The 2025 Air National Guard Conference USA Championship Game features a heated rematch between two programs on upward trajectories, with playoff aspirations hanging in the balance. The No. 25 Kennesaw State Owls (9-3, 7-1 CUSA), fresh off a dramatic double-overtime thriller against Liberty, seek revenge against the No. 24 Jacksonville State Gamecocks (8-4, 7-1 CUSA), who clinched hosting rights with a walk-off field goal over Western Kentucky. This sequel to their November 15 regular-season clash (Jax State won 35-26) pits Kennesaw State’s explosive passing attack against Jacksonville State’s punishing ground game. The winner secures the CUSA’s automatic bid to the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, while the loser eyes an at-large berth. Kennesaw State enters as a slim road favorite in a contest projected for fireworks under the lights.
Venue and Game Details
Location: Burgess-Snow Field at AmFirst Stadium, Jacksonville, Alabama (Capacity: 24,000; home of the Jacksonville State Gamecocks since 2020).
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET (6:00 p.m. CT).
Broadcast: CBS Sports Network (with streaming on Paramount+ and the Jacksonville State Gamecocks app).
Weather Forecast
Mild fall conditions are expected at kickoff in Jacksonville, Alabama, with temperatures dipping to 52°F under partly cloudy skies and low humidity. Winds will be gentle (5-8 mph from the northwest), posing no major disruption to passing or kicking games. No rain is in the forecast, per current models from AccuWeather and The Weather Channel—ideal for both teams’ balanced offenses, which have averaged 85+ combined points in recent outings. Coaches noted a brief cold snap earlier this week, but warming trends favor a clean, high-scoring affair.
Injury Report
Both squads are largely intact heading into the title tilt, though Jacksonville State has minor concerns in the receiving corps that could limit big-play options. Kennesaw State enters with a few defensive question marks but no season-ending blows to key starters. Updates from team practices indicate full participation for most.
| Team | Player | Position | Status | Injury Details |
| Kennesaw State | D. Franklin | LB | Questionable | Undisclosed; limited snaps last week. |
| Kennesaw State | S. Parker | TE | Questionable | Undisclosed; day-to-day after Liberty game. |
| Kennesaw State | K. Miller | CB | Questionable | Undisclosed; targeting return for championship. |
| Jacksonville State | B. Wallace | WR | Questionable | Undisclosed; missed limited practice. |
| Jacksonville State | K. Small | OG | Questionable | Undisclosed; banged up in WKU win. |
Kennesaw State QB Amari Odom and RB J. Likely are fully cleared, while Jacksonville State’s star RB Cam Cook practiced fully despite a heavy workload.
Key Player Matchups
This rematch’s outcome will turn on trench warfare and explosive individual duels, with Jacksonville State’s run-heavy identity testing Kennesaw State’s improved secondary. Both teams rank top-50 in yards per play, setting up a track meet if protections hold.
Jacksonville State RB Cam Cook vs. Kennesaw State LB D. Franklin: Cook (1,581 rush yards, 15 TDs, 5.7 YPC) leads the CUSA in rushing efficiency and powered 259 combined yards with QB Creel in the first meeting. Franklin (team-high 92 tackles) anchors a front seven that’s allowed just 3.8 YPC in conference (28th nationally), but his status adds uncertainty—Jax State has exploited gaps vs. depleted LBs (4.9 YPC allowed in losses).
Kennesaw State QB Amari Odom vs. Jacksonville State DE J. Rechsteiner: Odom (2,450 pass yards, 22 TDs, 65% completion) torched Liberty for 320 yards and 3 scores in OT; he’s the engine of KSU’s No. 32 passing attack (285 YPG). Rechsteiner (7 sacks, 12 TFL) leads a Gamecocks pass rush that’s second in CUSA (2.8 sacks/game), forcing 1.2 turnovers per contest. Odom’s quick release (2.1 sec avg.) could neutralize pressure, but Jax State’s home edge amplifies blitz packages.
Jacksonville State WR Deondre Johnson vs. Kennesaw State CB K. Miller: Johnson (564 rec yards, 6 TDs on 20 catches, 28.2 YPR) is a deep threat who scorched KSU for a 62-yard TD in November. Miller (4 INTs) headlines a secondary allowing 210 pass yards/game (45th nationally), but his injury clouds coverage—Johnson has feasted on banged-up DBs (5.2 catches/TD per game vs. top-50 pass Ds).
Kennesaw State RB J. Likely vs. Jacksonville State LB Group: Likely (1,120 rush yards, 12 TDs) complements Odom’s arm with 4.9 YPC, key in KSU’s 42% red-zone conversion rate (top-20). Jax State’s LBs rank 35th in rush defense (142 YPG allowed), but fatigue from Cook’s workload could open lanes—Likely cleared 100+ yards in 6 of 9 starts.
