10/21/2026 10:37:00 AM | Football
Liberty (5-1, 2-0 CUSA) returns from its bye week for its final weekday contest of the regular season, a Thursday visit to defending CUSA champion Kennesaw State (1-5, 0-2 CUSA).
Broadcast Information:
TV: CBS Sports Network
Game Day Information:
Location: Kennesaw, Ga.
Stadium: Fifth Third Stadium
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET
"4 Downs" with Kennesaw State
#1 A lot can change in a year. Liberty entered last year's matchup against Kennesaw State having lost three straight one-score games. This time, it is the Owls who head into Thursday's clash following three consecutive one-score setbacks. Thirteen touchdowns were scored during KSU's 48-42 (2OT) win over Liberty, and none of those TD scorers are still with their team.
#2 After defeating Liberty during each of its first two seasons as a CUSA member, Kennesaw State will look to become the first team to defeat the Flames in three or more consecutive seasons since Charleston Southern did so four years in a row (2014-17). Jamey Chadwell was CSU's head coach during the first three of those contests. Liberty has won back-to-back road games after losing seven of its previous eight road contests dating back to 2024.
#3 Liberty has only allowed one opposing QB to throw for 300 yards since the start of 2024 (Delaware's Nick Minicucci in 2025). Chase Reeves is a perfect 9-for-9 on field goals during his first season as a Flame. The Liberty record for consecutive field goals made without a miss is 13, co-held by Daniel Whitehead (1991-92) and Matt Bevins (2010).
#4 Liberty has rushed for over 200 yards for four consecutive games. The Flames are 5-0 this season and 29-4 under Jamey Chadwell when outrushing their opponents. One of those four setbacks came in last season's matchup with Kennesaw State. Liberty fell 48-42 in double OT despite accumulating 291 rushing yards.
A LIBERTY WIN WOULD...
CUSA Success
Despite losing its last four CUSA games last season, Liberty is 28-9 all-time against Conference USA members (at time of meeting).
Each of Liberty's last four games last season saw the deciding points scored within the last minute of regulation or overtime. In total, 50 percent of CUSA games were decided by one score during 2025.
Liberty is 19-8 versus CUSA teams since joining the league in 2023. The Flames went 8-0 in conference play during their first year in CUSA and got off to a 3-0 CUSA start in 2024 before losing to Kennesaw State.
Versus Bowl Teams
Kennesaw State won the 2025 CUSA Championship before making its first bowl game appearance. The Owls lost 41-6 to Western Michigan in the Myrtle Beach Bowl. KSU is one out of seven teams on Liberty's schedule who competed in bowl games last season.
James Madison - College Football Playoff (L to Oregon)
Coastal Carolina - Independence Bowl (L to LA Tech)
Delaware - 68 Ventures Bowl (Beat Louisiana)
Kennesaw State - Myrtle Beach Bowl (L to WMU)
FIU - First Responder Bowl (L to UTSA)
WKU - New Orelean Bowl (Beat Southern Miss)
Missouri State - Xbox Bowl (L to Arkansas State)
Don't Leave Early
In each of Liberty's six games so far this season, points have been scored within the last minute of the first half.
at JMU - Chase Reeves FG as time expired in 1st half
vs. G-W - Chase Reeves FG as time expired in 1st half
vs. Ball St. - Purdie TD pass to Person w/13 seconds left
at CCU - Coastal Carolina TD pass with 24 seconds left
at Delaware - Peyton Jones TD rush with 39 seconds left
vs. SHSU - Sam Houston FG with 16 seconds left
Wire To Wire
Liberty trailed at some point in 10 straight games before beating both Delaware (Oct. 2) and Sam Houston (Oct. 8) wire to wire.
The Flames led the nation with eight come-from-behind wins in 2024.
Liberty is third among all FBS teams with 21 come-from-behind wins under fourth-year Head Coach Jamey Chadwell (since 2023), trailing only Georgia (23) and Missouri (22).
Broadcast Information:
TV: CBS Sports Network
- Broadcast team: Jordan Kent (play-by-play) and Robert Turbin (analyst)
- Broadcast team: Alan York (play-by-play), Jason Porter (analyst) and Nick Pierce (sidelines)
Game Day Information:
Location: Kennesaw, Ga.
