CFB Zeitgeist
June 22, 2026 · Dead Period · Heritage Window · 2026 Outlook

Kennesaw State

10-4 2025 final

Kennesaw State is the Conference USA program competing for attention against the giants of its region.

Owls country waits.

Record
10-4
win% .714
SP+
-0.1
Bowl Odds
Eligible
Year-over-Year
10 wins
Dead PeriodOffseasonPatientPost-loss — diagnostic
The Long Wait·Offseason

Kennesaw State enters the 2026 season at 10-4.

2025 Record10-4
offseason · quiet
Read the full program story ↓

Offseason

69 days

until kickoff · Sun Aug 30 · 17:00 UTC

Act I

The 2026 Outlook

2026 Preview Thesis 2026 Evidence-validated

Kennesaw State's 2026 Season Projected to Reach Bowl Game with Transfer Influx

Kennesaw State is projected to finish 8-5 and qualify for a bowl game in 2026, leveraging a strong transfer portal strategy that adds 29 new players while losing only 19. The team's recruiting rank of #137 and moderate continuity suggest a balanced approach to roster development.

  • Roster reloadKennesaw State has added 29 transfers, including key players like Brayden Munroe and Luke Duska, while losing only 19, creating a net portal importer profile with a transfer_in_points score of 94.98.
Data as of 2026-06-22 · Validated against program evidence

Offseason Pulse · Kennesaw State

Roster · Recruiting · Portal

Recruiting Class

#137 nationally

2025 cycle · 247 composite rating 28.1

Outside the recruiting top 60. Roster gaps must close via portal.

Returning Production

46%

2025 cycle · CFBD weighted

Mid-pack continuity. QB transition under way.

Talent Composite

#132 nationally

2025 cycle · 247 composite 338.9

Outside the talent top 60. The wins must be earned in development.

Portal Movement

29 in / 19 out

2026 cycle · in 29 / out 19

Portal additions outpace losses; position detail lives in Roster Reload.

Kennesaw State · the story right now 1 storyline developing

What Kennesaw State's offseason is really about

the open questionwhere does it go from here?

this cycle✓ factnew

Kennesaw State enters 2025 rated No. 89 in SP+ (-5.4), up 43 spots from 2024.

why it mattersKennesaw State leaped 43 spots in SP+ — a 10-4 record is one fact; #132 talent ranking another under first-year coach Jerry Mack.
narrative tension · our read

Roster Reload - Kennesaw State

2026 snapshot - 2026-06-22
Returning Production46%Moderate continuity
Portal Additions29Primary repair: S
Portal Losses19Primary pressure: QB
Draft Loss0No NFL Draft departures recorded
Recruiting Reload#137Depth class (#137)
WRin 5 - Brayden Munroe3.60out 3 - Christian Moss3.70Need Filled
IOLin 4 - Luke Duska3.50out 2 - Brandon Best3.50Need Filled
CBin 3 - Perry Fisher3.50out 3 - Devin Ross3.49Even
Sin 4 - Tony Williams3.60out 1 - Isaac Paul3.50Need Filled
LBin 3 - Alfred Thomas3.40out 2 - Donelius Johnson3.40Upgrade
QBin 1 - Rickie Collins4.28out 3 - Amari Odom3.60Starter Risk

The Pulse on Kennesaw State

Archive · Late Spring · 600 mentions · medium confidence
64
Δ +12.3 vs last wk
600 mentions this week · conversation velocity

What moved it — offseason · last 30 days

June Dead-period quiet — official-visit + heritage window —
Camp Fall camp ~40 days out
"Go Owls." — Kennesaw State fanbase · recurring line

Aspiration Ladder

Brief Part III §33.4 · Kennesaw State

Bowl eligibility (6 wins)—

The baseline goal for a program at this stage.

Beat a rival—

The narrative win the season is graded by.

Statement year—

Exceed last season by 2+ wins.

Conference championshipLocked—

Out of reach without a transformative year.

Kennesaw State · Next-Season Outcome Band

Floor / Base / Ceiling

floor3-9No postseason.
base5-7No postseason.
ceiling8-5Bowl game.

