Jax State's Caden Creel tries to evade the tackle of Kennesaw State's Kody Jones during college school football action at AmFirst Stadium in Jacksonville, Alabama November 15, 2025. (Dave Hyatt / Hyatt Media LLC)

The 2025 FBS postseason kicks off Friday night, and Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State will meet in the Conference USA Championship game (7 p.m. kickoff) to help get this party started.

Kennesaw State is one of the feel-good stories of the 2025 college football season. Behind first-year coach Jerry Mack, the Owls have already made a seven-win jump this season and are looking to take CUSA in just the program’s second year in FBS.

Jacksonville State earned its way into the title game as hosts with a win over Western Kentucky in the regular-season finale.

These teams played Nov. 15, a 35-26 Jax State win. The Owls had 579 yards of offense but were undone by four turnovers.

Watch the C-USA championship game on Fubo (free trial)

USA TODAY is bringing you live updates, scores and highlights from the game. Follow along.

HIT REFRESH FOR LIVE UPDATES.

Kennesaw State vs Jax State football score

TEAM Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 FINAL
Kennesaw State 0 7 3 10
Jacksonville State 0 0 0 0

Kennesaw State vs Jax State football live updates

9:57 3Q: Kennesaw State 10, Jacksonville State 0

A missed field goal from 35 yards out for Jax State. Gamecocks still scoreless. Worth a reminder: JSU is Conference USA's top scoring offense (30.2 ppg).

9:57 3Q: Kennesaw State 10, Jacksonville State 0

Britton Williams hits a field goal from 38 yards out to extend the Owls' lead. Amari Odom and Coleman Bennett did much of the heavy lifting on the first drive of the second half.

15:00 3Q: Kennesaw State 7, Jacksonville State 0

KSU WR Gabriel Benyard didn't come out for the second half. He took a brutal hit late in the first half that drew a targeting call. His is the Owls' leading receiver on the season.

HALFTIME: Kennesaw State 7, Jacksonville State 0

A scary hit from Trevor Woods, who lays out defenseless Kennesaw State receiver Gabriel Benyard and gets called for targeting. Just a brutal hit. Woods is ejected for the hit.

With time winding out in the half, KSU QB Amari Odom is called for intentional grounding with comes with a 10-second runoff and the half is over.

An unexpected defensive battle.

6:49 2Q: Kennesaw State 7, Jacksonville State 0

Jax State QB Caden Creel scrambles for 34 yards on 3rd-and-25 and gets the Gamecocks in business. But on 4th-and-1 from the KSU 9-yard line, Cam Cook is stopped for a four-yard loss. Turnover on downs.

13:03 2Q: Kennesaw State 7, Jacksonville State 0

Coleman Bennett punches it in from three yards out to break the deadlock. An 11-play, 80-yard drive led by Amari Odom gives us our first points of the night.

End 1Q: Jacksonville State 0, Kennesaw State 0

Owls are driving into JSU territory, will have a 2nd-and-9 from the Gamecocks' 35-yard line.

2:36 1Q: Jacksonville State 0, Kennesaw State 0

INTERCEPTION! A 10-play, 61-yard drive ends with a pick in the end zone. JSU QB Caden Creel is intercepted by Milon Jones.

7:47 1Q: Jacksonville State 0, Kennesaw State 0

We're trading punts. That's two punts for each team. It's a slow burn tonight in Jacksonville.

11:17 1Q: Jacksonville State 0, Kennesaw State 0

Owls pick up a first down before the Gamecocks tighten up and force a punt.

13:42 1Q: Jacksonville State 0, Kennesaw State 0

We're underway, and the Owls force a three-and-out to get us started.

What time does Kennesaw State vs Jacksonville State football start?

  • Date: Friday, Dec. 5
  • Time: 7 p.m. ET
  • Where: AmFirst Stadium (Jacksonville, Alabama)

Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State will kick off at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, Dec. 5 from AmFirst Stadium in Jacksonville, Alabama.

What TV channel is Kennesaw State vs Jacksonville State on today?

  • TV channel: CBS Sports Network
  • Livestream: Fubo (free trial)

The C-USA championship game between Kennesaw State and Jacksonville State will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

Streaming options for the game include Fubo, which carries CBSSN and offers a free trial to new subscribers.

