Kennesaw State upsets Liberty, shakes up College Football Playoff picture

With 12 teams in the College Football Playoff, the door is open for a Group of 5 team to make the field. The five highest-ranked conference champions make the cut, and Liberty entered Wednesday’s game against Kennesaw State hoping to be in the picture.

The Flames were undefeated, bringing a perfect 5-0 record into the matchup against the 0-6 Owls. They also got a vote in the AP Top 25 to effectively become the fifth-highest ranked G5 team. With a 3-0 record in Conference USA play, the path was there for Jamey Chadwell’s group to make a run to the CFP.

But Kennesaw State got hot – and stayed hot to pull off the 27-24 upset. It marked the Owls’ first win of the season. And for Liberty, the first loss of the year also shook up the CFP Etch-A-Sketch.

The Flames struck first in the opening quarter, but Kennesaw State answered on the ensuing possession to tie things up at 7-7. The Owls then took a 14-7 lead, which held until just before halftime when Liberty tied things up at 14-14.

In the second half, though, it was all Kennesaw State. The Owls jumped back out in front 21-14 when Qua Ashley ran in a 6-yard touchdown and the Flames settled for a field goal on the following drive to cut the lead to 21-17. But two Kennesaw State field goals in the fourth quarter – coupled with a Liberty turnover on downs – made it a 27-17 Owls lead with just over four minutes to play.

Liberty went down and scored to make it a 27-24 ballgame, and a Kennesaw State three-and-out set up two more plays. But the Flames couldn’t convert – meaning the Owls not only pulled off the upset for their first-ever FBS win, but dashed Liberty’s CFP hopes.

How Group of 5 fits in new-look College Football Playoff

Under the new College Football Playoff format, 12 teams make the field. The five highest-ranked conference champions make appearances while the next seven highest-ranked teams receive at-large bids to round things out.

Entering Week 8, the Power Four champions would all be in. That would leave a spot for the highest-ranked Group of 5 champion, which is where Liberty hoped to make a run by season’s end.

Boise State came in as the highest-ranked G5 team in the AP poll, checking in at No. 17. Army and Navy also appeared in the Top 25 at No. 23 and No. 24, respectively. UNLV received five votes to come in, effectively, as the next highest-ranked G5 team, and Liberty was the only other Group of 5 program to get a vote.

That meant five G5 teams would be in the running for a spot in the CFP field. But after the Flames’ first loss of the season, their path to the Conference USA title game had some roadblocks come up. With it, the chances of making the College Football Playoff began to evaporate.

Inside the box score: Liberty falls to Kennesaw State

Liberty’s offense looked strong in Wednesday’s game. The Flames totaled 383 yards – led by a strong running game – to outgain Kennesaw State.

But penalties proved costly. Liberty committed nine penalties, which totaled 100 yards, and Kennesaw State was able to capitalize. The Owls had the time of possession advantage, which is part of the recipe for an upset. The other ingredient was ball security, and Kennesaw State didn’t turn it over once.

Kaidon Salter led the charge for Liberty, throwing for 203 yards and three touchdowns in the air. He also added 87 yards on the ground, which led the Flames as they ran for 180 yards on the ground.

On the Owls’ side, Davis Bryson was efficient, completing 16 of 20 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown. Ashley and Michael Benefield both added rushing touchdowns, as well, to lead the charge.

The first College Football Playoff rankings come out Nov. 5, meaning there’s less than two weeks until the picture becomes at least a little clearer. For the Group of 5, one team likely fell out of contention with Wednesday’s game.