Stadium: Fifth Third Stadium
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET
"4 Downs" with Kennesaw State
#1 A lot can change in a year. Liberty entered last year's matchup against Kennesaw State having lost three straight one-score games. This time, it is the Owls who head into Thursday's clash following three consecutive one-score setbacks. Thirteen touchdowns were scored during KSU's 48-42 (2OT) win over Liberty, and none of those TD scorers are still with their team.
#2 After defeating Liberty during each of its first two seasons as a CUSA member, Kennesaw State will look to become the first team to defeat the Flames in three or more consecutive seasons since Charleston Southern did so four years in a row (2014-17). Jamey Chadwell was CSU's head coach during the first three of those contests. Liberty has won back-to-back road games after losing seven of its previous eight road contests dating back to 2024.
#3 Liberty has only allowed one opposing QB to throw for 300 yards since the start of 2024 (Delaware's Nick Minicucci in 2025). Chase Reeves is a perfect 9-for-9 on field goals during his first season as a Flame. The Liberty record for consecutive field goals made without a miss is 13, co-held by Daniel Whitehead (1991-92) and Matt Bevins (2010).
#4 Liberty has rushed for over 200 yards for four consecutive games. The Flames are 5-0 this season and 29-4 under Jamey Chadwell when outrushing their opponents. One of those four setbacks came in last season's matchup with Kennesaw State. Liberty fell 48-42 in double OT despite accumulating 291 rushing yards.
A LIBERTY WIN WOULD...
- Be victory No. 6 of the season, earning bowl eligibility for the Flames and marking the seventh time in program history Liberty has started a season at 6-1 or better.
- Give the Flames their first six-game winning streak since Liberty opened the 2023 season with 13 consecutive victories (Sept. 2-Dec. 1, 2023).
- Even the Flames' all-time head-to-head series with Kennesaw State at 3-3, snapping the Owls' three-game winning streak versus Liberty. It would mark Liberty's first triumph over KSU in a decade (36-21 win at Kennesaw State on Oct. 15, 2016).
- Enable the Flames to start CUSA play with a 3-0 record for the third time in four seasons as a conference member.
- Improve the Flames' record in October weekday contests to 10-2 under Jamey Chadwell.
- Push the Flames' all-time record when playing on Thursday to 6-3, including 3-0 this season. It would also give Jamey Chadwell a 13-1 mark when coaching Thursday contests at the Division I level.
CUSA Success
Despite losing its last four CUSA games last season, Liberty is 28-9 all-time against Conference USA members (at time of meeting).
Each of Liberty's last four games last season saw the deciding points scored within the last minute of regulation or overtime. In total, 50 percent of CUSA games were decided by one score during 2025.
Liberty is 19-8 versus CUSA teams since joining the league in 2023. The Flames went 8-0 in conference play during their first year in CUSA and got off to a 3-0 CUSA start in 2024 before losing to Kennesaw State.
Versus Bowl Teams
Kennesaw State won the 2025 CUSA Championship before making its first bowl game appearance. The Owls lost 41-6 to Western Michigan in the Myrtle Beach Bowl. KSU is one out of seven teams on Liberty's schedule who competed in bowl games last season.
James Madison - College Football Playoff (L to Oregon)
Coastal Carolina - Independence Bowl (L to LA Tech)
Delaware - 68 Ventures Bowl (Beat Louisiana)
Kennesaw State - Myrtle Beach Bowl (L to WMU)
FIU - First Responder Bowl (L to UTSA)
WKU - New Orelean Bowl (Beat Southern Miss)
Missouri State - Xbox Bowl (L to Arkansas State)
Don't Leave Early
In each of Liberty's six games so far this season, points have been scored within the last minute of the first half.
at JMU - Chase Reeves FG as time expired in 1st half
vs. G-W - Chase Reeves FG as time expired in 1st half
vs. Ball St. - Purdie TD pass to Person w/13 seconds left
at CCU - Coastal Carolina TD pass with 24 seconds left
at Delaware - Peyton Jones TD rush with 39 seconds left
vs. SHSU - Sam Houston FG with 16 seconds left
Wire To Wire
Liberty trailed at some point in 10 straight games before beating both Delaware (Oct. 2) and Sam Houston (Oct. 8) wire to wire.
The Flames led the nation with eight come-from-behind wins in 2024.
Liberty is third among all FBS teams with 21 come-from-behind wins under fourth-year Head Coach Jamey Chadwell (since 2023), trailing only Georgia (23) and Missouri (22).
Players Mentioned
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