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.