Kennesaw State at Wake Forest - 2025 Matchup Preview

Kennesaw State Owls at Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Friday, August 29th 2025 (7:00 PM EDT)
Wake Forest -17.5 (51.5) (-1000) Open: -17.5 | 51.5
Wake Forest 10 - Kennesaw State: 9

Owls (10 - 4) (9 - 5 - 0)
Coach Jerry Mack (0 - 0)
Avg Score : 27 - 26 (26 - 29 on Road)
Record Prediction: 10.5 - 3.5 (#16)
'25 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

Our Line: Wake Forest -15 (SP+ WAKE -11)
Projected Score: KENN: 18 - WAKE: 33 (51)
WAKE Win prob: 89% | Cover: 51%
KENN Travel: 284 miles

Demon Deacons (9 - 4) (9 - 4 - 0)
Coach Jake Dickert (0 - 0)
Avg Score : 28 - 22 (28 - 17 @ Home)
Record Prediction: 8.6 - 4.4 (#38)
'25 Opponents: (Elite: ) (Good: ) (Avg: ) (Bad: 0)

Matchup
Schedules
KENN Players
WAKE Players
Stats
Run/Pass
Ratings
Scoring
History

Kennesaw State's 2025 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Fri 8/29	Kennesaw State at Wake Forest	+17.5	51.5	L 9 - 10	U	Y
Sat 9/6	Kennesaw State at Indiana	+35.5	51.5	L 9 - 56	O	N
Sat 9/13	Kennesaw State vs Merrimack	-17.5	44.5	W 27 - 13	U	N
Sat 9/20	Kennesaw State vs Arkansas State	+4.5	57.5	W 28 - 21	U	Y
Sat 9/27	Kennesaw State vs Middle Tennessee	-7.0	54.5	W 24 - 16	U	Y
	BYE WEEK
Thu 10/9	Kennesaw State vs Louisiana Tech	+4.5	46.5	W 35 - 7	U	Y
	BYE WEEK
Tue 10/21	Kennesaw State at Florida International	-3.0	48.5	W 45 - 26	O	Y
Tue 10/28	Kennesaw State vs UTEP	-12.5	53.5	W 33 - 20	U	Y
Sat 11/8	Kennesaw State at New Mexico State	-11.5	52.5	W 24 - 21	U	N
Sat 11/15	Kennesaw State at Jacksonville State	-3.5	56.5	L 26 - 35	O	N
Sat 11/22	Kennesaw State vs Missouri State	-6.5	54.0	W 41 - 34	O	Y
Sat 11/29	Kennesaw State at Liberty	-2.5	55.5	W 48 - 42	O	Y
Fri 12/5	Kennesaw State at Jacksonville State	-3.0	62.5	W 19 - 15	U	Y
Fri 12/19	Kennesaw State vs Western Michigan	+3.0	47.0	L 6 - 41	U	N

Total: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Played: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Future: Elite: , Good: , Avg , Bad , Poor
Wins: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:
Losses: Elite: , Good: , Avg: , Bad: , Poor:

Predictions for Kennesaw State's Schedule

Wake Forest's 2025 Schedule
Date	Matchup	Spread	Total	Result	O/U	Cover
Fri 8/29	Wake Forest vs Kennesaw State	-17.5	51.5	W 10 - 9	U	N
Sat 9/6	Wake Forest vs Western Carolina	-17.5	60.5	W 42 - 10	U	Y
Thu 9/11	Wake Forest vs NC State	+7.5	52.5	L 24 - 34	O	N
	BYE WEEK
Sat 9/27	Wake Forest vs Georgia Tech	+13.5	53.5	L 29 - 30	O	Y
Sat 10/4	Wake Forest at Virginia Tech	+4.5	51.5	W 30 - 23	O	Y
Sat 10/11	Wake Forest at Oregon State	-1.5	47.5	W 39 - 14	O	Y
	BYE WEEK
Sat 10/25	Wake Forest vs SMU	+6.5	53.5	W 13 - 12	U	Y
Sat 11/1	Wake Forest at Florida State	+12.5	50.5	L 7 - 42	U	N
Sat 11/8	Wake Forest at Virginia	+7.0	48.5	W 16 - 9	U	Y
Sat 11/15	Wake Forest vs North Carolina	-3.5	37.5	W 28 - 12	O	Y
Sat 11/22	Wake Forest vs Delaware	-17.5	49.5	W 52 - 14	O	Y
Sat 11/29	Wake Forest at Duke	+2.5	54.0	L 32 - 49	O	N
Fri 1/2	Wake Forest vs Mississippi State	+3.0	52.5	W 43 - 29	O	Y

