KENNESAW, Ga. (Interstat) — Georgia State defeated Kennesaw State 31-17 on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, at Fred Stillwell Stadium in an NCAA Football Bowl Division game. The visiting Panthers improved to 2-0, while the Owls moved to 1-1. Georgia State used timely scoring, a pair of first-quarter field goals and two second-quarter touchdowns to build a lead, then held off a late Kennesaw State push. The Panthers never trailed after the opening quarter and answered each Owls scoring threat with a steady mix of rushing and special teams.

The first quarter was largely a battle of field goals. Samer Layous put Georgia State on the board with a 41-yard field goal. Kennesaw State answered when Daniel Kinney connected from 29 yards. Layous added a 27-yard field goal later in the quarter to give the Panthers another lead. The Owls’ defense kept the game close early, with Josh Anglin, Tay’vion Lawson, Isaac Paul, Marcus Patterson, Baron Hopson, Perry Fisher, Tywon Christopher, Karson Moss, Jeremy Greaves Jr., Cam Miller, Kody Jones and Alexander Ford among the players who contributed on that side of the ball. Kennesaw State’s front seven, led by Patterson, AJ Miller, Jaiden Crawford, Jaiden Grimes, Jackson Cooper and Ugonna Nwoha, tried to slow Georgia State’s rushing attack.

Georgia State created separation in the second quarter. Cameran Brown, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound quarterback from Byron, Georgia, rushed 18 yards for a touchdown. Wesley Campbell VI completed the two-point pass to extend the lead. Later in the quarter, L. McCrary Jr. scored on a 1-yard run, and Layous made the extra point. The Panthers went into halftime with momentum and a comfortable advantage. Georgia State’s offensive line, which included Alex Mullings, helped open holes for Brown, McCrary and D. Murray Jr. throughout the game.

Kennesaw State’s offense found some life in the third quarter. Rickie Collins, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound quarterback from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, broke free for a 12-yard touchdown run. Brayden Munroe completed the two-point pass to cut into the deficit. Georgia State responded with D. Murray Jr., who rushed 12 yards for a touchdown, and Layous added the extra point. The Panthers remained in control as the game moved to the fourth quarter. Kennesaw State’s receivers, including Navelle Dean, Javon Rogers, Zion Booker and Reed Jesiolowski, tried to help the Owls keep pace.

In the fourth quarter, Layous added a 43-yard field goal for Georgia State. Kennesaw State did not quit. Collins later connected with Jamari Harrold on a 3-yard touchdown pass, but the two-point pass failed. The Owls could not get any closer, and Georgia State finished off the 31-17 victory. The Panthers’ secondary, with Tyson McCrary, Toby Bolton, Tre Mittman, Deuce Lee and Deuce Walker, made enough plays late to preserve the win.

