Many conference championship runs are predictable before the first ball is kicked off the tee. Other conference championship runs unravel in the most unlikely of scenarios.The Kennesaw State Owls are just in their second year of FBS, fresh off experiencing the typical struggles of a program transitioning from the FCS level. The Owls produced a 2-10 record in its inaugural year and fired their only coach in program history. But in his inaugural year on campus, head coach Jerry Mack did the unthinkable. He guided a 2-win Kennesaw State team to nine wins in the regular season, capturing that elusive 10th victory on the grandest stage Conference USA has to offer.Kennesaw State stormed into a road environment and knocked off defending champion Jacksonville State, 19-15, to claim its first-ever CUSA title — in the first year the Owls were eligible to participate in the event. They became the second-straight CUSA champion to win the conference championship in year two of FBS membership, following 2024 Jacksonville State which accomplished an identical feat.The Owls, which lost 35-26 to Jax State in the same venue of AmFirst Stadium on Nov. 15, were successful in their revenge opportunity. Kennesaw State fully controlled the first three quarters — scoring in every possible way to concoct a 12-0 lead in the early fourth (one touchdown, one field goal, one safety, one extra point). Up until that point, Charles Kelly’s Gamecocks were burdened by an interception, a missed field goal, and a promising drive resulting in a turnover on downs.However, Kennesaw State quickly learned in the fourth quarter it didn’t build its lead enough. With 10:20 remaining in the game, the FBS leading rusher Cam Cook punched in a short rushing score to put the Gamecocks on board, trailing 12-7. After forcing a quick three-and-out, Jax State’s high-powered rushing attack went straight to work. Cook and mobile quarterback Caden Creel moved the team down the field, until Creel broke free on an improvised run — flying 19 yards to paydirt for the go-ahead score. Jax State then added to that go-ahead touchdown with a two-point try, where Deondre Johnson made a spectacular one-handed grab in the back of the end zone.Kennesaw State’s 12-0 advantage suddenly flipped into a 15-12 deficit, but quarterback Amari Odom gathered his troops on the road. Adversity struck when Odom took a lengthy sack, ultimately positioning the Owls at 4th and 14 with under a minute remaining. They didn’t flinch. On the do-or-die fourth down, Odom waited for his routes to develop and then called his own number when he saw daylight. The quarterback just crossed the sticks near the left sideline and then absorbed a hit which thrust him into the kicking net, tacking on another chunk of yardage after the prolific run.From there, Kennesaw State was set up for tremendous success. Odom hit wide receiver Navelle Dean in the end zone for an 11-yard score with 51 seconds remaining. On Jax State’s last-gasp effort, the Gamecocks only went backward, and Creel’s last-effort launch fell short and out of bounds of his target — sealing Kennesaw State’s triumphant victory. It marked the Gamecocks’ first loss on the road all season, and they fell to 16-3 on their home field as an FBS program.The Owl defense limited Cook to 78 yards — marking the third time a defense stymied the star running back under the century mark this season. Meanwhile, Kennesaw State crafted a significant advantage in the aerial attack as Cook collected 246 yards on an efficient 26-of-32 showing, while Jax State only mustered up 96 yards through the air, despite its noble rushing efforts.Jax State (8-5, 7-1 CUSA) did not become the CUSA’s first repeat champion since 2021 and 2022 UTSA, as the Gamecocks fell short of their lofty goal in year one of the Kelly era. The Gamecocks await their third-straight bowl appearance in their third year of FBS membership, looking to manufacture a third-consecutive 9-win season.Kennesaw State (10-3, 7-1 CUSA) is atop the conference in one of the most unlikely turnarounds in college football. Coach Mack’s Owls stroll into their first bowl game with 10 wins, hoping to make it an 11th as this dream season has one more game in its lifespan.