Midweek CUSA is back for Week 9 with a matchup of two programs who believe they both have a path to a conference championship game appearance. Kennesaw State will travel to face Florida International in this big Conference USA clash.
Kennesaw State vs. FIU Details
- Date: Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025
- Game time: 7:00 PM ET
- Location: Pitbull Stadium | Miami, FL
- Predicted weather at kick: clear, high 70’s/low 80’s temperature
- How to watch: ESPN2
Kennesaw vs. FIU Head-to-Head Record
With Kennesaw only recently entering FBS from the FCS ranks, these teams have only met once before. It was last year in the 2024 season, with Kennesaw surprisingly winning at home by a score of 27-26.
Kennesaw vs. FIU Grades
PFSN College OFFi
- Kennesaw State: 71.8 (C-)
- FIU: 68.5 (D+)
PFSN College DEFi
- Kennesaw State: 74.2 (C)
- FIU: 71.2 (C-)
PFSN College OLi
- Kennesaw State: 64.7 (D)
- FIU: 67.7 (D+)
PFSN College QBi
- Amari Odom, Kennesaw State: 72.2 (C-)
- Keyone Jenkins, FIU: 67.1 (D+)
PFSN College RBi
- Coleman Bennett, Kennesaw State: 72.9 (C-)
- Kejon Owens, FIU: 77.4 (C+)
PFSN College WRi
- Gabriel Benyard, Kennesaw State: 75.6 (C)
- Alex Perry, FIU: 71.6 (C-)
PFSN College TEi
- Gerard Bullock, Kennesaw State: 72.6 (C-)
- Dallas Payne, FIU: 71.4 (C-)
PFSN College EDGEi
- Marcus Patterson, Kennesaw State: 73.2 (C)
- Keegan Davis, FIU: 69.8 (D+)
PFSN College DTi
- Tylon Dunlap, Kennesaw State: 84.3 (B)
- Xion Chapman, FIU: 78.7 (C+)
PFSN College LBi
- Baron Hopson, Kennesaw State: 74.5 (C)
- Josiah Taylor, FIU: 67.1 (D+)
PFSN College SAFi
- Antonio Stevens, Kennesaw State: 84.4 (B)
- Jessiah McGrew, FIU: 80.9 (B)
Kennesaw vs. FIU Prediction
This is a super intriguing matchup in CUSA since the top of the conference looks wide open. The winner here should have an inside track on making the Conference Championship Game. The PFSN College Football Playoff Meter (FPM) has Kennesaw projected a few points better in this game despite playing on the road.
This is only Kennesaw’s third road game of the season, and their first since Week 2 when then went to Indiana. There’s a chance the Owls are a bit out of sync early on after becoming so used to playing at home for much of the season.
However, it will help that they’re coming off a Bye week to get some much needed rest. Despite the off week, keep an eye out on the status of Owls QB Amari Odom, who is a little banged up and did not play in the Week 7 game against Louisiana Tech.
There are a few reasons that I like FIU in this spot. One is that there should be plenty of motivation after getting upset by Kennesaw in last year’s matchup. Another reason is that even though many of the PFSN Grades favor Kennesaw’s position groups over FIU’s, I believe that is due to Kennesaw playing a much easier schedule.
After playing two Power Four schools (Wake Forest and Indiana), Kennesaw faced FCS Merrimack and an underwhelming Arkansas State team, before facing two of the worst offenses in the CUSA–MTSU and Louisiana Tech.
It’s no wonder Kennesaw grades out much better defensively than FIU, who has played impressive teams and offenses like WKU, UConn, Delaware, FAU, and Penn State when the Nittany Lions were healthy. Now Kennesaw goes from playing two weak CUSA offenses to an FIU offense that is finding its stride recently.
The Panthers will have success moving the ball on the ground behind the duo of QB Keyone Jenkins and RB Kejon Owens, one of the best in CUSA.
The main reason to back FIU here is because the Panthers are getting healthy at the right time. The roster, primarily the defense, has been unhealthy for much of the season. The return of two of their best defenders, CB Brian Blades and LB Percy Courtney Jr., were two key additions for this defense which is one of the CUSA’s best when healthy.
That was on display last week when the Panthers shut down WKU’s high powered offense in a dominant 25-6 win. I see Kennesaw having a hard time moving the ball through the air against this secondary.
I lean FIU in this spot with Kennesaw having to come on the road for the first time in a while, and also because a healthy FIU team can be a real contender in this conference. Kennesaw is much improved from last season, mainly because their defense has really taken a step up from last season.
These two teams will be led by their defenses so don’t expect a shootout, but FIU has the better players to pull away in the end.
Prediction: FIU 23, Kennesaw 17
