Liberty vs Kennesaw State Picks and Predictions for Thursday, October 22, 2026
Liberty heads to Kennesaw on Thursday to face the Owls at Walens Family Field at Fifth Third Stadium. Kickoff is at 7:00 pm ET on CBS Sports Network. The Flames are 5-1 overall and 2-0 in Conference USA, while Kennesaw State is 1-5 and tied for last in the conference at 0-2. Liberty has won five straight games, including a 35-3 win over Sam Houston last time out. The Owls have lost five in a row and are coming off a 24-21 defeat to Missouri State. Get an edge with our free NCAAF picks.
Liberty Flames Have Won Five Straight
Liberty hasn't had much trouble winning lately. The Flames held Sam Houston to three points in their latest game, a week after beating Delaware 30-14 on the road. They've scored at least 30 points in four straight games, and three of those wins came by more than two touchdowns. The running game has given Liberty a steady source of yards, while the passing attack has come up with big plays. It's been a good stretch on both sides of the ball, and the Flames have yet to lose a conference game.
Deshawn Purdie has thrown for 1,050 yards and eight touchdowns without an interception. Makai Jackson has been his favorite target, catching 22 passes for 515 yards and five scores. Kam Davis has done plenty of damage on the ground, rushing for 524 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 7.1 yards per carry. Liberty has 1,338 rushing yards as a team, so the offense doesn't have to rely only on Purdie's arm. On defense, Aidan Vaughan and Derrell Farrar have 33 tackles each, while Brenton Williams has 2.5 sacks.
Injuries: J. Marshall is out. B. Burklow, C. Wood and C. Ryan are questionable.
Kennesaw State Owls Have Lost Five Straight
Kennesaw State has been close in a few games but hasn't found a way to finish them. The Owls lost 24-21 to Missouri State last Wednesday after falling 27-26 to Jacksonville State the week before. They also lost 17-14 to Arkansas State, giving them three straight defeats by three points or fewer. That's a frustrating run for a team that has already dropped five consecutive games. The Owls have been competitive recently, but now they face a Liberty team that's been winning comfortably.
Quarterback Rickie Collins has thrown for 1,302 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions. He's also the team's leading rusher with 271 yards and five touchdowns. Boogie Woods III has added 253 rushing yards and four scores, giving Kennesaw State another option near the goal line. Javon Rogers leads the receivers with 308 yards, while Brayden Munroe has 299. On defense, Tywon Christopher has 48 tackles, Ugonna Nwoha has three sacks, and Tay'vion Lawson has picked off two passes.
Injuries: G. Bullock Jr. and Z. Booker are questionable.
Key To The Game
Liberty has the stronger running game, with 1,338 rushing yards compared to Kennesaw State's 862. The Flames also have a quarterback who hasn't thrown an interception, while Collins has three. Kennesaw State has kept its last three games close, so Liberty can't afford to waste possessions. The Owls need to slow Davis on the ground and find a way to turn close games into wins.
Liberty vs Kennesaw State Pick
- Liberty -8.5
Liberty has won five straight, and four of those victories came by at least 16 points. Kennesaw State has dropped five in a row, although its last three losses were close. Davis is averaging 7.1 yards per carry, while Purdie has eight touchdown passes and no interceptions. The Owls have been competitive lately, but Liberty has more ways to move the ball. Flames should cover the 8.5-point spread on Thursday.
Liberty vs Kennesaw State Over/Under Pick
- Under 47.5
Kennesaw State has scored 21, 26 and 14 points in its past three games, while Liberty has allowed 17 points or fewer in four straight outings. The Flames held Sam Houston to three last time out and have kept opponents from scoring much during their winning streak. Liberty can move the ball, but Kennesaw State has played three close games in a row. Under 47.5 looks worth taking on Thursday.