It doesn’t get much better than a game between two conference champions in the postseason.
That’s what the Myrtle Beach Bowl will provide on Friday morning, as the Western Michigan Broncos (9-4, 9-1 MAC) get set to take on the Kennesaw State Owls (10-3, 9-1 Conference USA) in Conway, South Carolina for the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Game Notes
- Time and date: Saturday, December 19th, 2025 at 11 p.m. Eastern time
- Location: Springs Brooks Stadium in Comway, South Carolina
- TV network options: The game will be streamed exclusively on ESPN; a valid subscription is required for viewing. Matt Schumacker (play-by-play) and Dustin Fox (color) will provide commentary, with Marilyn Payne on the sideline.
- Streaming options: The game will be available for streaming on the ESPN App or on applicable cable/satellite services. A valid subscription is required for viewing on either platform. Other streaming carriers include Sling, DirecTV Stream, fuboTV, Hulu Live TV, or YouTube TV.
- Radio options: Robin Hook (play-by-play) and John Creek (color) will provide the WMU call for Jack 106.5 FM. Nolan Alexander (play-by-play) and Caleb O’Neal (color) will provide the KSU call for the Owl Network.
- Gambling considerations: Western is listed as a 3.5-point road favorite, with an over/under 47.5, per FanDuel.
- All-Time Series: First-ever meeting
About the Western Michigan Broncos
The Broncos were the MAC’s premier team in 2025, winning nine of their last 10 games of the 2025 season after an 0-3 start to eventually win the conference
championship.
Western was able to accomplish the feat in part by riding one of the conference’s best rushing offenses to victory. Over 13 games, WMU averaged 196.6 rushing yards (including 4.4 yards per carry) and scored 29 touchdowns on the ground, while also holding on the ball for a conference-best average of over 32 minutes.
The offensive effort was led by first-team all-MAC quarterback Broc Lowry, whose 14 rushing touchdowns were the most by any ballcarrier in the MAC in 2025— an impressive accomplishment considering he split starting duties with Brady Jones in the first three games of the campaign. Lowry finished with 940 net rushing yards on 197 carries, while also passing for 1,683 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions at a 63 percent rate.
Jalen Buckley, the former MAC Freshman of the Year, balled out in the MAC title game, showing his pedigree with 19 carries for 193 yards and two touchdowns to help secure a dominant victory. His 2025 resurgence went a long way in WMU’s climb to the top; he enters this week’s game with 829 yards and eight touchdowns. On the receiving end, Tailique Williams (35 receptions, 478 yards, two touchdowns) and Aveion Chenault (22 rec., 271 yards, two touchdowns) have shown up as emergent talents, while Baylin Brooks (14.24 yards per reception) has been the team’s main deep threat. The tight end duo of Blake Bosma and Michael Brescia will likely see targets in the redzone.
WMU’s defensive growth was the main driver of their title run, allowing only 284.8 total average offensive yards and 14.5 average points per game to MAC opponents, second only to Toledo’s unit, which was one of the Top 5 in the NCAA.
All-American EDGE rusher Nadame Tucker, the MAC’s Player of the Year, was the catalyst for an aggressive front seven, collecting 55 tackles, 21 tackles-for-loss, 14.5 sacks, sixteen QB pressures and four forced fumbles to complete one of the most productive seasons in conference history.
Linebacker James Camden leads the team in tackles (74), while all-MAC defensive backs Tate Hallock and Joshua Franklin are some of the defense’s better shutdown players. Hallock had a pick-six against Michigan State in non-conference play and finished third on the team in tackles (70.) Franklin is an excellent inside-out corner with a team-leading nine pass break-ups to go with 50 tackles, 4.5 TFLs and a sack.
About the Kennesaw State Owls
Prospects looked grim after Kennesaw State, a former FCS contender, fired long-time head coach Brian Bohannon after a 1-8 start to the program’s inaugural FBS campaign in 2024.
Instead, Kennesaw State has had a storybook season under first-season head coach Jerry Mack, formerly of the HBCU level at North Carolina Central, and improbably won the Conference USA title game against Jacksonville State— after winning eight of their last nine games to qualify— to finish 10-3 overall on the season.
The Owls were able to find success despite being a relatively average unit. To wit, KSU was fourth in CUSA in scoring offense and third in scoring defense despite being fifth in total offense and ninth in total defense in the conference overall. Of intrigue, when taking into account only conference games, KSU was third in total offense (436.8 yards per game) but fell to 11th in the league in total defense (422.9 yards allowed.)
Quarterback Amari Odom has been key to the Owls’ success on offense since transferring in from Wofford. Odom, who was recently named first-team all-CUSA, sits at 2,385 yards, 18 touchdowns and six interceptions on 67 percent completion while also contributing seven touchdowns rushing on 365 yards. He operates the offense behind three all-CUSA linemen.
His primary target in the pass game is fellow first-team CUSA receiver Gabriel Benyard, who led the team in receptions (55), yards (898) and touchdowns (nine.) Hometown kid Christian Moss (43 rec., 677 yards, three touchodwns) is a good complimentary option, while speedster Clayton Coppock is second on the team in scoring receptions (five) on 26 catches.
Coleman Bennett (148 carries, 716 yards, four touchdowns) and Chase Belcher (91 carries, 418 yards, two touchdowns) split the rushing load alongside Odom.
The Owls were the CUSA leaders in sacks collected (31), and were certainly willing to risk big plays if it meant producing havoc in the defensive backfield. It had mixed results, as KSU finished fifth in CUSA in passing defense but ninth in rushing defense overall.
Freshman defensive lineman Elijah Hill anchored the line of scrimmage, with the first-team all-CUSA end accumulating 11.5 TFLs and nine sacks on 20 total tackles. Linebacker Baron Hopson— a fellow first-team all-conference selection— led the team with 126 stops (12th in NCAA) to go with 8.5 TFLs, an interception, six QB pressures and a forced fumble.
The Owls possess a pair of shutdown coverage defensive backs in JeRico Washington Jr. and Caleb Offord, who have combined for 23 of the team’s 53 pass break-ups. Washington swatted down 11 passes to go with 47 tackles, while Offord— an all-league selection— notched 12 PBUs, seven TFLs and two forced fumbles.
Final Thoughts
It’s always intriguing to get a best vs. best matchup. The MAC has traditionally had strong matchups with teams based in the South, typically against members of the Sun Belt Conference. As conference champions, ESPN had every reason to want to pit them against one another in an early bowl window to highlight some of the best teams of the Group of Five level who aren’t in the College Football Playoff.
These teams present pretty interesting clashes independent of television ratings.
KSU had the least amount of time of possession in CUSA at just over 28 minutes, with their top five receivers averaging 10+ yards a reception. WMU, meanwhile, runs at a nearly 70 percent clip and prominently feature power running concepts to milk as much clock as possible, sitting #1 in the MAC in time of possession.
The team which establishes the defensive advantage early should be able to control the game. Both offenses rely on rhythm and timing, so knocking them off-schedule should proffer opportunity for punishment down the line.
The game is set to kick off on Friday, Dec. 19th at 11 a.m. Eastern time, with ESPN set to broadcast. A valid cable or ESPN Unlimited subscription is required for viewing.
