Liberty routs Kennesaw State 34-6

Team pages: Liberty · Kennesaw State

Liberty6-134
Kennesaw State1-66Final
Thu, Oct 22 · Fifth Third Stadium, Kennesaw, Ga. · Crowd 8,159CBS Sports Network

Liberty routed Kennesaw State 34-6.

We had Liberty favored. It won.

Next: Liberty vs Florida International, Sat Oct 31 · 3:30 PM ET · Liberty favored by 14

Next: Kennesaw State at Middle Tennessee, Wed Oct 28 · 7:00 PM ET · Kennesaw State underdog by 3

How it swung

Before kickoff, our ratings gave Liberty an 85% chance, and the closing betting line (Liberty was a 8.5-point favorite) put it at 75%.

FinalLiberty 34-6 Kennesaw StateLiberty wonMove across the chart, or tap a numbered swing, to see any play.
50%75%90%Q1Q2Q3Q490% at halfLibertyWon34-61+11Scores
50%75%90%Q1Q2Q3Q490% at halfLibertyWon34-61Scores
50%10%25%Q1Q2Q3Q410% at halfLibertyLowest 0%Lost6-341−11Scores
50%10%25%Q1Q2Q3Q410% at halfLibertyLowest 0%Lost6-341Scores

The play that swung it

  1. 1Q1 12:40Purdie 25-yd pass to JacksonLiberty 59% → 70% (+11)

The play that swung it

  1. 1Q1 12:40Purdie 25-yd pass to JacksonKennesaw State 41% → 30% (−11)
Liberty’s chance to win after every play.
How to read this chartStarts from the pregame line (Liberty -8.5), at 60% for Liberty (the play-by-play feed's kickoff number, moved to match the line; our model's and the betting line's own numbers are in “The betting line, and the fans”). Dots are the biggest swings; ticks under the chart are scores.

Watch the plays

The bar and the arrow show Liberty’s chance to win after each play; the logo is the team the play helped.

  1. Q1, 7:11Davis 1-yd TD runLiberty goes ahead 7-0Q1, 7:11 · Liberty 7, Kennesaw State 0▲7%Liberty’s chance to win, 76% to 83%▲7%Liberty’s chance to win, 76% to 83%Watch from this playCBS Sports College Football
  2. Q1, 0:53Purdie 56-yd TD pass to ColemanLiberty leads 14-0Q1, 0:53 · Liberty 14, Kennesaw State 0▲5%Liberty’s chance to win, 88% to 93%▲5%Liberty’s chance to win, 88% to 93%Watch from this playCBS Sports College Football
  3. Q2, 8:2140-yd puntfumbledQ2, 8:21 · Liberty 14, Kennesaw State 0▼2%Liberty’s chance to win, 95% to 93%▼2%Liberty’s chance to win, 95% to 93%Watch from this playCBS Sports College Football
  4. Q3, 12:21Copeland run for a 2-yd lossfumblesQ3, 12:21 · Liberty 14, Kennesaw State 314-3score after the play14-3score after the playWatch from this playCBS Sports College Football
  5. Q3, 11:59Collins intercepted by Farrar at the Kennesaw State 12Q3, 11:59 · Liberty 14, Kennesaw State 3▲4%Liberty’s chance to win, 87% to 91%▲4%Liberty’s chance to win, 87% to 91%Watch from this playCBS Sports College Football
  6. Q3, 5:51Collins intercepted by McShane at the LU19returned 18 yardsQ3, 5:51 · Liberty 17, Kennesaw State 317-3score after the play17-3score after the playWatch from this playCBS Sports College Football
  7. Q3, 1:37Coleman 9-yd TD runLiberty leads 24-3Q3, 1:37 · Liberty 24, Kennesaw State 324-3score after the play24-3score after the playWatch from this playCBS Sports College Football

Every drive

Liberty scored on 6 of its 12 drives; Kennesaw State on 2 of its 11.

