Venue & Game Details
Kickoff: 6:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM CT
Venue: Fifth Third Bank Stadium, Kennesaw, Georgia
Surface: FieldTurf
Broadcast: ESPN+
Weather Forecast (Kickoff)
Conditions: Mostly clear skies
Temperature: ~78°F (26°C) at kickoff, cooling to ~76°F by the fourth quarter
Humidity: ~55–58%
Wind: Light NNE to ESE breeze at 2–4 mph
Impact: Ideal football weather — no precipitation expected, minimal wind, and comfortable temps for both passing and kicking games.
Injury Report
Merrimack Warriors
No reported injuries ahead of Week 3.
Full offensive and defensive depth available.
Kennesaw State Owls
No reported injuries ahead of Week 3.
Key starters on both sides of the ball expected to play.
Recent Form
Merrimack Warriors
W 31–6 vs. Saint Anselm — Ayden Pereira threw for 200+ yards, defense recorded 6 sacks.
L 17–21 @ Kent State — Competitive FBS road loss; defense held Kent to 21 points.
2024: 5-6 overall, 4-3 NEC.
Kennesaw State Owls
L 9–56 @ Indiana — Defense surrendered 600+ yards; offense limited to 176 pass yards.
L 9–10 @ Wake Forest — Narrow loss in opener; defense forced multiple punts but offense stalled in red zone.
2024: 3-8 overall (FCS Independent).
Series History
First-ever meeting between Merrimack and Kennesaw State.
KSU is 8-1 in its last nine home games vs. non-conference opponents, but this is its first matchup against a Northeast Conference team.
Key Player Matchups
QB Ayden Pereira (Merrimack) vs. KSU Secondary — Pereira has 415 pass yds, 2 TDs, and 141 rush yds through two games; his dual-threat ability will test an Owls defense allowing 249 pass YPG.
RB Coleman Bennett (KSU) vs. Merrimack Front Seven — Bennett leads KSU with 100 rush yds and 1 TD; Merrimack has allowed just 95 rush YPG.
WR Seth Sweitzer (Merrimack) vs. CB Lyndon Ravare (KSU) — Sweitzer’s 140 rec yds and 1 TD make him Pereira’s top target; Ravare will likely draw primary coverage.
LB Kendel Sims (Merrimack) vs. QB Amari Odom (KSU) — Sims leads Merrimack in tackles; Odom (176 pass yds, 62.5% comp) must avoid costly turnovers.
Special Teams — KSU’s Daniel Kinney leads C-USA in FGs made (4); Merrimack’s kicking game has been steady but untested in high-pressure spots.
Betting Trends & Angles
Kennesaw State: Lost 3 straight games; failed to cover in 4 of last 5 vs. non-conference opponents.
Merrimack: Covered in last 2 games vs. FBS opponents; underdog has covered in last 3 KSU home games vs. non-conference foes.
Totals: 5 of KSU’s last 6 non-conference games have gone Under; Merrimack 2-0 to the Under in 2025.
Situational: KSU home opener; Merrimack on road for second time in three weeks.
Game Odds
Merrimack Warriors 44.5
Kennesaw State Owls – 10.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 12, 2025
