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MTSU football's two-game winning streak snapped by Kennesaw State
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- MTSU football's two-game winning streak snapped by Kennesaw State
Middle Tennessee State football lost at home for the first time this season, dropping 44-28 to Kennesaw State in the team's final weekday contest of the season.
The Blue Raiders (4-4, 2-2 CUSA) had their two-game winning streak snapped by a Kennesaw State team that entered with just one victory.
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MTSU trailed 19-17 at halftime, despite dominating time of possession (22:44 to 7:16), going 9-for-11 on third-down conversions and outgaining Kennesaw State in yards, 245 to 207.
The Owls (2-6, 1-3) took a 10-point lead on a 59-yard interception return on MTSU's first possession of the second half and never looked back.
MTSU's Roman Gagliano was 21-for-43 for 183 yards and two interceptions (a second was returned to the Blue Raiders 2 late in the game that led to a TD) while Antonio Martin Jr. rushed 18 times for 106 yards and a touchdown. MTSU outgained Kennesaw State 380 to 318 in total yardage.
The Blue Raiders will be back at home on Nov. 7 at home against rival Western Kentucky at 2:30 p.m. CT.
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Kennesaw State 44, MTSU 28: 100-yard kickoff return for Raiders
Santana Fleming returned the ensuing KSU kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown with 1:42 left in regulation, breaking the program record (99 yards). It was the first TD for the Blue Raiders of the second half. It's the first kickoff return for a TD for MTSU since 2012.
Kennesaw State 44, MTSU 20: Turnover on downs leads to points
Kennesaw tacked on three more points as Daniel Kinney booted a 45-yard field goal with 1:55 remaining. The Owls had good field position after MTSU turned it over on downs.
Kennesaw State 41, MTSU 20: Another big interception puts game away
Roman Gagliano's second interception of the night, which was returned to the Blue Raider 2, set up another Owls touchdown, a Boogie Woods two-yard run off a direct snap. There's 5:15 left in regulation.
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Kennesaw State 34, MTSU 20: Big plays allowed put hosts in bind
Dylan Gary hauled in a 28-yard touchdown pass from Rickie Collins with 11:50 left in regulation to give the Owls their biggest lead of the game and the biggest deficit MTSU has faced at home (or in any other game other than Kansas).
End 3: Kennesaw State 27, MTSU 20
The Blue Raiders came up with a second consecutive turnover on a Korey Smith fumble recovery, but Dominic Bourgeois missed a 45-yard field goal that would have cut the lead to three. MTSU did get the ball back and faces a 2nd-and-3 at its own 28 as play resumes.
Kennesaw State 27, MTSU 20: Smith interception leads to points
Dominic Bourgeois kicked a 38-yard field goal with 4:20 left in the third quarter to help the Blue Raiders cut the lead to seven. A Korey Smith interception near midfield helped set up the score.
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Kennesaw State 27, MTSU 17: Pick-six extends Owls' lead
Tywon Christopher stepped in front of a Roman Gagliano pass at the 41 and returned the interception 59 yards for a touchdown with 12:32 left in the third quarter to give the visitors a 27-17 lead, following a successful 2-point conversion pass. It was the first pick-six of Gagliano's career.
Halftime: Kennesaw State 19, MTSU 17
Dominic Bourgeois booted a 45-yard field goal as time expired in the half to help the hosts cut the KSU lead to two. MTSU has outgained the Owls 245-207 and dominated time of possession 22:44 to 7:16. However, KSU has had three scoring drives in which they had big gains in a short amount of time.
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Kennesaw State 19, MTSU 14: Another big special teams return
Rickie Collins hit Dylan Gary on a 31-yard TD strike on the first play of the Owls' possession after they returned a punt 49 yards. However, KSU missed the extra point after originally lining up for 2 and having to reconsider after being whistled for a false start. MTSU was forced to punt for the first time after its first failed third-down conversion (6 of 7).
MTSU 14, Kennesaw State 13: Big kickoff return sparks visitors
Davis Bryson caught a 23-yard TD pass from Rickie Collins with 9:31 left in the half to help the Owls cut the MTSU lead to one. However, the extra point try failed after a bad snap, leaving the Blue Raiders in the lead. A kickoff return past midfield set up the score.
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MTSU 14, Kennesaw State 7: Raiders getting it done on third down
Antonio Martin carried a pile seven yards into the end zone with 11:09 left in the second quarter to give the Blue Raiders the lead. The 14-play, 76-yard drive was the longest of the season time-wise (9:22) and tied for the longest in number of plays. MTSU converted three third downs and are 5-of-5 for the game. MTSU has scored TDs on each of its first two possessions.
End 1: MTSU 7, Kennesaw State 7
The Blue Raiders have outgained the Owls 120-101. MTSU is driving, facing a 2nd-and-4 from the KSU 29 when play resumes. Roman Gagliano is 4 of 5 for 56 yards.
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MTSU 7, Kennesaw State 7: Big play helps Raiders answer
Roman Gagliano ran in from the 1 with 7:59 left in the first quarter to help the Blue Raiders answer Kennesaw State's first score. A 41-yard shovel pass from Gagliano to Cam Lacy, in which Lady was almost caught several yards behind the line of scrimmage, was the big play on the drive.
Kennesaw State 7, MTSU 0: Owls strike fast on first drive
Boogie Woods III rambled in from 13 yards out with 12:32 left in the first quarter to give the visitors a 7-0 lead. The Owls drove 81 yards on seven plays, as QB Rickie Collins passed for 46 yards and added a 10-yard run.
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What time does MTSU vs. Kennesaw State start?
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Date:Wednesday, Oct. 28
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Time:6 p.m. CT
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Where:Floyd Stadium, Murfreesboro, Tennessee
MTSU’s running back Antonio Martin (8) runs the ball during the football game between MTSU an Kennesaw State at Johnny “Red” Floyd Stadium on Wednesday, Oct. 28 2026.
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. at Floyd Stadium
Kennesaw State at MTSU football will be streamed on CBS Sports Network in Week 9 of the 2026 college football season. Chris Lewis and Doug Pederson will call the game at Floyd Stadium in Murfreesboro.
TICKETS Purchase MTSU football tickets on StubHub
MTSU vs. Kennesaw State prediction
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Monday, Oct. 26
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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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Spread:MTSU by 3
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Over/under:51.5
MTSU football 2026 schedule
*Conference USA game. All times are Central.
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Sept. 5 MTSU 38, Murray State 14
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Sept. 12 Marshall 28, MTSU 26
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Sept. 19 MTSU 27, Nevada 20
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*Sept. 26 Jacksonville State 23, MTSU 13
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Oct. 3 Kansas 55, MTSU 0
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*Oct. 13 MTSU 33, Delaware 30
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*Oct. 20 MTSU 26, FIU 23
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*Oct. 28 Kennesaw State, 6 p.m., CBSSN
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*Nov. 7 Western Kentucky, 2:30 p.m., ESPN platforms
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*Nov. 14 at Liberty, 2:30 p.m., CBSSN
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*Nov. 21 at Sam Houston, 1 p.m., ESPN platforms
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*Nov. 28 New Mexico State, 1 p.m., ESPN platforms
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Dec. 4 Conference USA championship game
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.
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This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: MTSU football's two-game winning streak snapped by Kennesaw State
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