2025 Kent State Golden Flashes football team

Last updated

2025 Kent State Golden Flashes football
Kent State K.svg
Conference Mid-American Conference
Record1–1 (0–0 MAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinator Clay Patterson (2nd season)
Offensive scheme Spread option
Defensive coordinatorCherokee Valeria (1st season)
Base defense 4–3
Home stadium Dix Stadium
Seasons
  2024
2026 
2025 Mid-American Conference football standings
Conf.Overall
Team W L  W L 
Bowling Green  0 0   1 1  
Buffalo  0 0   1 1  
Central Michigan  0 0   1 1  
Kent State  0 0   1 1  
Northern Illinois  0 0   1 1  
Ohio  0 0   1 1  
Toledo  0 0   1 1  
Akron*  0 0   0 2  
Ball State  0 0   0 2  
Eastern Michigan  0 0   0 2  
Miami (OH)  0 0   0 2  
UMass  0 0   0 2  
Western Michigan  0 0   0 2  
Championship: December 6, 2025
  • * Ineligible for postseason play due to low APR score
As of September 7, 2025

The 2025 Kent State Golden Flashes football team represents Kent State University in the Mid-American Conference during the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Golden Flashes are led by interim head coach Mark Carney. The Golden Flashes play home games at Dix Stadium, located in Kent, Ohio. [1] Carney, who was the team's offensive coordinator, was appointed interim head coach after Kenni Burns, who had led the team in 2023 and 2024, was fired, in April 2025. [2]

Contents

Preseason

The MAC Football Kickoff was held on Thursday, July 24, 2025 at the Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan from 9:00 am EDT to 1:30 pm EDT. [3]

Preseason polls

Coaches Poll

On July 24 the MAC announced the preseason coaches' poll. [4]

MAC Coaches poll
Predicted finishTeamVotes (1st place)
1Toledo135 (7)
2Miami131 (3)
3Ohio123 (3)
4Buffalo115
5Northern Illinois94
6Bowling Green81
7Western Michigan71
8Eastern Michigan68
9Central Michigan65
10Ball State41
T11Akron39
T11Massachusetts39
13Kent State12
Coaches poll (MAC Championship)
Predicted finishTeamVotes
1Toledo6
2Miami4
3Ohio3

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 3012:00 p.m. Merrimack * ESPN+ W 21–178,647
September 612:00 p.m.at No. 24 Texas Tech * TNT/TruTV L 14–6260,229
September 1312:00 p.m. Buffalo
  • Dix Stadium
  • Kent, OH
CBSSN
September 20at Florida State *
October 44:00 p.m.at Oklahoma * SECN
October 11 UMass
  • Dix Stadium
  • Kent, OH
October 18at Toledo
October 25 Bowling Green
November 57:00 p.m./8:00 p.m.at Ball State ESPN2/ESPNU
November 117:30 p.m.at Akron ESPN2/ESPNU
November 197:00 p.m. Central Michigan
  • Dix Stadium
  • Kent, OH
ESPN2/ESPNU/CBSSN
November 2812:00 p.m.at Northern Illinois ESPNU/CBSSN

[5] [6]

Game summaries

Merrimack (FCS)

Pregame win probability
84.8% [7]
Merrimack Warriors (FCS) (0–0) at Kent State Golden Flashes (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Warriors (FCS)0331117
Golden Flashes077721

at Dix StadiumKent, Ohio

  • Date: August 30
  • Game time: 12:00 PM EDT
  • Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 64 °F (18 °C) • Wind: NE at 8 miles per hour (13 km/h)
  • Game attendance: 8,647
  • Referee: Chris La Mange
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Anthony Lima (play-by-play) and Je'Rod Cherry (analyst)
Game information
First Quarter
  • No scoring plays
Second Quarter
  • (3:24) KENT – Cade Wolford 30-yard pass from C. J. Montes, Will Hryszko kick (Drive: 6 plays, 76 yards, 2:46; KENT 7-0)
  • (0:01) MRMK – Carlton Thai 26-yard field goal (Drive: 8 Plays, 80 yards, 0:56; KENT 7-3)
Third Quarter
  • (9:56) KENT – Cade Wolford 79-yard pass from Dru DeShields, Will Hryszko kick (Drive: 2 plays, 80 yards, 0:45; KENT 14-3)
  • (2:26) MRMK – Carlton Thai 37-yard field goal (Drive: 14 plays, 55 yards, 7:30; KENT 14-6)
Fourth Quarter
  • (8:38) MRMK – Seth Sweitzer 36-yard pass from Ayden Pereira, Cade Callahan Pass (Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 2:06; Tied 14-14)
  • (5:40) MRMK – Carlton Thai 45-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 6 yards, 2:06; MRMK 17-14)
  • (5:28) KENT – Da'Realyst Clark 100-yard kickoff return, Will Hryszko kick (0:12; KENT 21-17)
StatisticsMRMKKENT
First downs1715
Total yards340305
Rushing yards16496
Passing yards176209
Passing: Comp–Att–Int15-3112-19
Time of possession31:3128:29
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
MerrimackPassingAyden Pereira15/31, 176 yards, 1 TD
RushingAyden Pereira19 carries, 103 yards
ReceivingSeth Sweitzer3 receptions, 59 yards, 1 TD
Kent StatePassingDru DeShields6/10, 118 yards, 1 TD
RushingGavin Garcia15 carries, 49 yards
ReceivingCade Wolford2 receptions, 109 yards, 2 TDs

at No. 24 Texas Tech

Pregame lineOver/underPregame win probability
Texas Tech -48.560.51.8%
Kent State Golden Flashes (1–0) at No. 24 Texas Tech Red Raiders (1–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Golden Flashes----0
No. 24 Red Raiders----0

at Jones AT&T StadiumLubbock, Texas

StatisticsKENTTTU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Kent StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
Texas TechPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Buffalo

Buffalo Bulls (0–0) vs. Kent State Golden Flashes (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bulls----0
Golden Flashes----0

at Dix Stadium • Kent, Ohio

  • Date: September 13
  • Game time: 12:00 PM EDT
  • TV: CBSSN
StatisticsUBKENT
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
BuffaloPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Kent StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Florida State

Kent State Golden Flashes (0–0) vs. Florida State Seminoles (2–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Golden Flashes----0
Seminoles----0

at Doak Campbell StadiumTallahassee, Florida

  • Date: September 20
StatisticsKENTFSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Kent StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
Florida StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Oklahoma

Kent State Golden Flashes (0–0) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Golden Flashes----0
Sooners----0

at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial StadiumNorman, Oklahoma

  • Date: October 4
  • Game time: 3:00 PM CDT
  • TV: SECN
StatisticsKENTOU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Kent StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
OklahomaPassing
Rushing
Receiving

UMass

UMass Minutemen (0–0) vs. Kent State Golden Flashes (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Minutemen----0
Golden Flashes----0

at Dix Stadium • Kent, Ohio

  • Date: October 11
StatisticsMASSKENT
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
UMassPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Kent StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Toledo

Kent State Golden Flashes (0–0) vs. Toledo Rockets (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Golden Flashes----0
Rockets----0

at Glass BowlToledo, Ohio

  • Date: October 18
StatisticsKENTTOL
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Kent StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
ToledoPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Bowling Green (Anniversary Award)

Bowling Green Falcons (0–0) vs. Kent State Golden Flashes (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons----0
Golden Flashes----0

at Dix Stadium • Kent, Ohio

  • Date: October 25
StatisticsBGSUKENT
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Bowling GreenPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Kent StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Ball State

Kent State Golden Flashes (0–0) vs. Ball State Cardinals (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Golden Flashes----0
Cardinals----0

at Scheumann StadiumMuncie, Indiana

  • Date: November 5
StatisticsKENTBALL
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Kent StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
Ball StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Akron (Wagon Wheel)

Kent State Golden Flashes (0–0) vs. Akron Zips (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Golden Flashes----0
Zips----0

at InfoCision Stadium–Summa FieldAkron, Ohio

  • Date: November 11
  • Game time: 7:30 PM EST
StatisticsKENTAKR
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Kent StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
AkronPassing
Rushing
Receiving

Central Michigan

Central Michigan Chippewas (0–0) vs. Kent State Golden Flashes (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Chippewas----0
Golden Flashes----0

at Dix Stadium • Kent, Ohio

  • Date: November 19
  • Game time: 7:00 PM EST
StatisticsCMUKENT
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Central MichiganPassing
Rushing
Receiving
Kent StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving

at Northern Illinois

Kent State Golden Flashes (0–0) vs. Northern Illinois Huskies (0–0) – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Golden Flashes----0
Huskies----0

at Huskie StadiumDeKalb, Illinois

  • Date: November 28
  • Game time: 11:00 AM CST
StatisticsKENTNIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Kent StatePassing
Rushing
Receiving
Northern IllinoisPassing
Rushing
Receiving

References

  1. "2025 Football Coaching Staff". Kent State Golden Flashes. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  2. Thai, Xuan (April 11, 2025). "Kent State fires coach Kenni Burns after 0-12 season". ESPN . Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  3. "2025 Division I FBS Media Days". www.sportswriters.net. FWAA. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
  4. "Toledo Selected as Favorite in Head Coaches Preseason Football Poll". getsomemaction.com. Mid-American Conference. July 24, 2025. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
  5. "2025 Kent State Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  6. "2025 Football Schedule". Kent State Golden Flashes. Retrieved March 14, 2025.
  7. "Clark's 100-yard kickoff return ends Kent State's 21-game losing streak, 21-17 over Merrimack". ESPN. August 30, 2025. Retrieved September 3, 2025.