Edge to offenses in a potential 60+ point affair, with turnovers (combined +1.2 margin) deciding the late stages.
Team Records and Season Overview
Tied atop the CUSA at 7-1, Jacksonville State holds the tiebreaker via head-to-head and claims the regular-season crown. Kennesaw State’s transition from FCS shines with a top-40 scoring offense (32.1 PPG), while Jax State’s defense (21.3 PPG allowed, 22nd nationally) provides balance. Both notched signature non-con wins early (KSU over Arkansas State; Jax State over UCF).
| Team | Overall Record | CUSA Record | National Rank (AP) | Offensive PPG | Defensive PPG Allowed |
| Kennesaw State | 9-3 | 7-1 | No. 25 | 32.1 | 24.8 |
| Jacksonville State | 8-4 | 7-1 | No. 24 | 35.2 | 21.3 |
Kennesaw State: First-year FBS head coach Brian Bohannon’s squad rebounded from 0-2 non-con start with seven straight wins before a slip-up.
Jacksonville State: Rich Rodriguez’s successor Charles Kelly (8-4 debut) instilled grit, going 5-0 at home and ranking top-30 in total yards (428.8 YPG).
Recent Team Forms
Kennesaw State rides a four-game win streak into the championship, outscoring foes 150-102 while forcing 8 turnovers. Jacksonville State has won three of four but shown vulnerability on the road (3-4 away).
Kennesaw State Last 5 Games:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| Nov 29 | at Liberty | W 48-42 (2OT) | Odom: 320 pass yds, 3 TDs; Defense: 2 INTs |
| Nov 22 | UTEP | W 33-20 | Likely: 142 rush yds, 2 TDs |
| Nov 15 | at Jax State | L 26-35 | Turnovers: 4 (costly picks) |
| Nov 8 | FIU | W 41-34 | Passing: 350+ yds |
| Nov 1 | at MTSU | W 24-16 | Ground control: 180 yds |
Jacksonville State Last 5 Games:
| Date | Opponent | Result | Key Stats |
| Nov 29 | WKU | W 37-34 | Walk-off FG; Cook: 150 rush yds |
| Nov 22 | at FIU | L 21-27 | Struggled in red zone (2/4 FGs) |
| Nov 15 | Kennesaw St | W 35-26 | Creel/Cook: 259 rush yds combined |
| Nov 8 | Liberty | W 28-24 | Defense: 3 sacks, 1 INT |
| Nov 1 | at Sam Houston | W 42-10 | Johnson: 2 rec TDs |
Series History
The series is deadlocked at 3-3 since Kennesaw State’s 2017 FCS days, with all games decided by 10 points or less (average margin: 7.2). Jacksonville State has won the last three meetings, including a dominant 63-24 rout in 2024 and the thriller this season. High totals define the rivalry (average 61.5 points), with Jax State’s home dominance (3-0 in Jacksonville) a key factor.
| Date | Location | Result (KSU Score – JSU Score) | Notes |
| Nov 15, 2025 | Jacksonville, AL | L 26-35 | Creel/Cook rush for 259 yds |
| Oct 4, 2024 | Kennesaw, GA | L 24-63 | Jax State rolls with 500+ total yds |
| Oct 1, 2022 | Jacksonville, AL | L 28-35 (OT) | Walk-off TD in extra frame |
| Oct 2, 2021 | Kennesaw, GA | W 31-6 | KSU shuts down Jax State air game |
| Nov 17, 2018 | Neutral (Atlanta) | W 60-52 | High-octane shootout |
| Dec 2, 2017 | Jacksonville, AL | W 17-7 | Defensive masterclass for Owls |
Kennesaw State’s revamped offense (up 150 YPG from 2024) aims to snap the skid, but Jax State’s recent mastery looms large.
Betting Trends
Kennesaw State: 8-4 ATS (66.7%), covering 6 of 8 in CUSA play; 7-5 O/U, with overs in 4 of last 5 road games. Public 58% on KSU ML.
Jacksonville State: 6-6 ATS (50%), 4-0 ATS at home vs. FBS; 6-6 O/U, unders in 3 of 4 wins. Public 52% on Jax +2.5.
Head-to-Head: Jax State 3-0 SU but 2-1 ATS in last three; all six games hit over (avg. 61.5 points).
Advanced: Kennesaw State +5.2 in red-zone efficiency (public loves Odom)
Game Odds
Kennesaw State Owls – 2.5
Jacksonville State Gamecocks 59.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Thursday, December 4, 2025