Liberty’s drives are teal, Kennesaw State’s amber. A line runs from where a drive started to where it ended; a filled dot means it scored.

own goalgoal lineQ1Kennesaw State: Punt, from 68 yards out to 44PuntLiberty: Touchdown, from 85 yards out to 0TouchdownKennesaw State: Punt, from 75 yards out to 66PuntLiberty: Punt, from 76 yards out to 80PuntKennesaw State: Turned over on downs, from 60 yards out to 28DownsLiberty: Touchdown, from 72 yards out to 0TouchdownKennesaw State: Punt, from 84 yards out to 84PuntQ2Liberty: Punt, from 62 yards out to 59PuntKennesaw State: Punt, from 89 yards out to 64PuntLiberty: Punt, from 75 yards out to 51PuntKennesaw State: Field goal, from 85 yards out to 20Field goalLiberty: End of half, from 75 yards out to 76End of halfQ3Liberty: Punt, from 75 yards out to 48PuntKennesaw State: Interception, from 91 yards out to 91InterceptionLiberty: Field goal, from 12 yards out to 12Field goalKennesaw State: Interception, from 77 yards out to 33InterceptionLiberty: Touchdown, from 63 yards out to 0TouchdownKennesaw State: Turned over on downs, from 85 yards out to 76DownsLiberty: Field goal, from 24 yards out to 31Field goalQ4Kennesaw State: Punt, from 95 yards out to 76PuntLiberty: Touchdown, from 70 yards out to 0TouchdownKennesaw State: Field goal, from 75 yards out to 10Field goalLiberty: End of game, from 75 yards out to 63End of game

What it cost

Liberty’s chance to make the playoff rose from 3% to 4%.

Make the playoff

Liberty · won3% → ▲4%
Kennesaw State · lost0% → 0%

Win the conference

Liberty · won49% → ▲53%49%▲ 53%
Kennesaw State · lost0% → 0%

Before the game (October 21, 2026) → after this result alone, in our model. Other games that weekend move it too, so the team page may differ.

Liberty plays vs Florida International on Sat Oct 31 with a 4% chance to make the playoff.

Box score

Liberty 34, Kennesaw State 6

Liberty covered −8.5 by 19.5. The total, 40, stayed under 50.5.

LibertyKennesaw StateTotal yardsLiberty 402Kennesaw State 297402297Passing yardsLiberty 187Kennesaw State 235187235Rushing yardsLiberty 215Kennesaw State 6221562First downsLiberty 21Kennesaw State 152115TurnoversLiberty 0Kennesaw State 202Time of possessionLiberty 37:05Kennesaw State 22:5537:0522:55
Team totalsLibertyKennesaw State
Total yards402297
Passing12 of 21, 187 yds24 of 41, 235 yds
Rushing41 for 215 yds27 for 62 yds
First downs2115
Third down3 of 106 of 17
Fourth down0 of 01 of 3
Turnovers02
Penalties12 for 85 yds4 for 32 yds
Time of possession37:0522:55

Liberty leaders

  • Passing Deshawn Purdie 10 of 19, 176 yds, 1 TD
  • Rushing Kam Davis 9 for 59 yds, 1 TD; Peyton Jones 9 for 47 yds
  • Receiving Jamari Person 4 for 72 yds; Jaylon Coleman 4 for 64 yds, 1 TD

Kennesaw State leaders

  • Passing Rickie Collins 15 of 26, 124 yds, 2 INT
  • Rushing Alan Woods III 13 for 38 yds; Rickie Collins 8 for 24 yds
  • Receiving Brayden Munroe 3 for 53 yds; Dylan Gary 5 for 43 yds

No rain through the game

70° at kickoff · no rain recorded

Win chance with rain, wind and thunder from the nearest airport, by game timeQ1Q2Q3Q4Kennesaw State favoredLiberty favored0%Win chanceKennesaw StateRaininches per 10 min0.1 inNo rain recordedWindmph, average and gusts20 mph40 mphHourly wind only at this airport
Win chance with rain, wind and thunder from the nearest airport, by game timeQ1Q2Q3Q4Kennesaw State favoredLiberty favoredRain · inches per 10 min0.1 inNo rain recordedWind · miles per hour2040Hourly wind only at this airport

Drag along the chart, or step through the game.

