College Football's Most Surprising Turnarounds: Kennesaw State Leads the Pack
When the 2025 college football season kicked off, few expected Kennesaw State to rise from the ashes like a phoenix. The Owls' inaugural FBS season in 2024 had ended with a dismal 2-10 record, but Jerry Mack's coaching prowess quickly transformed the team into a force to be reckoned with. A 56-9 blowout win over Indiana followed by seven consecutive victories set the tone for an impressive turnaround, culminating in a 10-4 finish and an 8-1 conference mark.
The turning point came when quarterback Amari Odom took over under center, leading the team to an average of 26.7 points per game – nearly twice that of their 2024 counterpart. The transfer from Wofford proved instrumental in the Owls' resurgence, accumulating 26 touchdowns and setting a new benchmark for the program.
Mack's defensive acumen also played a crucial role in the turnaround, with Eddie Walls' arrival from FIU providing an instant impact as he racked up seven sacks. The Owls' improved performance on both sides of the ball led to an 8-1 conference mark, including a thrilling championship game victory over Missouri State.
Houston's remarkable transformation echoes Kennesaw State's success. Willie Fritz's Cougars went from a 4-8 record in 2024 to a 10-3 finish this season, fueled by quarterback Conner Weigman's emergence as one of the top dual-threat QBs in the nation. The team's offense, bolstered by portal acquisitions, scored at least 30 points eight times – more than double their 2024 total.
The Cougars' defensive surge, led by Eddie Walls and newcomer Dean Conners, became a key factor in their success. Houston's impressive turnaround marked the largest among power conference teams.
North Texas and San Diego State round out the top five, with both teams enjoying remarkable improvement from last season. The Owls went 12-2 this year, while the Aztecs posted a 9-4 record, with Sean Lewis' second season in San Diego yielding significant gains on both sides of the ball.
Southern Miss and Utah complete the list, each showing an impressive turnaround after underwhelming seasons in 2024. Southern Miss's Golden Eagles went from one-win to seven-win under Charles Huff, while Utah, led by Kyle Whittingham, rebounded from a five-game losing streak to finish with an 11-2 record.
These six teams exemplify the unpredictability of college football, where fortunes can shift in an instant. As the 2025 season unfolds, fans will be eager to see if these turnarounds prove sustainable or if new challenges await.
When the 2025 college football season kicked off, few expected Kennesaw State to rise from the ashes like a phoenix. The Owls' inaugural FBS season in 2024 had ended with a dismal 2-10 record, but Jerry Mack's coaching prowess quickly transformed the team into a force to be reckoned with. A 56-9 blowout win over Indiana followed by seven consecutive victories set the tone for an impressive turnaround, culminating in a 10-4 finish and an 8-1 conference mark.
The turning point came when quarterback Amari Odom took over under center, leading the team to an average of 26.7 points per game – nearly twice that of their 2024 counterpart. The transfer from Wofford proved instrumental in the Owls' resurgence, accumulating 26 touchdowns and setting a new benchmark for the program.
Mack's defensive acumen also played a crucial role in the turnaround, with Eddie Walls' arrival from FIU providing an instant impact as he racked up seven sacks. The Owls' improved performance on both sides of the ball led to an 8-1 conference mark, including a thrilling championship game victory over Missouri State.
Houston's remarkable transformation echoes Kennesaw State's success. Willie Fritz's Cougars went from a 4-8 record in 2024 to a 10-3 finish this season, fueled by quarterback Conner Weigman's emergence as one of the top dual-threat QBs in the nation. The team's offense, bolstered by portal acquisitions, scored at least 30 points eight times – more than double their 2024 total.
The Cougars' defensive surge, led by Eddie Walls and newcomer Dean Conners, became a key factor in their success. Houston's impressive turnaround marked the largest among power conference teams.
North Texas and San Diego State round out the top five, with both teams enjoying remarkable improvement from last season. The Owls went 12-2 this year, while the Aztecs posted a 9-4 record, with Sean Lewis' second season in San Diego yielding significant gains on both sides of the ball.
Southern Miss and Utah complete the list, each showing an impressive turnaround after underwhelming seasons in 2024. Southern Miss's Golden Eagles went from one-win to seven-win under Charles Huff, while Utah, led by Kyle Whittingham, rebounded from a five-game losing streak to finish with an 11-2 record.
These six teams exemplify the unpredictability of college football, where fortunes can shift in an instant. As the 2025 season unfolds, fans will be eager to see if these turnarounds prove sustainable or if new challenges await.
! The story of Kennesaw State's turnaround is wild - from 2-10 to 12-2 in one season, what a difference a coach like Jerry Mack and some key transfers can make 
. Amari Odom taking over under center was the spark that ignited their success 
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. These six teams prove that in college football, anything can happen 
. Will these turnarounds last or will new challenges come along to shake things up? We'll just have to wait and see 
. One thing's for sure though - it's going to be an exciting ride! 
I'm calling BS on this Kennesaw State turnaround story 
. 56-9 blowout win over Indiana? That's not a turnaround, that's a rout 
. And what about the rest of their record in 2024? Did they actually lose all those games or was it just a bad season? 
I need to see some actual stats and evidence to back up this claim 
. And what's with Eddie Walls' arrival from FIU being a "crucial" factor? How much did he cost the team in terms of contracts and recruiting? 
Give me some real numbers, not just hype 
.
i mean don't get me wrong, it's awesome that they found some hidden gems on their rosters but it just goes to show how much talent can be overlooked on transfer days 
and we saw some of the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen in my life 
! It was like the whole sky was on fire 
. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it 
. Anyway, back to college football... isn't it crazy how teams can turn around so quickly? Like, one year they're last place and the next they're conference champs 
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. Willie Fritz must be some kinda coaching genius or something 
. And don't even get me started on Southern Miss... they're still my favorite underdog team 
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. Who would've thought they'd go from 2-10 to 10-4? Coach Mack's got some serious magic 
. Amari Odom's transfer made all the difference, and that defense is straight fire 
. These power conference teams are keeping it interesting... Houston's transformation is no joke either 
. But what's up with these coaching hires? Mack and Fritz seem to have a system down pat 
. The real losers are the teams that can't compete with all these programs now...
- Willie Fritz must've worked some magic to turn that team around!
they went from a joke in 2024 to one of the top teams in the country this year! amari odom is literally the real deal, i mean have you seen his stats? 26 touchdowns and leading them to those blowout wins 
. and eddie walls coming from fiu was the best move ever, 7 sacks in like 2 games? 
. I'm hyped for next year's season, these ows are gonna take it all the way 
. It's always great to see teams finding ways to shut down opponents and come out on top.
and that Amari Odom transfer changed EVERYTHING 
or something. And let's give props to Amari Odom, the transfer who made all the difference – talk about having a "quarter-back" in your corner 
.
he found Conner Weigman, this guy is like a dual-threat magician 
and san diego state's sean lewis has also done some magic with their defense 
Willie Fritz really knows how to turn it around. These power conference teams are always so unpredictable, but it's awesome to see them make such drastic improvements. Can't wait to see what next season brings! 