Important Stats (2024)

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
KENN	#134 (-.04)	31% (133)	26.7	31% (134)	2.16 (134)	116	32% (129)	136	3.5 (103)	#93 (.21)	46% (114)	25.5	45% (91)	48% (122)	4.15 (102)	46.3	1.5	1
WAKE	#104 (.13)	42% (81)	28.1	43% (79)	3 (79)	131	41% (75)	240	3.2 (121)	#118 (.27)	51% (134)	22.1	48% (110)	53% (133)	4.12 (99)	45.9	1.8	1.4

Teams	Off Explosive.	Off Success	PPG	Rush Success	OL Yds Per Att	Rush YPG	Pass Success	Pass YPG	Off ScoreZone	Def Explosive.	Def Success	Def PPG	RunD Success	Pass D Success	Def ScoreZone	Penalty YPG	TO PG	Def TO PG
KENN		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0
WAKE		0%		0%	0	0	0%	0	0		0%		0%	0%	0	0	0	0

Overall Stats 2024

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
KENN Offense	12	26.7	25.7	31.4%	3.5	1.5	14	252	116	136	3.1	58%	41%	31%	32%	17%	-.04
WAKE Defense	12	22.1	17.3	50.7%	4.12	1.4	-	-	-	-	-	44%	56%	48%	53%	12%	.27

Teams	Games	PPG	PPG H/R	Success Rate	Pts PerOpp	TO	1stD PG	TotalYds PG	RushYds PG	PassYdsPG	RYPA	Run Rate	Pass Rate	Run Success	Pass Success	Havoc Rate	Total PPA
KENN Defense	12	25.5	29.3	46.2%	4.15	1	-	-	-	-	-	52%	48%	45%	48%	14%	.21
WAKE Offense	12	28.1	28.3	41.9%	3.2	1.8	22	372	131	240	3.6	48%	52%	43%	41%	16%	.13

Additional Stats 2024

Teams	Games	Possession Time	1st Downs PG	3rd Down %	4th Down %	Penalties PG	Penalty Yds PG	Off TO PG	Def TO PG	TFL PG	Sacks PG	D/ST TDs	Avg Field Pos
Kennesaw State	12	29:20	13.7	35%	39%	5.6	46.3	1.5	1	4.8	1.8	3	28.9
Wake Forest	12	28:51	21.8	39%	64%	5.1	45.9	1.8	1.4	4.9	1.7	2	29

Run Game Stats (2025)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
KENN Offense	12	58% (17)	31% (134)	37.4	115.5	3.1	13 (105)	-.05 (130)	2.16 (134)	74% (62)	12% (115)	1.01 (51)
WAKE Defense	12	44% (6)	48% (110)	-	-	-	-	.18 (101)	3.13 (88)	80% (112)	8% (110)	0.96 (58)

Teams	Games	Run Play Rate	Run Play Success	Rush Att PG	Rush Yds PG	Rush Yds Per Att	Rushing TDs	Run Pred Pts Added	OL Yds Per Att	3rd/4th & Short	Front 7 Havoc	Run Play Explosivness
KENN Defense	12	52% (85)	45% (91)	-	-	-	-	.16 (86)	3.04 (75)	73% (65)	9% (93)	1 (73)
WAKE Offense	12	48% (86)	43% (79)	36.4	131.4	3.6	18 (78)	.05 (106)	3 (79)	81% (18)	10% (70)	0.92 (88)

Pass Game Stats (2025)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
KENN Offense	12	41% (117)	32% (129)	13	24.8	136.3	5.5	10.5	6 (133)	14 (115)	- (133)	1.6 (52)	38% (131)	23% (130)	.16 (124)	5% (24)	2.1 (60)
WAKE Defense	12	56% (129)	53% (133)	-	-	-	-	-	-	11 (52)	.36 (116)	1.3 (2)	26% (130)	40% (132)	.41 (106)	4% (131)	1.8 (18)