Final-season-aware projection: floor / base / ceiling include conference title and CFP games where the model supports them, so a ceiling can exceed a 12-game regular season.

Market outlook

Season expectations

Win total3 booksO/U 6.5
CFP championship#98 in field+100000
C-USA title#5 in market+700

Sportsbook consensus · best odds across multiple books · 2026-06-22

Recruiting Reload - Top 3 commits

2026 class
★★★☆☆
Marcelles Davis
RB · Germantown, TN
#867 national
★★★☆☆
Jeremiah Tabb
WR · Hoover, AL
#1500 national
★★★☆☆
Zakir Abdul-Salaam
DL · Powder Springs, GA
#1903 national

Recruiting Footprint · 2026

13
GA · 8AL · 2TN · 2FL · 1

GA leads the 2026 class with 8 commits. National footprint reaching 4 states.

Where they recruit · 2023-2026

24 signees across 6 states, 2023-2026. GA leads the pull.

MEVTNHWAIDMTNDMNWIMINYMAORNVWYSDIAILINOHPANJCTCAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDERIAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAAKHITXFL
Source CFB Zeitgeist · player_recruiting_profiles
Act II

Who We Are

Program Prestige · Kennesaw State

Mid-Major Contender

Mid-Major Contender — G5 force with occasional national attention.

T1Regional
T2Mid-Major
T3Power
T4National
T5Blue Blood
T6Dynasty
T7All-Time

Model Consensus

Where the Models Rank Kennesaw State

CFB Zeitgeist

#71

-0.1

SP+

#89

-5.4

FPI

#95

-8.0

Elo

#103

1310

SRS

#90

-4.4

The national models put Kennesaw State between 89th and 103rd nationally — CFB Zeitgeist is higher on them than any of these models, at 71st.

National rank of 136 FBS teams · 2025 season. SP+/FPI/SRS published; Elo & CFB Zeitgeist ranked by rating.

Most Similar Programs · Kennesaw State

Reads Like

MarylandAdjacent tierUConnAdjacent tierVanderbiltAdjacent tier

Static-attribute similarity across tier, archetype, conference, and voice. Not a prediction — a calibration.

Coaching Era · Kennesaw State

Jerry Mack

Jerry Mack took over from Chandler Burks for the 2025 season.

Era Jerry Mack · 2025–presentPrev: Chandler Burks (2024)
1 year · era

Fanbase Health Index · Kennesaw State · medium confidence

Growing (71)

DecliningStableGrowingSurging
On-Field — 10-4 (71% win rate)69
Volume — 127 effective signal-N72

Home-Field Advantage · Kennesaw State · 2018-present

Elite

72% home win rate vs 34% on the road. margin runs +11.5 better at home.

Home21-8Away10-19

Chronicle Visuals

5 deterministic SVG · provenance-gated
2026 preview

Average 2025 continuity (46% back) — qb room anchors it, offense is the stress point.

Average 2025 continuity (46% back) — qb room anchors it, offense is the stress point.Offense is the stress point for 2025. Source: CFB Index — returning production vs the FBS average (dashed = league avg) · 2025 · high confidenceRETURNING PRODUCTION · 2025Average 2025 continuity (46% back) — qbroom anchors it, offense is the stresspoint.QB roomQB room: 34% returning34%OffenseOffense: 46% returning46%OverallOverall: 46% returning46%▸ Offense is the stress point for 2025.Source: CFB Index — returning production vs the FBS average(dashed = league avg) · 2025 · high confidence
model-confident
2026 preview

The portal upgraded the S room but opened a hole at OT.

The portal upgraded the S room but opened a hole at OT.Net +10 · upgraded S · hole at OT. Source: CFB Index — transfer portal in/out by position (count) · 2026 · 29 in / 19 out · high confidenceTRANSFER PORTAL · 2026The portal upgraded the S room butopened a hole at OT.OUTINCBCB: 3 out3CB: 3 in3net 0DLDL: 1 out1DL: 2 in2net +1EDGEEDGE: 1 out1EDGE: 2 in2net +1IOLIOL: 2 out2IOL: 4 in4net +2KK: 1 in1net +1LBLB: 2 out2LB: 3 in3net +1LSLS: 1 in1net +1OTOT: 2 out2net -2PP: 1 out1P: 1 in1net 0QBQB: 3 out3QB: 1 in1net -2RBRB: 2 in2net +2SS: 1 out1S: 4 in4net +3WRWR: 3 out3WR: 5 in5net +2▸ Net +10 · upgraded S · hole at OT.Source: CFB Index — transfer portal in/out by position(count) · 2026 · 29 in / 19 out · high confidence
model-confident
2026 preview

Kennesaw State converts recruit talent into draft picks better than its class rank suggests.

