It was interesting to see former head coach Brian Bohannon before the game greeting his former team on the Owl Walk. At halftime, he was on the concourse with numerous fans coming up and shaking his hand telling him how much they admired his work over the years and wishing him well.

   He was here mainly as a proud father watching his kids play football. But, also as a surrogate dad for all the players he recruited and coached over their playing time here at KSU. He will be missed. Always gracious and optimistic.

   It was also nice to see his sons, Blake and Braden Bohannon, on the field as honorary captains for the coin toss.

   Dealing with the loss of the only head coach they had ever known to facing a 7-2 playoff bound opponent, the Owls showed some grit overcoming a lot of adversity to keep the game close with the game tied at 3, again at 10 and again at 17 before finally going into overtime.

   A missed field goal in OT made it easy for Sam Houston (8-2, 5-1 CUSA) who then needed any points to put the game away. They got that as quarterback Hunter Watson scampered into the end zone for the 23-17 victory. The second overtime loss for the Owls in two weeks.

   Defense dominated the first half with KSU getting on the board first with a 25 yard Austin Welch field goal. The Bearkats tied it just before the half with a 29 yarder of their own. Watson put SHSU ahead with a 25 yard touchdown run, but gave the Owls some new life as JeRico Washington picked Watson off at the 7. Kennesaw State took advantage of the short field with a Michael Benefield score to tie it at 10.

   In the fourth quarter, the Bearkats hit paydirt first with a Jay Ducker TD pushing their lead to 17-10 with just under two minutes remaining. But, KSU QB Davi Bryson led an impressive game tying drive that culminated with a clutch Carson Kent score with just 25 seconds left in regulation. Game tied for the third time at 17.

   In overtime, the Owls got the ball first, but saw their 36 yard field goal sail wide left. The miss opened the door for Sam Houston. Watson sprinted for a 10 yard touchdown on just three plays sealing a hard-fought 23-17 victory. The loss dropped KSU to 1-9 overall, 1-5 CUSA).

   KSU regroups and hosts FIU (2-4, 0-3 CUSA) next Saturday in another Conference USA matchup in another Saturday 3:00 p.m. kickoff on ESPN+. The Panthers are coming off a touch 34-31 loss at Jax State.

  Kennesaw State (1-8, 1-4 CUSA) returns home on Saturday for another Conference USA matchup. It will be the Owls’ first ever game without former head coach Brian Bohannon at the helm. Bohannon was fired on Sunday following the double overtime loss at UTEP.

  Kennesaw State alum and football letterwinner Chandler Burks, who has been serving this season as co-offensive coordinator, will be the interim head coach for the remaining three games.

   The Bearkats (7-2, 4-1 CUSA) enter the game riding a wave of momentum with wins in six of their last seven outings. The are coming off a narrow 9-3 win against Louisiana Tech. Offensively, Sam Houston has averaged 24.9 points per game, with quarterback Hunter Watson leading the charge, throwing for over 1,100 yards this season. The Bearkats’ ground game is potent, averaging nearly 200 rushing yards per game, spearheaded by running back Jay Ducker, who has accumulated 469 yards and six touchdowns.

   In contrast, the Owls have struggled throughout the season, managing only one improbable win over previously unbeaten Liberty against eight losses. Their latest performance was a hard-fought double overtime battle 43-35 against UTEP.

   KSU’s offense has been less prolific, averaging just 17.1 points per game, with quarterback Davis Bryson completing nearly 55% of his passes for over 1,000 yards but also facing challenges with turnovers.

   The Owls will need to improve their defensive performance, which has allowed an average of 32.4 points per game, if they hope to compete against a strong Sam Houston team.

   As you might expect, the Bearkats are heavily favored, currently listed as 14.5-point favorites. The total points for the game are set at 42.5, indicating expectations for a relatively low-scoring affair given both teams’ recent performances.

  The two teams met last year on November 4 with Sam Houston winning 24-21 on a last second field goal. It was the Bearkats’ first ever win at the FBS level.

   The game is Family Weekend, Salute to Service Game, Hall of Fame Weekend and Varsity Day. Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m. broadcast on ESPN+.

     Kennesaw State heads to Western Kentucky for still another midweek matchup on Wednesday, October 30, at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium. 

   This will be the second straight week that the Owls take on the #1 team in Conference USA after their stunning 24-21 victory over Liberty.

  Kennesaw State enters with a challenging 1-6 record in their inaugural FBS season. Despite their struggles, the Owls are coming off a monumental upset victory over Liberty, which has breathed new life and energy into their campaign. It marked KSU’s first-ever victory over an FBS program in 11 attempts.

  WKU, on the other hand, boasts a solid 5-2 record and are one of only two undefeated teams in Conference USA play. They’ve shown consistency and are looking to maintain their position at the top of the conference standings.

   The Owls’ offense has been led by quarterback Davis Bryson and a trio of running backs: Qua Ashley, Michael Benefield, and Preston Daniels. Their ground-heavy approach has been the cornerstone of the offense, averaging 23.4 pass attempts per game.

  For the Hilltoppers, keep an eye on Elijah Young, accumulating 375 rushing yards and two touchdowns, averaging 3.7 yards per carry. He’s also a threat in the passing game with 24 receptions. WKU quarterback Caden Veltkamp has been named the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Week. Veltkamp had an efficient performance in WKU’s 31-14 win over Sam Houston on Wednesday in Huntsville, Texas, to help his team improve to 5-2 overall and 3-0 in CUSA play. He threw for 281 yards and three touchdowns on 20-of-29 passing.

   The Owls will need to find ways to improve their scoring output, as they’ve been averaging only 13 points per game, although they improved on that by 11 points in the upset win against Liberty .

  The Hilltoppers will try to exploit Kennesaw State’s vulnerabilities on defense. Given the Owls’ struggles against the run (they allowed over 300 yards and eight rushing touchdowns in a previous loss), WKU may focus on establishing their ground game early.

 KSU’s offense has been one of the least productive in the FBS, ranking 130th out of 134 programs with an average of 14.6 points per game before their upset win. Their defense has also struggled, allowing an average of 36 points per game in their first five contests.

  Kennesaw State’s shocking 27-24 victory over previously undefeated Liberty was a season-defining moment. This win demonstrated the team’s potential and resilience, especially considering they entered the game as significant underdogs.

  This game holds significant implications for the Conference USA standings. The Hilltoppers are one of the two undefeated teams in conference play and looking to hold on to their new spot at the top. A win for Kennesaw State could shake up the conference hierarchy and potentially impact the race for the conference championship.

  While specific betting odds for this matchup are not provided in the search results, it’s likely that Western Kentucky will enter the game as significant favorites given their record and home-field advantage. However, Kennesaw State’s recent upset victory over Liberty suggests they shouldn’t be underestimated.

   The game is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 PM EDT on Wednesday, October 30, and will be televised on ESPN2.