Venue, Date & Time
Location: Fifth Third Stadium, Kennesaw, Georgia (Capacity: 10,200)
Kickoff: 6:00 PM ET
Broadcast: ESPN+
Weather Forecast (Kennesaw, GA)
Conditions: Partly cloudy, warm evening
Temperature: ~76°F (24°C) at kickoff
Wind: NW at 6–7 mph
Impact: Excellent football weather; minimal wind effect on passing/kicking
Injury Report
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
No major new injuries reported; QB Nicholas Vattiato expected to start.
Kennesaw State Owls
No significant injuries reported; QB Amari Odom healthy after strong outing vs. Arkansas State.
Key Player Matchups
QB Nicholas Vattiato (MTSU, 847 yds, 6 TD, 3 INT) vs. QB Amari Odom (KSU, 592 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT; 128 rush yds, 2 TD)
Vattiato is a volume passer; Odom is a dual-threat who can extend plays.
WR Nahzae Cox (MTSU, 264 yds, 4 TD) vs. WR Gabriel Benyard (KSU, 322 yds, 2 TD)
Cox is Vattiato’s top red-zone target; Benyard is averaging 80+ yds/game.
RB Jekail Middlebrook (MTSU, 231 yds, 5.9 YPC) vs. RB Coleman Bennett (KSU, 191 yds, 2 TD)
Middlebrook provides balance for MTSU; Bennett is a steady chain-mover.
DL Damonte Smith (MTSU, 2 sacks, 1 INT) vs. LB Baron Hopson (KSU, 33 tackles)
Smith is MTSU’s defensive disruptor; Hopson leads KSU’s tackling unit.
Recent Team Forms
Middle Tennessee (1-3, 0-1 C-USA)
L 42–28 vs. Marshall
W 14–13 @ Nevada
L 42–10 @ Wisconsin
L 34–14 vs. Austin Peay
Trend: Offense averaging 16.5 PPG (120th nationally); defense allowing 32.8 PPG (124th).
Kennesaw State (2-2, 0-1 C-USA)
W 28–21 vs. Arkansas State
W 27–13 vs. Merrimack
L 56–9 @ Indiana
L 10–9 @ Wake Forest
Trend: Offense averaging 18.3 PPG; defense allowing 25 PPG. Strong at home (6 straight wins).
Conference Context
Middle Tennessee: Longtime C-USA member, struggling to find rhythm under Vattiato.
Kennesaw State: First year in FBS and C-USA, looking to establish itself with a winning record.
Series History
All-time H2H: Middle Tennessee leads 1–0
Last Meeting (2024): Middle Tennessee 14–5 win in Murfreesboro
Trend: This is the first-ever meeting in Kennesaw.
Betting Trends
Middle Tennessee:
1–3 ATS in 2025
2–2 O/U this season
1–8 SU in last 9 September games
Kennesaw State:
2–2 ATS in 2025
1–3 O/U this season
6–0 SU in last 6 home games
Historical Betting Results
2024: Middle Tennessee -8 covered, won 14–5 (Under 50)
Game Odds
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 53.5
Kennesaw St. Owls – 7
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odd Direct as of Friday, September 26, 2025
