Kennesaw State is not a throwaway opponent. They are a team that forces even top SEC squads to sweat, and that reality is already clear after their recent outings. While some fans might look past the Owls because of the win-loss record, the film tells a different story. This team makes life miserable for defenses that think they can just run the ball and go home.
Tennessee thought they had this game in the bag early on. They were wrong. The Vols allowed 31 rushing yards on the very first drive, and for a moment, the whole defense looked shaky. That panic didn't last long, but the scare was real. According to reports, the defense snapped back to life and held the Owls to just 71 rushing yards over the next 10 drives. The final score of 42-9 hides the fact that Kennesaw State moved the ball well enough to make the Vols nervous.
Rickie Collins played the role of the perfect challenger. He threw for 189 yards and ran the ball himself 14 times. He was elusive and hard to bring down. Defensive lineman Mariyon Dye admitted the truth about the quarterback, calling him "a really slippery, real fast guy." That speed is exactly what makes Kennesaw State dangerous. They don't just play fast; they force big teams to adjust their entire game plan on the fly.
Now Arkansas State has to deal with that same speed and skill. The Red Wolves are coming off a loss to TCU, and they are trying to find a way to fix their issues before Saturday night. Offensive lineman Wil Saxton didn't like what the scoreboard showed after the TCU game. "Well you know, don't really think the score really showed the true outcome of that game," Saxton said. He pointed out that his team had more rushing yards than anyone else TCU has faced all year, but they still lost. That is a painful reality for any offense to face.
Head coach Butch Jones knows the challenge ahead is massive. He told his team, "We will be challenged Saturday night." He specifically warned about the deep balls and the route trees that look identical until it is too late. Kennesaw State has a stout offensive line that moves people off the ball. If Arkansas State cannot stop the run or handle the tempo, they will be in trouble. The game starts at 6:00pm at Centennial Bank Stadium, and the pressure is on.
Both teams enter this matchup with matching 1-2 records. That stat alone should make you sit up and take notice. Kennesaw State beat West Georgia just like Arkansas State did, but they also fell to a Power 4 team and a Group of 6 team. The difference is in how they play. Tennessee linebacker Edwin Spillman said they need to get "better to the boundary" and fix their tackling. That is a direct admission that Kennesaw State found holes in the defense.
The Owls have a quick tempo offense that wears out defenses. They know how to move people off the ball, and they have a quarterback who can make plays with his legs. Arkansas State needs to focus on finishing drives and getting into the box. If they can do that, they might have a chance. If they cannot, the Owls will expose them just like they did to Tennessee. The halftime show will feature "The Sound of the Natural State," but the real show happens on the field. Kennesaw State is the team nobody wants to play right now.
