By success rate (the share of plays that gain expected points), the Liberty offense is at 53.7% (10th) and the Kennesaw State offense at 47.9% (60th). Liberty scores 32.6 points per game (31st) and allows 13.8 (6th); Kennesaw State scores 17.4 (119th) and allows 28.2 (85th).
Liberty is 5-1 and 4-2 against the spread; its last game was a 35-3 win over Sam Houston. Kennesaw State is 1-5 and 4-2 against the spread; its last game was a 24-21 loss to Missouri State.
Liberty closed as a 8.5-point road favorite, with Kennesaw State getting the points at home. The spread closed where it opened. The total closed at 50.5, up from 47.5 at the open. After removing the vig, the closing moneyline (Liberty -375, Kennesaw State +280) prices Liberty at 75% and Kennesaw State at 25%.
Written from the numbers available before kickoff.
Result
Final score and result vs the closing line
Liberty Flames 34, Kennesaw State Owls 6
Liberty Flames won by 28.
- Against the closing spread (Kennesaw State Owls +8.5): Liberty Flames covered.
- Combined score 40 vs the closing total of 50.5: Under.
- Liberty Flames closed at -375 on the moneyline (a 75% no-vig market-implied chance).
Before the game: market and G&W
From open to close the market moved 1 point toward Liberty Flames.
Market numbers are the consensus moneyline with the bookmaker margin removed.
Win probability
Each team's chance of winning through the game, starting from the market's closing price (Liberty Flames 75%, Kennesaw State Owls 25%) and moving with every snap until the final.
Biggest swings
- Q1 12:40 — Liberty Flames ball, 3rd & 14 at LIB 11No Huddle-Shotgun #5 D.Purdie pass complete deep middle to #2 M.Jackson caught at LU31, for 25 yards to the LU36 (#31 K.Russell), 1ST DOWNLiberty Flames 74% → 80% (+6 pts) · Drive 2 in Drive X-Ray
Game DNA
| Liberty | Points added | Kennesaw State |
|---|---|---|
| -3.8 | Passingdropbacks | -1.0 |
| +2.3 | Rushingdesigned runs | -5.2 |
| +9.5 | Explosive plays4 plays · 2 plays | +5.0 |
| +0.0 | Turnovers0 giveaways · 2 giveaways | -10.8 |
| +2.7 | Special teamskicks, punts and returns | +0.0 |
| -3.7 | Penaltiespre-snap and dead-ball | -1.2 |
| +2.4 | Red zoneTDs on trips: 3 of 4 · 0 of 2 | -2.1 |
| +9.4 | All plays | -15.2 |
The biggest single gap: turnovers, worth about 10.8 points to Liberty Flames. The final margin was 28.
Points added: what each team's plays added to its expected points, credited to the team with the ball. Each play counts once.
Line review
Liberty Flames closed as the market favourite at 75% and won.
Market
Closing line and line movement
Liberty -8.5 (-110)
Liberty -8.5 (-110)
Kennesaw State +270 26%
Kennesaw State +280 25%
Consensus of US sportsbooks. Open = first line after both teams' previous games; Close = consensus at kickoff. Percentages are the moneyline's no-vig market-implied chances.
Members
G&W Line
G&W’s own number for this game, next to the market. Analytics
Matchup
Players to watch
- Attempts114
- Completion %61.4%137th
- Passing yards1,050170th
- Yards per attempt9.226th
- TD–INT8–0
- Rushing yards52437th
- Season line74 carries, 524 yds, 4 TD
- Receiving yards51527th
- Season line22 catches, 515 yds, 5 TD
- Tackles33341st
- Attempts184
- Completion %70.1%18th
- Passing yards1,287118th
- Yards per attempt7.0154th
- TD–INT4–3
- Rushing yards271189th
- Season line64 carries, 271 yds, 5 TD
- Receiving yards308158th
- Season line18 catches, 308 yds, 1 TD
- Tackles4894th
Season passing totals from public box scores, captured before kickoff. Ranks among the 262 quarterbacks with at least 60 attempts. Rushing, receiving and tackle leaders: season totals captured October 21, 5:34 a.m. ET; ranks among FBS players.
Success by situation
| Situation | Liberty | Kennesaw State |
|---|---|---|
| Early-down success rateLiberty offense vs Kennesaw State defense | 50.0%6th | 45.4%101st |
| Early-down success rateKennesaw State offense vs Liberty defense | 43.6%77th | 45.5%40th |
| 3rd-down conversion rateLiberty offense vs Kennesaw State defense | 48.1%24th | 46.7%114th |
| 3rd-down conversion rateKennesaw State offense vs Liberty defense | 29.4%5th | 35.8%99th |
| Explosive play rateLiberty offense vs Kennesaw State defense | 7.9%37th | 6.1%43rd |
| Explosive play rateKennesaw State offense vs Liberty defense | 5.9%39th | 3.9%135th |
| Pass rateshare of plays that are passes or sacks | 37.3%131st-highest | 54.8%28th-highest |
On 3rd down Liberty converts 48.1% (24th) against a Kennesaw State defense allowing 46.7% (114th).
On 3rd down Kennesaw State converts 35.8% (99th) against a Liberty defense allowing 29.4% (5th).
2026 regular season before kickoff, from play-by-play with garbage time removed; ranks among the 138 teams in the play-by-play data (defense: 1st = allows the least). Success = a play that gains expected points.
Coaching staff
| Staff | Liberty | Kennesaw State |
|---|---|---|
| Head coach | Jamey Chadwell | Jerry Mack |
| Tenureat this school | 4th season | 2nd season |
| Record at schoolthis season included, as of the date below | 30–14 | 11–9 |
| Career recordas an FBS head coach | 69–36 | 11–9 |
| Offensive coordinator | Newland Isaac | Mitch Militello |
| Defensive coordinator | Skylor Magee | Marc Mattioli |
Staff list as of October 20, 6:50 a.m. ET.
Head-to-head
The teams have met 2 times since 2021: Liberty won 0 and Kennesaw State 2.
| Date | Score | Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 29, 2025 | Kennesaw State 48, Liberty 42 Kennesaw State won | ||
| Oct 23, 2024 | Liberty 24, Kennesaw State 27 Kennesaw State won |
Meetings since 2021, most recent first. Line and total are the consensus closing numbers where line history is available.
Teams
Liberty Flames
- Liberty Flames team stats
- Florida International Panthers at Liberty Flames (Oct 31)
- Sam Houston State Bearkats 3, Liberty Flames 35 (Oct 8)
- Liberty Flames 30, Delaware Blue Hens 14 (Oct 2)
Kennesaw State Owls
More NCAAF games on October 22, 2026
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