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Will Derek Mason, MTSU football run winning streak to three? Our prediction
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- Will Derek Mason, MTSU football run winning streak to three? Our prediction
Coach Derek Mason and Middle Tennessee State football will try to make it three wins in a row when the Blue Raiders host Kennesaw State in a Conference USA game on Oct. 28 (6 p.m. CT, CBS Sports Network) in the final weekday game of the season.
MTSU (4-3, 2-1) is coming off its first road win of the season, a 26-23 victory at FIU . The Owls (1-6, 0-3) have lost six in a row, including a 34-6 setback to Liberty on Oct. 22.
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Following is a scouting report on the game, including a score prediction by The Daily News Journal's Cecil Joyce:
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How to watch MTSU vs. Kennesaw State football
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TV channel: CBS Sports Network
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Time:6 p.m. CT at Floyd Stadium
Kennesaw State at MTSU football will be streamed on CBS Sports Network in Week 9 of the 2026 college football season.
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MTSU vs. Kennesaw State prediction
This is a battle of teams that have gone in different directions since the Conference USA preseason poll. Kennesaw State, voted to finish fourth by league media members and as high as third by other outlets, has been one of the biggest disappointments.
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MTSU was picked to finish as low as ninth in the conference but is in the thick of the CUSA race and just two wins from being bowl eligible.
MORE: Gusty call pays off in fourth quarter for Derek Mason, MTSU football in win at FIU
But the Owls have had some near misses, losing back-to-back games to Jacksonville State and Missouri State by a combined four points in early October.
After reaching four wins the quickest in a season since 2018 and going over .500 in CUSA play for the first time since 2019, MTSU can ill-afford to allow a team on a six-game losing streak pull off an upset in its own stadium. Currently tied for fourth in the standings, MTSU will keep its hopes alive to play in the conference championship game if it avoids the upset.
MTSU’s head coach Derek Mason runs onto the field before the start of the football game between MTSU and Delaware at MTSU’s Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium, on Tuesday, Oct. 13 2026.
MTSU vs. Kennesaw State scouting report
Why MTSU has an advantage:MTSU has had one of its best years running the ball in more than a decade, including racking up more than 200 against FIU. The duo of Antonio Martin Jr. and Terrence Brown Jr. has been a boost to the MTSU offense all season; Brown had a big night against FIU with 158 yards on 18 carries. Kennesaw State has been vulnerable against the run, allowing 153 yards a game and 13 touchdowns.
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The Blue Raiders have a strong kicking game (Dominic Bourgeois has three field goals of 50 yards-plus this season), one of the league's best turnover ratios, and only seven sacks allowed.
Why Kennesaw State has an advantage:The defending conference champion might be having difficulties, but coach Jerry Mack's squad still has weapons, including dynamic dual-threat QB Rickie Collins, a Syracuse transfer who passed for more than 1,000 yards last season. He began his career at LSU.
Collins has passed for more than 1,400 yards (but just four TDs) this fall and leads the team in rushing with 295 yards and five TDs. MTSU has struggled mightily defending dual-threat QBs this season.
MTSU vs. Kennesaw State score prediction
MTSU 34, Kennesaw State 27:MTSU has defended Floyd Stadium well this season, winning all three games. The Blue Raiders will give up some points to Collins and Co., but an MTSU offense that has averaged 30 points the past two games will come up big to extend the winning streak to three.
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Cecil Joyce covers high school sports and MTSU athletics for The Daily News Journal. Contact him at cjoyce@dnj.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @Cecil_Joyce.
This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Will Derek Mason, MTSU football run winning streak to three? Our prediction
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