Kennesaw State converts recruit talent into draft picks better than its class rank suggests.Talent 1th, draft yield 35th among 132 programs. Source: CFB Index — recruit talent vs draft-pick yield · 2025 · 132 programs · high confidenceKENNESAW STATE · TALENT YIELDKennesaw State converts recruit talentinto draft picks better than its classrank suggests.Recruit talent (percentile) →Draft yield (percentile) →Georgia — 99 / 99 pctileBaylor — 73 / 35 pctileWashington State — 28 / 64 pctileCentral Michigan — 8 / 43 pctileOld Dominion — 7 / 51 pctileKennesaw State — 1 / 35 pctileKennesaw StateWashington StateOld DominionCentral MichiganGeorgiaBaylor▸ Talent 1th, draft yield 35th among 132 programs.Source: CFB Index — recruit talent vs draft-pick yield ·2025 · 132 programs · high confidence
model-confident
2024 season

Calm on the surface in 2024 — but the weekly trend ran the wrong way.

Calm on the surface in 2024 — but the weekly trend ran the wrong way.calm on the surface, but trending the wrong way. Source: CFB Index — per-game power-rating swings · 2024 · 8 games · medium confidenceTHE WEEK-TO-WEEK RIDE · 2024Calm on the surface in 2024 — but theweekly trend ran the wrong way.Game 1: -0.06 power swingGame 2: -0.06 power swingGame 3: -0.74 power swingGame 4: -0.74 power swingGame 5: -0.73 power swingGame 6: -0.73 power swingGame 7: -2.18 power swingGame 8: -2.18 power swing-2.2▲ stock-up week▼ stock-down week▸ calm on the surface, but trending the wrong way.Source: CFB Index — per-game power-rating swings · 2024 · 8games · medium confidence
solid read
2024 season

L 16-28 vs UTSA leads the season's top 4 results by combined power and résumé delta.

L 16-28 vs UTSA leads the season's top 4 results by combined power and résumé delta.L 16-28 vs UTSA is the biggest mover. Source: CFB Index — results ranked by combined power + résumé impact · top 4 games · medium confidenceSTATEMENT WINS · TOP 4 RESULTSL 16-28 vs UTSA leads the season's top 4results by combined power and résumédelta.L 16-28 vs UTSAL 16-28 vs UTSA — -0.06 résumé impactL 16-28 vs UTSA — -0.06 résumé impact-0.06L 10-31 vs San José StateL 10-31 vs San José State — -0.47 résumé impact-0.47L 10-34 vs LouisianaL 10-34 vs Louisiana — -1.11 résumé impact-1.11L 13-24 vs UT MartinL 13-24 vs UT Martin — -2.28 résumé impact-2.28▸ L 16-28 vs UTSA is the biggest mover.Source: CFB Index — results ranked by combined power +résumé impact · top 4 games · medium confidence
solid read
How the room reactedreal evidence · tap rooms to explore
FOLLOWING NOW · KENNESAW STATE · SEASON OUTLOOK Confidence

One of the biggest jumps in the country. Kennesaw State has to prove the model right.

Kennesaw State enters 2025 rated No. 89 in SP+ (-5.4), up 43 spots from 2024. SP+ is a tempo-free efficiency model — it describes what the program HAS done. The season is the test of whether it's still true. The preview consensus leans in — but preseason ratings reward the recent past, not the season ahead.

near-unanimous belief where the takes land · dot = how loud
DOUBTBELIEF
Believers4 bull takes
💬 fans: 5% volume
CFB INDEX READ · our read
Kennesaw State leaped 43 spots in SP+ — a 10-4 record is one fact; #132 talent ranking another under first-year coach Jerry Mack.
Source of record: Kennesaw State enters 2025 rated No. 89 in SP+ (-5.4), up 43 spots from 2024.

