Kennesaw State had the football for 19 minutes and 41 seconds on Wednesday night. According to KSU's postgame notes, that's the first time in program history the Owls held it for less than 20 minutes. They still scored 44 points, snapped a six-game losing streak and left Murfreesboro with a 44-28 win over Middle Tennessee.
That doesn't happen by accident. Here are three things we learned from the best night of the Owls' season.
1. When Rickie Collins gets time to throw, this offense is explosive
Collins went 16-of-19 for 206 yards and three touchdowns. That's 84.2 percent and 10.8 yards per attempt, with a 216.9 passer rating. KSU averaged 6.6 yards per play, its best mark against an FBS opponent this season.
The Owls didn't need long drives. Collins found Davis Bryson for a 23-yard touchdown, his first career receiving score. He hit Dylan Gary on a one-play, 31-yard drive for a contested catch in the end zone, then found Gary again from 28 yards out in the fourth quarter. That was KSU's first multi-touchdown receiving game of the year, and it gives Gary three touchdowns over the last two games.
The ball got spread around, too. Four receivers topped 40 yards: Gary (59), Javon Rogers (47), Bryson (46) and Brayden Munroe (45). Boogie Woods III added 67 rushing yards and two scores, including a 12-yard run on the opening drive. That was KSU's first opening-drive touchdown since West Georgia on Sept. 3.
Stat line: Collins 16-of-19, 206 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT. KSU 6.6 yards per play.
2. The defense bent early, then took the game over
The first half was rough. MTSU converted 9 of 11 third downs before halftime and put together a 14-play, 76-yard drive that ate 9:22 off the clock. The Blue Raiders ran 45 times for 197 yards on the night, so this wasn't a clean game for the front.
Then the second half started. On just the second MTSU pass after the break, linebacker Tywon Christopher jumped the route and went 59 yards for a pick six. It was KSU's first pick six since 2024 and the fourth-longest interception return in program history. From there, MTSU went just 2 of 9 on third down and didn't reach the end zone again until a kickoff return with 1:42 left.
Isaac Paul added a 41-yard interception return to the MTSU 2 that set up Woods' second touchdown. Ugonna Nwoha had two sacks and a forced fumble. Tay'vion Lawson posted career highs with nine tackles and two tackles for loss, and Baron Hopson's nine stops pushed him past 300 career tackles. KSU's notes credit the defense with 10 quarterback hurries over 40-plus minutes on the field. Roman Gagliano came in with two interceptions all season and threw two on Wednesday.
Stat line: 2 INTs (1 pick six), 2 sacks, 10 QB hurries. MTSU 2-of-9 on third down after halftime.
3. The return game flipped the field
With so little time of possession, field position mattered, and KSU's return men delivered. Bryson took a kickoff back a career-long 52 yards, and the Owls scored five plays later. Munroe returned a punt 49 yards, the longest KSU punt return of the season and tied for fifth-longest in program history. One play later, Gary was in the end zone.
Bryson finished with 147 all-purpose yards. He's now the second player in program history with a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown in his career.
There's one thing to clean up, though. MTSU's Santana Fleming returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. It didn't matter Wednesday, but in a season with three losses by three points or fewer, it might have.
Stat line: Bryson 52-yard KR, Munroe 49-yard PR, both leading to touchdowns within five plays.
What it means
KSU is now 2-6 overall and 1-3 in Conference USA, with its second straight win over Middle Tennessee. The Owls get a full week and a half to rest before Homecoming against Delaware on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The question now is whether this offense can do it again with more snaps. OwlUp.
Read our full Kennesaw State vs. Middle Tennessee recap, revisit our Dylan Gary profile, check the full 2026 Kennesaw State schedule and grab some Homecoming gear before the Delaware game.
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