Kennesaw State’s Rickie Collins, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound quarterback from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, led the Owls with his 12-yard touchdown run and his 3-yard touchdown pass to Jamari Harrold. Navelle Dean, a 6-foot, 185-pound receiver from Columbus, Georgia, was among the offensive options. Josh Anglin, a 6-foot, 215-pound linebacker from Buford, Georgia, helped the defense. Tay’vion Lawson, a 6-foot-2, 199-pound defensive back from Jacksonville, Florida, also contributed. Isaac Paul, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound defensive back from Panama City, Florida, was part of the secondary. Marcus Patterson, a 6-foot-3, 255-pound defensive end from Crestview, Florida, worked on the line. Baron Hopson, a 6-foot-1, 220-pound linebacker from Leesburg, Georgia, was active. Perry Fisher, a 6-foot-3, 198-pound defensive back from Tallahassee, Florida, helped in coverage. Reed Jesiolowski, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound tight end from Flowood, Mississippi, was a target. Keon Davis and Jamari Harrold also contributed. Tywon Christopher, a 6-foot, 217-pound linebacker from Thomasville, Georgia, played on defense. Brayden Munroe, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound receiver from Parker, Colorado, completed the two-point pass. Javon Rogers, a 6-foot, 170-pound receiver from Montevallo, Alabama, and Zion Booker, a 5-foot-10, 185-pound receiver from Charlotte, North Carolina, were among the receivers. Triston Morgan and Boogie Woods III also appeared. Davis Bryson, a 5-foot-9, 190-pound quarterback from Woodbridge, Virginia, was available under center. Latrelle Murrell, a 5-foot-11, 215-pound running back from Douglasville, Georgia, contributed out of the backfield. Matt McKenzie, a 6-foot, 210-pound punter from Sydney, Canada, handled punting duties. AJ Miller, a 6-foot-3, 280-pound defensive lineman from Rock Hill, South Carolina, and Jaiden Crawford, a 6-foot-1, 290-pound defensive lineman from Stockton, California, worked up front. Jaiden Grimes, a 6-foot-2, 275-pound defensive lineman from Marietta, Georgia, also played on the line. Tony Williams Jr., a 6-foot-2, 190-pound defensive back from Miami, Florida, was in the secondary. Karson Moss, a 6-foot, 205-pound linebacker from Opelika, Alabama, contributed. Jordan Holmes also played. Preston Clemmer, a 6-foot-1, 194-pound quarterback from Alpharetta, Georgia, was listed. Jackson Cooper, a 6-foot-4, 310-pound defensive lineman from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Daniel Kinney, a 5-foot-11, 203-pound kicker from Knoxville, Tennessee, made the 29-yard field goal. Luke Evans, a 6-foot-2, 186-pound defensive back from Coral Springs, Florida, helped. Ugonna Nwoha, a 6-foot-3, 255-pound defensive lineman from Austell, Georgia, and Tyler Hallum, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound defensive back from Marietta, Georgia, were among the defensive players. Kai Russell, Jeremy Greaves Jr., a 6-foot-1, 232-pound linebacker from Clewiston, Florida, Cam Miller, a 6-foot-1, 206-pound defensive back from Memphis, Tennessee, Kody Jones, a 5-foot-11, 193-pound defensive back from Memphis, Tennessee, and Alexander Ford, a 5-foot-11, 196-pound defensive back from Nashville, Tennessee, rounded out the list.

Georgia State’s key performers included Grant Hollier, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound tight end from Woodstock, Georgia. Tyson McCrary, a 6-foot, 180-pound cornerback from Marietta, Georgia, helped the secondary. Toby Bolton, a 5-foot-10, 172-pound defensive back from Athens, Georgia, and Tre Mittman, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound safety from Durham, North Carolina, also contributed. Alex Mullings, a 6-foot-1, 290-pound tackle from Demopolis, Alabama, worked on the offensive line. Deuce Lee, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound defensive back from Silver Spring, Maryland, and Zach Stair also appeared. DJ Riles, a 6-foot, 197-pound quarterback from Columbus, Georgia, was among the options under center. Derrick Avery Jr., a 6-foot, 180-pound receiver from Alpharetta, Georgia, and Rodshaun Dorsey, a 6-foot-5, 190-pound receiver from Andrews, South Carolina, were listed among the receivers. Deuce Walker, a 5-foot-10, 188-pound defensive back from Salisbury, North Carolina, helped on defense. Brown and McCrary provided touchdowns on the ground, while Layous handled the kicking duties with three field goals and extra points. The Panthers’ defense, led by McCrary, Bolton, Mittman, Lee, Walker and Mullings, did enough to keep Kennesaw State from completing a comeback.

The win continued a strong start for Georgia State, which opened the season with a 59-10 home victory over North Carolina A&T on Sept. 4. Kennesaw State had opened its season with a 47-0 home win over West Georgia on Sept. 3. Georgia State will next travel to UCF on Sept. 19. Kennesaw State will visit Tennessee on Sept. 19. Georgia State then hosts Northern Illinois on Sept. 26, while Kennesaw State travels to Arkansas State on Sept. 26. Other upcoming Georgia State games include Old Dominion, James Madison, Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Appalachian State, Georgia Southern, Marshall and Louisiana. Kennesaw State’s future schedule includes Jacksonville State, Missouri State, Liberty, Middle Tennessee, Delaware, Sam Houston, Florida International and Western Kentucky.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Kennesaw State 57, Georgia State 27. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Kennesaw State with an 89.1 percent probability to win.