Teams	Games	PassPlay Rate	PassPlay Success	Comp PG	Att PG	Yds PG	Yds PA	Yds PC	TDs	Ints	PassPlays PPA	PassPlays Expl	PassDowns Rate	PassDowns Succ Rate	PassDowns PPA	DB Havoc	PassDowns Expl
KENN Defense	12	48% (50)	48% (122)	-	-	-	-	-	-	4 (125)	.27 (86)	1.3 (8)	26% (131)	30% (51)	.31 (71)	5% (119)	2 (63)
WAKE Offense	12	52% (50)	41% (75)	20.7	33.6	240.1	7.2	11.6	17 (79)	13 (103)	.23 (83)	1.5 (115)	31% (63)	28% (102)	.15 (125)	7% (93)	1.9 (103)

Kennesaw State's Power Ratings
Kennesaw State's Power Rating: -6.30 #83
Kennesaw State's Offense Rating: 10.45 #85
Kennesaw State's Defense Rating: 16.75 #92
2025 Talent Rating: 358.00 #129
Blue Chip Ratio: 0% #101
Kennesaw State's 2025 Expected Record: 10.5 - 3.5
Kennesaw State's 2025 Overall SP+ Rating: -5.4 #89
Kennesaw State's Offense SP+ Rating: 26.4 #72
Kennesaw State's Defense SP+ Rating: 30.2 #93

Average Talent
Average Conference USA Talent Rating is 436
Average Power Five Talent: 877.82
Average FBS Talent: 715.76

Power Ratings Matchup
Kennesaw State: -6.30 Wake Forest: 9.215

SP+ Ratings Matchup
Kennesaw State: -5.4 Wake Forest: 5.7

Wake Forest's Power Ratings
Wake Forest's Power Rating: 9.215 #48
Wake Forest's Offense Rating: 11.98 #75
Wake Forest's Defense Rating: 4.25 #18
2025 Talent Rating: 866.00 #35
Blue Chip Ratio: 3 #65
Wake Forest's 2025 Expected Record: 8.6 - 4.4
Wake Forest's 2025 Overall SP+ Rating: 5.7 #52
Wake Forest's Offense SP+ Rating: 26.6 #70
Wake Forest's Defense SP+ Rating: 20.9 #34

Average Talent
Average ACC Talent Rating is 852.82
Average Power Five Talent: 877.82
Average FBS Talent: 715.76

Kennesaw State Scoring
Offense: 26.7 PPG
Offense on Road: 25.7
Defense: 25.5 PPG
Defense on Road: 29.3

Kennesaw State's 2025 Record
Record: 10 - 4
Record vs Spread: 9 - 5 - 0
Over/Under Record: 5 - 9
Record on Road: 4 - 3
Record vs Spread on Road: 4 - 3 - 0
Record as Dog vs Spread: 3 - 2 - 0
Record as Road Dog vs Spread: 1 - 1 - 0

Projected Score
Wake Forest 33
Kennesaw State 18

Projected Total Points: 51

Wake Forest Scoring
Offense: 28.1 PPG
Offense at Home: 28.3
Defense: 22.1 PPG
Defense at Home: 17.3

Wake Forest's 2025 Record
Record: 9 - 4
Record vs Spread: 9 - 4 - 0
Over/Under Record: 8 - 5
Record at home: 5 - 2
Record vs Spread at home: 5 - 2 - 0
Record as Fav vs Spread: 4 - 1 - 0
Record as Home Fav vs Spread: 3 - 1 - 0

Year	Date	Home	Score	Away	Score	Spread	Cover	Total	O/U
2025	08/29	Wake Forest	10	Kennesaw State	9	Wake Forest -17.5	Kennesaw State	51.5	Under

Team	Wins	Covers	O/U
Wake Forest	1	0	0 Overs
Kennesaw State	0	1	1 Unders

	Wins	Covers	Favs	Dogs
Home Teams	1 - 0	0 - 1	0 - 1	0 - 0
Road Teams	0 - 1	1 - 0	0 - 0	1 - 0