First quarter, 14:42 left7:05 p.m.
Liberty 0, Kennesaw State 0 · Kennesaw State 40% to win
no rain · 69°
Collins 18-yd pass to Munroe
Where this weather comes fromMeasured at Marietta airport, 2.1 miles away. Wind and rain are airport readings near the stadium, not on the field. Game times come from the play-by-play, good to a minute or two. Source: National Weather Service, through the Iowa Environmental Mesonet.

Before kickoff

Recent games, the series and the betting line below are as they stood going in; the season profile is the season so far.

Recent games

Last three games

Liberty · 5-1

Rated 83rd in our preseason ratings, 54th now, up 29 spots.

Three straight wins — but still hunting a ranked opponent.

W 35-3 vs Sam Houston No. 147 of 668 teams

won by 32 as a 13.5-point favorite

Liberty won 35-3 vs Sam Houston. Chance to win started at 88%, low 88%, high better than 99%.

W 30-14 @ Delaware No. 82 of 668 teams

won by 16 as a 7-point favorite

Liberty won 30-14 at Delaware. Chance to win started at 62%, low 61%, high better than 99%.

W 34-17 @ Coastal Carolina No. 170 of 668 teams

won by 17 as a 2.5-point favorite

Liberty won 34-17 at Coastal Carolina. Chance to win started at 44%, low 25%, high better than 99%.

W 51-15 vs Ball State No. 157 of 668 teams

won by 36 as a 14.5-point favorite

Liberty won 51-15 vs Ball State. Chance to win started at 88%, low 87%, high better than 99%.

W 24-23 vs Gardner-Webb No. 181 of 668 teams

won by 1 as a 28.5-point favorite

Liberty won 24-23 vs Gardner-Webb. Chance to win started at 96%, low 36%, high 99%.

L 13-20 @ James Madison No. 86 of 668 teams

lost by 7 as a 6-point underdog

Liberty lost 13-20 at James Madison. Chance to win started at 26%, low under 1%, high 33%.

Last three games

Kennesaw State · 1-5

Rated 158th in our preseason ratings, 141st now, up 17 spots.

Three straight losses.

L 21-24 @ Missouri State No. 136 of 668 teams

lost by 3 as a 2.5-point favorite

L 26-27 vs Jacksonville State No. 72 of 668 teams

lost by 1 as a 3-point underdog

Kennesaw State lost 26-27 vs Jacksonville State. Chance to win started at 55%, low under 1%, high 84%.

L 14-17 @ Arkansas State No. 152 of 668 teams

lost by 3 as a 6.5-point underdog

Kennesaw State lost 14-17 at Arkansas State. Chance to win started at 26%, low under 1%, high 64%.

L 9-42 @ TennesseeTop 25 No. 24 of 668 teams

lost by 33 as a 35.5-point underdog

Kennesaw State lost 9-42 at Tennessee. Chance to win started at 1%, low under 1%, high 1%.

L 17-31 vs Georgia State No. 139 of 668 teams

lost by 14 as a 7.5-point favorite

Kennesaw State lost 17-31 vs Georgia State. Chance to win started at 76%, low under 1%, high 77%.

W 47-0 vs West Georgia No. 212 of 668 teams

won by 47 as a 22.5-point favorite

Kennesaw State won 47-0 vs West Georgia. Chance to win started at 96%, low 95%, high better than 99%.

Week by week

Kennesaw State

Wk 2: L 17-31 vs Georgia State▼14G. St.Wk 3: L 9-42 at Tennessee▼33TennesseeWk 4: L 14-17 at Arkansas State▼3A. St.Wk 6: L 26-27 vs Jacksonville State▼1Jacksonv…Wk 7: L 21-24 at Missouri State▼3Missouri…
  • Wk 2Lvs Georgia State17-31
  • Wk 3Lat Tennessee9-42
  • Wk 4Lat Arkansas State14-17
  • Wk 6Lvs Jacksonville State26-27
  • Wk 7Lat Missouri State21-24

Liberty

Wk 2: W 24-23 vs Gardner-Webb▲1Gardner-…Wk 3: W 51-15 vs Ball State▲36Ball St.Wk 4: W 34-17 at Coastal Carolina▲17Coastal…Wk 5: W 30-14 at Delaware▲16DelawareWk 6: W 35-3 vs Sam Houston▲32Sam Hous…
  • Wk 2Wvs Gardner-Webb24-23
  • Wk 3Wvs Ball State51-15
  • Wk 4Wat Coastal Carolina34-17
  • Wk 5Wat Delaware30-14
  • Wk 6Wvs Sam Houston35-3

Power rating by week

Liberty is rated 7.5 points ahead as of week 7. Our power rating by week; higher is better.

