- Q1 6:44FGKENNDaniel Kinney 20 Yd Field Goal0–3
- Q2 14:37TDJXSTJamill Williams 1 Yd pass from Caden Creel (Garrison Rippa Kick)7–3
- Q2 12:19TDKENNR. Collins run for 2 yds, for a TD (L. Attard PAT MISSED) (D. Kinney PAT MISSED)7–9
- Q2 4:30TDJXSTCaden Creel 2 Yd Run (Garrison Rippa Kick)14–9
- Q2 0:23TDKENNJavon Rogers 5 Yd pass from Rickie Collins (Daniel Kinney Kick)14–16
- Q3 1:30TDKENNLatrelle Murrell 4 Yd Run (Daniel Kinney Kick)14–23
- Q3 0:26TDJXSTJalen Likely 3 Yd Run (Garrison Rippa Kick)21–23
- Q4 9:23FGJXSTGarrison Rippa 20 Yd Field Goal24–23
- Q4 2:15FGKENNDaniel Kinney 28 Yd Field Goal24–26
- Q4 0:52FGJXSTGarrison Rippa 33 Yd Field Goal27–26
Jacksonville State 27, Kennesaw State 26 on October 7, 2026
Final · Wed
ESPN game file
Recap
On October 7, 2026, Jacksonville State defeated Kennesaw State 27-26 at Walens Family Field at Fifth Third Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia, in a rematch of the 2025 Conference USA championship game. Garrison Rippa made a 33-yard go-ahead field goal with 51 seconds remaining, and Rob Billings IV intercepted Rickie Collins on the next play to end the Owls' last chance.
Kennesaw State had pulled ahead 26-24 on Daniel Kinney's 28-yard field goal with 2:17 left. That drive followed a Lucas Farrington fumble while Jacksonville State led 24-23 with about seven minutes to play. Tywon Christopher forced the fumble and Baron Hopson recovered at the Kennesaw State 40-yard line, according to Kennesaw State athletics. The Owls marched into field-goal range before Jacksonville State answered on an 11-play drive capped by Rippa's kick, his fourth career game-winner inside the final two minutes.
Caden Creel completed 26 of 44 passes for 311 yards with one touchdown and one interception for Jacksonville State (4-2, 2-0 CUSA). Creel also scored on the ground, and Deondre Johnson caught four passes for 112 yards. Rickie Collins passed for 281 yards with one touchdown and one interception for Kennesaw State (1-4, 0-1). Collins added 61 rushing yards and a touchdown. The Gamecocks have won three straight games. Kennesaw State outgained Jacksonville State 411 yards to 385 but lost back-to-back home games for the first time since 2024.
Lineup
These are the players credited on the game file. That file does not list a starting lineup or positions.
Jacksonville State Gamecocks
Passing
- #12Caden Creel
Rushing
- #6Jalen Likely
- #12Caden Creel
- #22Lucas Farrington
- #32Cedric Kouemi
- #7Khristian Lando
- Team
Receiving
- #11Deondre Johnson
- #30Luke Gilbert
- #9Ronnel Johnson
- #6Jalen Likely
- #5Dylan Gentry
- #3Darius Cannon
- #32Cedric Kouemi
- #17Jamill Williams
- #22Lucas Farrington
- #44Jameson Scissum
Defense
- #9Jonavan Carr
- #34Jameson McCollough
- #5Rob Billings IV
- #2Morven Joseph
- #1Caleb Nix
- #36Brayden Matthews
- #44Khurtiss Perry
- #13Jacob Cruz
- #93Jawaun Campbell
- #3Tre'Quon Fegans
- #8JQ Brooks
- #16Quay Hood
- #21Tim Anthony
- #15Tae Floyd
- #4Shane Payton Hodges
- #22Jaheim Jenkins
- #6Kaden Cook
- #11Walter Reddick
- #92Marquis Hood
- #0Myles Butler
- #12Brennan Core
- #99Andrew Rumph
- #24Ty Sims
Kennesaw State Owls
Passing
- #1Rickie Collins
- Team
Rushing
- #1Rickie Collins
- #24Boogie Woods III
- #6Latrelle Murrell
- #11Brayden Munroe
- #21Triston Morgan
Receiving
- #11Brayden Munroe
- #15Javon Rogers
- #88Jamari Harrold
- #24Boogie Woods III
- #19Reed Jesiolowski
- #9Davis Bryson
- #21Triston Morgan
- #6Latrelle Murrell
- #13Dylan Gary
- #7Navelle Dean
Defense
- #11Tywon Christopher
- #44Baron Hopson
- #12Kody Jones
- #7Luke Evans
- #5Tay'vion Lawson
- #55Ugonna Nwoha
- #0Perry Fisher
- #13Cam Miller
- #9Isaac Paul
- #46Jeremy Greaves Jr.
- #6Marcus Patterson
- #15Devin Morgan
- #96Jaiden Grimes
- #53AJ Miller
- #18Josh Anglin
- #16Alfred Thomas
- #42Omari Stephenson
- #33Montra Sanford
- #56Zay Wilson