(#83) KENN at (#48) WAKE

Overall StatsOvr
CategoryCat	KENN	WAKE
Net PPPPPP	NR	NR
Power RatePwr	#83	#48
SP+SP+	#89	#52
Perf GradeGrade	#99	#63
OffenseOff	#82	#103
DefenseDef	#81	#28
Spec TeamsST	#109	#11
TalentTal	#129	#35
Blue ChipsBC%	#101	#65

Kennesaw State Notes(12/6) CUSA champs, cannot overstate job Mack did
(12/3) Owls have major injuries at LB into CUSA title game
(11/29) Beat Liberty in 2 OT. Owls will play Jax St in CUSA Title
(10/29) Even game vs UTEP, Off awful, Def & STs saved
(10/29) 300 yds and 3-14 on 3rd down vs UTEP? Still W
(10/22) HC Mack & staff incredible job. Current CUSA fav
(10/22) QB Amari Odom went down vs FIU, monitor
(10/21) RB Coleman Bennett has real speed, good weapon
(10/9) So QB Amari Odom taken QB1 job, been much better
(9/24) Run Def held Ark St to 92 yds, Pass Def was OK
(9/20) Huge W vs Ark St, QB Odom a revelation 300+
(8/16) QB D. Williams (GSU) will start, S Williams #2
Kennesaw State Injury Report

Wake Forest Notes(11/5) Ugly L @ FSU, Box score much closer, 11 pen/2 TO
(10/24) Robby Ashford ? again vs SMU, Purdie good vs OSU
(10/7) Great W over VT, Def held Hokies to 263 yds, 7-17 3rd
(9/11) Off fast start vs NC St, 2nd half went nowhere
(9/11) LBs are small, DL has to run fit well or busted
(9/11) Ashford 4 passes for 164, 32 others for 88 yds
(9/5) Def a bottom P5, Kenn St moved the ball
(8/30) Ashford decent #'s vs Kenn., but not an FBS QB
(8/24) QB1 Robby Ashford won starting job in camp
(7/31) HC Dickert good hire, but year 0, real bad
(7/30) OL 0/5 back. 5 portal starters added, all G5
(5/15) 89% of OL exp is from G5 portals
Wake Forest Injury Report

Kennesaw State on Offense

Balanced offense, Pass: 44%, Run: 53%
CategoryCat	KENN Off	WAKE Def
PPPOffPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	#82	#28
SuccessSuc	#133	#134
ExplosiveExp	#78	#12
PPAPPA	#134	#118
PowerPwr	#85	#18
SP+SP+	#72	#34
Pts POPPO	#103	#99
HavocHav	#84	#130

Kennesaw State Run Game

Balanced offense, Pass: 44%, Run: 53%
CategoryCat	KENN Off	WAKE Def
Run GameRun	#64	#53
Run SuccessRSuc	#134	#110
Run ExplRExp	#51	#58
PPAExp	#130	#101
Run BlockR Blk	#127	-
OL YdsOLY	#134	#88
Stuff RateStuff	#128	#98
TackleTak	-	#91

Kennesaw State Pass Game

Balanced offense, Pass: 44%, Run: 53%
CategoryCat	KENN Off	WAKE Def
Pass GamePass	#57	#23
Pass SuccessPSuc	#129	#133
Pass ExplPExl	#52	#2
PPAExp	#133	#116
Pass Rush/BlockP Blk	#93	#26
F7 HavocF7	#115	#110
DB HavocDB	#24	#131

Wake Forest on Offense

Balanced offense, Pass: 48%, Run: 50%
CategoryCat	WAKE Off	KENN Def
PPPDefPPP	NR	NR
Perf GradePerf	#103	#81
SuccessSuc	#81	#114
ExplosiveExp	#111	#23
PPAPPA	#104	#93
PowerPwr	#75	#92
SP+SP+	#70	#93
Pts POPPO	#121	#102
HavocHav	#82	#112

