It’s bowl season, which means we have a lot of football to watch between Dec. 13 and Jan. 19! Ohio State, Utah, Georgia Southern, Army, Texas A&M — and just about everyone in between — will take part in a total of 47 games that will ultimately conclude with the 2026 CFP National Championship.
NESN has you covered with previews for each and every game — with our next contest upping the stakes:
2025 Myrtle Beach Bowl presented by Engine
Matchup: Kennesaw State Owls vs. Western Michigan Broncos
Date: Friday, Dec. 19, 2025
Kickoff: 11 a.m. ET
Stadium: Brooks Stadium — Conway, S.C.
TV: ESPN
Game Overview
The Myrtle Beach Bowl is relatively new on the schedule, but it has built quite the reputation as it often pits conference champions against one another out of the Group of Five.
The Sun Belt Conference, Mid-Atlantic Conference and Conference USA essentially got together in order to give themselves a showcase game during bowl season, which is a great idea in theory but has often led to blowouts — including four-score victories for UTSA (2024) and Appalachian State (2020).
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Team Overviews
Kennesaw State Owls
Conference: Conference USA
Head Coach: Jerry Mack
Record: 10–3
Kennesaw State is coming off one of the most impressive single-season turnarounds in recent memory, following up their 2-10 finish in 2024 with an outstanding 10-3 finish in 2025 — just their second season in the FBS.
Jerry Mack, in just his first season as head coach, signed a six-year contract extension after leading the program to its first Conference USA title victory in 2025.
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Owls quarterback Amari Odom leads the conference in completion percentage (66.8%) and has accounted for 2,385 passing yards and 18 touchdowns, while wide receiver Gabriel Benyard leads the conference with 898 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
Western Michigan Broncos
Conference: Mid-Atlantic
Head Coach: Lance Taylor
Record: 9-4
Western Michigan is as good defensively as anyone in the FBS.
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Nadame Tucker leads the entire country in tackles for loss (21.0) and sacks (14.5), while James Camden, Sefa Saipaia, Tate Hallock, Jarvarius Sims, Micah Davis, Josh Franklin and Tucker all have more than 50 tackles and multiple tackles for loss/sacks on the season.
The Broncos have had 12 different players force turnovers in 2025, while the unit has given up just 18.2 points per game (14th of 136).
Players to Watch
Kennesaw State
QB Amari Odom
RB Coleman Bennett
WR Gabriel Benyard
DL Elijah Hill
DL Tylon Dunlap
LB Baron Hopson
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Western Michigan
QB Broc Lowry
RB Jalen Buckley
DL Nadame Tucker
DL Rodney McGraw
S Tate Hallock
Key Notes
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Western Michigan is undefeated when allowing fewer than 23 points (9-0).
Kennesaw State lost just one game (Jacksonville State) after back-to-back losses at the beginning of the season to Wake Forest and No. 1 Indiana.
Betting Lines
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DraftKings Sportsbook: Western Michigan -3.5 | O/U 48.5
FanDuel Sportsbook: Western Michigan -3.5 | O/U 48.5
BetMGM Sportsbook: Western Michigan -3.5 | O/U 48.5
The Pick: Under 48.5
Featured image via David Yeazell/Imagn Images
