Winless Kennesaw State, a 27.5-point underdog, knocked off undefeated Liberty 27-24 on Wednesday night, giving the Owls their first win as a Football Bowl Subdivision program and delivering a major blow to Liberty’s College Football Playoff hopes.

It’s the first regular-season loss for Liberty under second-year coach Jamey Chadwell, as the Flames were 13-0 last season before a 45-6 Fiesta Bowl loss to Oregon.

The highest-ranked Group of 5 team gets an automatic bid in the new 12-team College Football Playoff. Last year, that would’ve been Conference USA’s Liberty, which was selected for a New Year’s Six bowl over two-loss SMU in what some considered a controversial decision due to the Flames’ weak strength of schedule.

𝐄𝐗𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐔𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐃.#GoldStandard | #SeeUs pic.twitter.com/x9ZYhyzeEz

— Kennesaw State Football (@kennesawstfb) October 24, 2024

Liberty again this season doesn’t have a Power 5 team on its schedule, and the road game at Appalachian State was canceled due to Hurricane Helene damage. Dropping a game to the previously winless Owls will be a major point against the Flames if they win Conference USA to become eligible for a CFP auto-bid.

As of Wednesday night, Western Kentucky and Jacksonville State are both undefeated in CUSA play.

The only remaining Group of 5 unbeaten teams are the AAC’s Army and Navy, who do not play each other in the regular season. The AAC also has 6-1 Memphis and 5-2 Tulane in the mix. Boise State and UNLV in the Mountain West both have one loss but play each other on Friday night. The Sun Belt has two one-loss teams in Louisiana and ULM.

This is a huge moment for Kennesaw State, which picks up its first-ever win against an FBS program. The Owls began play in 2015 at the Football Championship Subdivision level. They finished ranked in the FCS top 10 four times in five years from 2017 to 2021. This also leaves Kent State as the only remaining winless team in college football this season.

Kennesaw State quarterback Davis Bryson completed 16 of 20 passes for 189 yards and one touchdown. Liberty star quarterback Kaidon Salter, the 2023 CUSA Player of the Year, finished 22-for-40 passing for 206 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, along with 87 rushing yards.

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(Photo of Jamey Chadwell: Mark J. Rebilas / Imagn Images)