Surging foes Western Michigan, Kennesaw State set for Myrtle Beach Bowl

Kennesaw State and Western Michigan were somewhat surprising winners of their respective conferences this season.

Western Michigan (9-4) had a breakthrough in Lance Taylor's third season as coach, beating Miami (Ohio) 23-13 for the Mid-American Conference title Dec. 6 after being picked seventh out of 13 teams in the league. It was the Broncos' first conference championship since PJ Fleck's final season in 2016.

Kennesaw State (10-3) was an even bigger surprise. The Owls won just two games in their first FBS season in 2024 and fired Brian Bohannon, who had been the program's only head coach.

Just four of 24 voters in Conference USA's preseason bowl confidence index thought Kennesaw State would even make a bowl in Jerry Mack's first season as coach. The Owls proved that wrong when they went 7-1 in conference play and won 19-15 at Jacksonville State in the Conference USA championship game on Dec. 5.

These two overachievers will meet Friday in the Myrtle Beach Bowl in Conway, S.C., in a battle of Group of Five conference champions. Each team is on a winning streak -- Western Michigan at five games and Kennesaw State at three.

"Any time you can take two G5 conference champions, I think it makes for great TV, I think it makes for a great storyline, I think it makes for a great bowl matchup," Taylor said. "I'm glad to see it. I hope we do more of this in the future."

This will be Kennesaw State's first bowl game, but the team has a history of postseason appearances despite this being just the program's 11th season. The Owls made four straight FCS Playoff appearances from 2017-20, including quarterfinal appearances in 2017 and 2018.

The Broncos, meanwhile, are in a bowl for the second straight season and the fifth time in nine years since Fleck left to take the Minnesota job. They've never played in the Myrtle Beach Bowl and have lost four of their last five bowl games entering this matchup.

Kennesaw State's offense is anchored by its passing game.

Sophomore quarterback Amari Odom, a Wofford transfer, has thrown for 2,385 yards and 18 touchdowns, with six interceptions. He also has 376 rushing yards and seven scores. In his last three games, he's thrown for 847 yards with 10 touchdowns and no picks.

"Protecting the football," Mack said of what led to Odom finishing the regular season strong. " ... His ability to protect the football is what transforms him, it transforms our team into the best version of ourselves."

Odom's favorite target, Gabriel Benyard, has had a breakout senior season in which he led CUSA with 898 receiving yards and was tied for the conference lead with nine touchdown catches.

Western Michigan's offense, conversely, has been led by its ground attack. The Broncos ranked 11th in the MAC in passing offense (139.9 yards per game) but second in rushing offense (196.6).

Quarterback Broc Lowry, who had just 1,683 passing yards and seven passing TDs, is tied for the MAC lead with 14 rushing touchdowns and ranks fifth in rushing yards (940). He's supplemented by Jalen Buckley, who had 829 yards and eight rushing TDs this season.

However, the Broncos' defense is the real reason they won the MAC, ranking second in the conference in average yards (299.9) and points allowed (18.2) per game.

--Field Level Media