KENNESAW, Ga. – Davis Bryson threw for a touchdown, Michael Benefield and Qua Ashley each rushed for a score, and Kennesaw State topped previously undefeated Liberty 27-24 on Wednesday night to secure the program’s first FBS victory.

Kennesaw State (1-6, 1-2 Conference USA) also earned its first win against a Division I team since FCS member UT Martin on Nov. 5, 2022. The Owls earned lower-level wins over Tusculum, Lincoln (Calif.) . ) and Virginia Lynchburg last season. They entered Wednesday 0-10 against FBS teams in school history.

Liberty (5-1, 3-1), which was one of eleven undefeated teams in the FBS, had the longest active regular season winning streak at seventeen.

According to ESPN Research, it was the sixth time a team 0-5 or worse defeated a team 5-0 or better in the AP poll era. The last time this happened was in 2001, when North Texas rocked Middle Tennessee.

Kennesaw State had a 24-17 lead when Liberty decided to go for it on fourth-and-6 with eight minutes left. The Flames were flagged for a false start to get out of field goal range, and the Owls then pressured Kaidon Salter into an out-of-bounds throw to get the ball back.

Bryson then completed passes of 15 yards to Christian Moss and 25 yards to Blake Bohannon to reach Liberty territory. Austin Welch capped the drive with his 11th straight field goal, from 42 yards out, for a 27-17 lead with 4:13 to go.

Liberty moved quickly down the field and finished with a 17-yard scoring throw from Salter to Elijah Canion with 1:49 remaining to get within three points.

Kennesaw State’s Preston Daniels recovered the ensuing onside kick, but the Owls were unable to get a first down, and Liberty got the ball back with six seconds left at the 35. Salter’s throw went out of bounds and the fans ran off the field – but the officials put a second back on the clock. After the fans returned to the stands, Liberty made a lateral play to end it.

Salter threw for 206 yards and three touchdowns.

This report used information from The Associated Press.