4-2-9Wk 0Wk 4Wk 7Kennesaw StateLiberty

Matchups

Biggest mismatch: Kennesaw State’s passing EPA against Liberty, 62 points

Each row ranks the two sides among all teams. The longer the line, the bigger the mismatch.

  1. Kennesaw State’s EPA/play against Liberty’s defense

    57 pointsweakerstronger50th

    Kennesaw State offense, 29th percentile · Liberty defense, 86th

  2. Liberty’s explosive plays against Kennesaw State’s defense

    61 pointsweakerstronger50th

    Liberty offense, 23rd percentile · Kennesaw State defense, 84th

  3. Kennesaw State’s passing EPA against Liberty’s defense

    62 pointsweakerstronger50th

    Kennesaw State offense, 26th percentile · Liberty defense, 88th

Season profile, all the rows

Season profile

LibertyKennesaw State
EPA/play, offense
Liberty · 71Kennesaw State · 29
EPA/play, defense
Liberty · 86Kennesaw State · 25
Success rate, offense
Liberty · 83Kennesaw State · 49
Success rate, defense
Liberty · 87Kennesaw State · 35
Explosive-play rate, offense
Liberty · 23Kennesaw State · 3
Explosive-play rate, defense
Liberty · 23Kennesaw State · 84
Rush EPA, offense
Liberty · 77Kennesaw State · 43
Rush EPA, defense
Liberty · 55Kennesaw State · 47
Pass EPA, offense
Liberty · 71Kennesaw State · 26
Pass EPA, defense
Liberty · 88Kennesaw State · 22

The series

Kennesaw State leads the series 3-2

5 meetings since 2015 · Kennesaw State has won the last 3

  • 2025Kennesaw State 48-42Kennesaw State won 48-42 at Liberty. Chance to win started at 46%, low 11%, high better than 99%.
  • 2024Kennesaw State 27-24Kennesaw State won 27-24 vs Liberty. Chance to win started at 4%, low 2%, high better than 99%.
  • 2017Kennesaw State 42-28
  • 2016Liberty 36-21
  • 2015Liberty 45-35

Each line is Kennesaw State’s chance to win through that meeting. Kennesaw State is 2-0 in the meetings since 2018 that were still close in the fourth quarter. Older meetings have no play by play, so no line.

Line, fans and home field

The betting line, and the fans

Kennesaw State fans are in a better mood than Liberty fans (78th percentile vs 64th among FBS fanbases), even with Liberty favored.

  • Model · 15%
  • Line · 25%
  • Kennesaw State fans · 78th
  • Liberty fans · 64th

Liberty favored by 8.5 · Total 50.5

How games like this usually go

Liberty by 8.5, and it went to form

50%90%Q1Q2Q3Q450%90%Q1Q2Q3Q4

Half of games8 in 10 gamesThis game

The band is where a favorite’s chance ran in the 415 games since 2025 with a favorite of 7.5 to 14.5 points.

The market

The total rose 3 points.

opened 47.5now 50.5

Total: 47.5 → 50.5

The books’ cut: 4.2%, the margin built into the odds

Home field

Kennesaw State is worth +4.7 points (±6.0) more at home than on the road since 2018 — middle of FBS, 61st percentile.

57% at home, 22% on the road against FBS opponents (8-6 home, 5-18 away).

Our model gives every stadium the same flat 2.3-point home edge (why); the books use about 3. Against the closing line this stadium reads +3.7 at home vs. away over 35 games — inside the ±9.6 noise, so the flat number is the honest one here.

Night kickoff — historically worth about half a point more to the home side against the number, and not much more than that. The visitors travel about 380 miles to get here.

Last meeting in our History pages

Our History pages cover 2 of their meetings since 2024.

Where next

Conference standings

Going into this game: place in the conference, then conference record.

Full Conference USA standings