Every line is a door. Evidence opens in place — verbatim outlet headlines for news sources, verbatim fan text attributed to the community not the individual (never a username). Works with JavaScript off.

HOW EACH ROOM IS REACTING — TAP TO EXPAND
The Believers bullishThe Skeptics no dissentThe Boards thin
📣THE BELIEVERS4 bullish/recruiting items — the case it's working.›

The optimistic read: recruiting wins, momentum, and the 'this is real' takes.

“5 Best Players Facing Iowa State Football at Jack Trice Stadium”
Sports Illustrated · 2026-06-20 · read ↗
“Voyles Wins High Jump at USATF U20 Championships”
Kennesaw State University Athletics · 2026-06-20 · read ↗
“What makes Elijah Hill a 'steal' for Kansas State football, Collin Klein - The Topeka Capital-Journal”
news · 2026-06-09 · read ↗
🧐THE SKEPTICSNo prominent dissent — the coverage runs one way.›

The analytical counter: rankings, results and 'the hype is ahead of the tape' takes.

Nothing in our corpus yet — this door stays open for when there is.

💬THE BOARDS8 board mentions — too thin to call a stance.›

Only 8 of 162 board posts mention it — below our floor to call a community stance. Shown as texture, not a verdict.

"So I forgot to pay for summer classes and they were deleted from my D2L dashboard. I already submitted my reinstatement form, but they’re out of office until Monday. I’m just curio"
r/KSU fan
"Hey is anyone’s job hiring around kennesaw or atleast close? I’m trying to find a job before fall semester starts, preferably afternoon/evening shifts."
r/KSU fan

The boards ≠ the fanbase: a vocal, self-selected slice. Per-event for/against lands when event-level sentiment coverage is wired.

Act III

Last Season Reviewed

2025 season · tap to expand

Recent Form · last 10 games

Mixed

Three of five. Trending up, not yet hot.

Streak L1Last 5 · 3-2Last 10 · 8-2

Season Standing · 2025 · 10-4

Bowl eligible

Kennesaw State: 6+ wins, bowl access secured. The baseline of a successful FBS year.

Sub-FBSBuildingBowlRankedContenderPlayoff

Conference USA Standing · 2025

1st in the Conference USA

Kennesaw State sits at the top of the Conference USA at 10-4. Everyone else is chasing.

#ProgramRecord
1Kennesaw State10-4
2Western Kentucky9-4
3Jacksonville State9-5
4Delaware7-6
5Florida International7-6
6Missouri State7-6
7Liberty4-8
8New Mexico State4-8
9Middle Tennessee3-9
10Sam Houston2-10

Schedule Strength · Kennesaw State · 2025

Balanced

Average opponent win rate 51% across 13 finalized games. 1 AP top-25 opponent played (Indiana).

Opp Win %0.515
Top-251
Top-101

Top Players · 2025

2025
1. Baron Hopson LB 139 tot (def)
2. Tywon Christopher LB 81.0 tot (def)
3. Gabriel Benyard WR 949 yds (rec)
4. Amari Odom QB 2,594 yds (pass)
5. Isaac Paul DB 57.0 tot (def)

NFL Draft Pipeline

2023–2023

Thin

1 picks last 5 cycles. Roster development still maturing.

1 picks · 0 R1
#218 Travis Bell Defensive Tackle · 2023 · Chicago

Moment of the Year · Kennesaw State · 2025

Postseason · Lost 6-41 at Western Michigan

Week 16 of 2025. A reckoning loss — the data point the next season must answer.

Decisive MarginPostseason

Bowl / Postseason Ledger

Recent postseason (2025): 0-1

Most recent: 2025 — loss 41-6 (away). Last 5 postseason: 0-1.

2025

From the Archive — Kennesaw State

2021: Won 31-6 vs Jacksonville State

In 2021, the program won 31-6 vs Jacksonville State — a comfortable home result that left the 25-point margin on the books.

Go Owls.