Conference USA Championship game predictions

  • Kennesaw State 31, Jacksonville State 27: Although Jacksonville State got the better of the Owls in their first matchup, Jerry Mack has shown his mettle this season. Kennesaw State is able to get the upper hand in this one with Amari Odom bouncing back from his three-interception outing in the first go-round. Protecting the ball gives the Owls the edge, and they avenge their one conference loss this season and cap off a monumental turnaround. — Kevin Skiver
  • Jacksonville State 35, Kennesaw State 27: Despite losing coach Rich Rodriguez to West Virginia, Jacksonville State rolls to its second straight Conference USA championship behind a three-touchdown performance from running back Cam Cook to run his season total to 18. — Ehsan Kassim
  • Kennesaw State 35, Jacksonville State 30: This one feels like a toss-up, but I'll side with Kennesaw State getting its revenge against Jacksonville State and winning its first Conference USA title in just its second year as a member of the Division I FBS level. To do that, though, the Owls will need to be able to contain Jacksonville State running back Cam Cook, who ran for 132 rushing yards and a touchdown in the first meeting. — John Leuzzi

Conference USA Championship game betting odds

Odds via BetMGM, as of Dec. 5

  • Moneyline: Kennesaw State (-145)
  • Spread: Kennesaw State (-2.5)
  • Over/under: 60.5

Kennesaw State football schedule 2025

Here's a look at Kennesaw State's schedule in 2025, including past scores.

  • Friday, Aug. 29: Wake Forest 10, Kennesaw State 9
  • Saturday, Sept. 6: Indiana 56, Kennesaw State 9
  • Saturday, Sept. 13: Kennesaw State 27, Merrimack 13
  • Saturday, Sept. 20: Kennesaw State 28, Arkansas State 21
  • Saturday, Sept. 27: Kennesaw State 24, Middle Tennessee 16*
  • BYE
  • Thursday, Oct. 9: Kennesaw State 35, Louisiana Tech 7*
  • BYE
  • Tuesday, Oct. 21: Kennesaw State 45, FIU 26*
  • Tuesday, Oct. 28: Kennesaw State 33, UTEP 20*
  • Saturday, Nov. 8: Kennesaw State 24, New Mexico State 21*
  • Saturday, Nov. 15: Jacksonville State 35, Kennesaw State 26
  • Saturday, Nov. 22: Kennesaw State 41, Montana State 34
  • Saturday, Nov. 29: Kennesaw State 48, Liberty 42 (OT)*
  • Friday, Dec. 5: Kennesaw State vs Jacksonville State | CBS Sports Network**
  • * - denotes Conference-USA game
  • ** - denotes Conference-USA championship game

Jacksonville State football schedule 2025

Here's a look at Jacksonville State's schedule in 2025, including past scores.

  • Thursday, Aug. 28: UCF 17, Jacksonville State 10
  • Saturday, Sept. 6: Jacksonville State 34, Liberty 24*
  • Saturday, Sept. 13: Georgia Southern 41, Jacksonville State 34
  • Saturday, Sept. 20: Jacksonville State 45, Murray State 10
  • Saturday, Sept. 27: Southern Miss 42, Jacksonville State 25
  • BYE
  • Thursday, Oct. 9: Jacksonville State 29, Sam Houston 27*
  • Wednesday, Oct. 15: Jacksonville State 38, Delaware 25*
  • BYE
  • Saturday, Nov. 8: Jacksonville State 30, UTEP 27*
  • Saturday, Nov. 15: Jacksonville State 35, Kennesaw State 26*
  • Saturday, Nov. 22: FIU 27, Jacksonville State 21*
  • Saturday, Nov. 29: Jacksonville State 37, Western Kentucky 34*
  • Friday, Dec. 5: Kennesaw State vs Jacksonville State | CBS Sports Network**
  • * - denotes Conference-USA game
  • ** - denotes Conference-USA championship game

Our team of savvy editors independently handpicks all recommendations. If you purchase through our links, the USA Today Network may earn a commission. Prices were accurate at the time of publication but may change.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Conference USA championship game: Kennesaw State vs. Jax State score, live updates, highlights

Reporting by Matthew Glenesk, USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect