Welcome back to Hoot State. Thanks again to friends of the progrum Section 103 for partnering up to bring our subscribers a discount on their Owls collection this season. Promo code HOOT for 10% off online, or you can catch them in-person at the Homecoming game next weekend.
Let’s be real. Kennesaw State’s season is functionally over. Time of death: 7:08 PM last Wednesday, when Jerry Mack pulled the plug and punted from the 44-yard line as 10-point underdogs against Liberty. You saw how the rest of the game went, and the Owls hit six consecutive losses for only the second time as a program.
A five-game winning streak is now required to reach bowl eligibility, a feat that ESPN’s FPI currently gives a 2.9% chance. As it currently stands, the Owls will be underdogs in four of those games - with the fifth coming in a potential Depression Bowl against Sam Houston. I would love to see a miracle run happen, because that would make the Frisco Bowl feel like the Super Bowl. In reality, I don’t think Kennesaw State’s 1-6 nearly is as bad as 1-6 could be, with a trio of losses by a total of 7 points mixed in with blowouts against Tennessee and Liberty. Even if a little bit of positive regression comes our way, that still doesn’t make me feel very optimistic about the possibility of reeling off five straight Ws and getting back to the postseason.
We are almost certainly watching the most disappointing year in Owls’ football history - the first time when expectations actually existed AND missed by this wide of a margin. 2024 sucked, no doubt about it. We knew it would be rough, though, and it ended up inspiring the change that led to a CUSA title. Barring a late rally, what can we salvage from the rest of the 2026 season to make it worth our time? As gross as it sounds to potentially go 1-11, 2-10, etc., we can probably get a little more value out of a selling-at-the-trade deadline tank job where we start thinking about next year.