Wake Forest Run Game

Balanced offense, Pass: 48%, Run: 50%
CategoryCat	WAKE Off	KENN Def
Run GameRun	#99	#79
Run SuccessRSuc	#79	#91
Run ExplRExp	#88	#73
PPAExp	#106	#86
Run BlockR Blk	#114	-
OL YdsOLY	#79	#75
Stuff RateStuff	#55	#36
TackleTak	-	#92

Wake Forest Pass Game

Balanced offense, Pass: 48%, Run: 50%
CategoryCat	WAKE Off	KENN Def
Pass GamePass	#100	#72
Pass SuccessPSuc	#75	#122
Pass ExplPExl	#115	#8
PPAExp	#83	#86
Pass Block/RushP Blk	#16	#59
F7 HavocF7	#70	#93
DB HavocDB	#93	#119

Program Comparison
WAKE 5 Year Profile: Improving Top G5
'25 Profile: Up to Below Avg P4

KENN 5 Year Profile: Improving Poor G5
'25 Profile: Down to Average G5

Weather Forecast
Playing in BB&T Field
Conditions:
Temp: 0°

Rematch from Week 1
Wake Forest -17.5 (51.5)
Wake Forest won vs Kennesaw State this year (10-9)

Previous Matchups
Wake Forest beat Kennesaw State last year (10-9)

KENN's OC Mitch Militello (in his first season)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Amari Odom	189	291	65%	2594	19	8	8.9
Dexter Williams II (Tr)	67	125	54%	787	6	3	6.3

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Coleman Bennett (Tr)	157	764	4	4.9	30
Chase Belcher (Tr)	107	566	2	5.3	46
Amari Odom	120	347	7	2.9	24
Alexander Diggs	72	281	2	3.9	25

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Gabriel Benyard	60	949	9	15.8	54
Christian Moss	44	682	2	15.5	70
Coleman Bennett (Tr)	27	314	3	11.6	76
Clayton Coppock	28	311	5	11.1	55

View Kennesaw State's Full Roster

KENN's DC Marc Mattioli (in his first season)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Baron Hopson	139	10	1	2	6
Tywon Christopher	81	5	2	1	2
Isaac Paul	57	0	0	0	2
Milon Jones	53	3	0	1	1

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Elijah Hill	22	12	9	6	0
Tylon Dunlap	40	11	5	1	1
Donovan Westmoreland	35	6	4	1	1
Kody Jones (Tr)	29	7	2	4	3

Pass D	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Caleb Offord (Tr)	47	7	0	0	12
JeRico Washington Jr.	43	2	1	0	10
Baron Hopson	139	10	1	2	6

WAKE's OC Rob Ezell (in his first season)

Player Name	COMP	ATT	PCT	YDS	TD	INT	YPA
Robby Ashford (Tr)	191	322	59%	2472	12	8	7.7
Deshawn Purdie (Tr)	41	82	50%	618	6	3	7.5

Player Name	CAR	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Demond Claiborne	179	905	10	5.1	85
Robby Ashford (Tr)	130	554	9	4.3	43
Ty Clark III	75	323	3	4.3	15
Chris Barnes (Tr)	13	143	0	11.0	78

Player Name	REC	YDS	TD	YPC	LONG
Carlos Hernandez (Tr)	40	611	3	15.3	93
Chris Barnes (Tr)	39	547	3	14.0	70
Sterling Berkhalter (Tr)	30	416	2	13.9	51
Sawyer Racanelli (Tr)	18	315	1	17.5	62

View Wake Forest's Full Roster

WAKE's DC Scottie Hazelton (in his first season)

Top Def	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Nick Andersen	107	7	2	0	7
Davaughn Patterson	80	4	0	4	9
Dylan Hazen	73	9	0	5	3
Aiden Hall	73	8	0	2	3

Sacks	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Langston Hardy (Tr)	65	15	7	9	0
Nuer Gatkuoth (Tr)	39	9	6	8	0
Gabe Kirschke (Tr)	37	9	5	4	0
Dallas Afalava (Tr)	33	6	4	8	1

Pass D	Tack	TFL	SACKS	PRESS	PD
Davaughn Patterson	80	4	0	4	9
Karon Prunty (Tr)	40	2	1	1	8
Nick Andersen	107	7	2	0	7