2025 Kent State Golden Flashes football team

2025 Kent State Golden Flashes football
Conference	Mid-American Conference
Record	1–3 (0–1 MAC)
Head coach	Mark Carney (interim; 1st season)
Offensive coordinator	Clay Patterson (2nd season)
Offensive scheme	Spread option
Defensive coordinator	Cherokee Valeria (1st season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Dix Stadium
Seasons ←  2024 2026 →

2025 Mid-American Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Buffalo		1	–	0					2	–	2
Western Michigan		1	–	0					1	–	3
Bowling Green		0	–	0					2	–	2
Central Michigan		0	–	0					2	–	2
Ohio		0	–	0					2	–	2
Northern Illinois		0	–	0					1	–	2
Akron*		0	–	0					1	–	3
Ball State		0	–	0					1	–	3
Eastern Michigan		0	–	0					1	–	3
Miami (OH)		0	–	0					0	–	3
UMass		0	–	0					0	–	3
Toledo		0	–	1					2	–	2
Kent State		0	–	1					1	–	3
Championship: December 6, 2025
* Ineligible for postseason play due to low APR score As of September 26, 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]

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 finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	Toledo	135 (7)
2	Miami	131 (3)
3	Ohio	123 (3)
4	Buffalo	115
5	Northern Illinois	94
6	Bowling Green	81
7	Western Michigan	71
8	Eastern Michigan	68
9	Central Michigan	65
10	Ball State	41
T11	Akron	39
T11	Massachusetts	39
13	Kent State	12

Coaches poll (MAC Championship)
Predicted finish	Team	Votes
1	Toledo	6
2	Miami	4
3	Ohio	3

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 30	12:00 p.m.	Merrimack *	Dix Stadium Kent, OH	ESPN+	W 21–17	8,647
September 6	12:00 p.m.	at No. 24 Texas Tech *	Jones AT&T Stadium Lubbock, TX	TNT/TruTV	L 14–62	60,229
September 13	12:00 p.m.	Buffalo	Dix Stadium Kent, OH	CBSSN	L 28–31	11,833
September 20	3:30 p.m.	at No. 7 Florida State *	Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL	ACCN	L 10–66	67,277
October 4	4:00 p.m.	at Oklahoma *	Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium Norman, OK	SECN
October 11		UMass	Dix Stadium Kent, OH
October 18		at Toledo	Glass Bowl Toledo, OH
October 25		Bowling Green	Dix Stadium Kent, OH (Anniversary Award)
November 5	7:00 p.m./8:00 p.m.	at Ball State	Scheumann Stadium Muncie, IN	ESPN2/ESPNU
November 11	7:30 p.m.	at Akron	InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field Akron, OH (Wagon Wheel)	ESPN2/ESPNU
November 19	7:00 p.m.	Central Michigan	Dix Stadium Kent, OH	ESPN2/ESPNU/CBSSN
November 28	12:00 p.m.	at Northern Illinois	Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL	ESPNU/CBSSN
*Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings released prior to game All times are in Eastern time

^{[5] [6]}

Game summaries

Merrimack (FCS)

See also: 2025 Merrimack Warriors football team

Pregame win probability
84.8% [7]

Merrimack Warriors (FCS) (0–0) at Kent State Golden Flashes (0–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Warriors (FCS)	0	3	3	11	17
Golden Flashes	0	7	7	7	21

at Dix Stadium • Kent, 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)

Statistics	MRMK	KENT
First downs	17	15
Total yards	340	305
Rushing yards	164	96
Passing yards	176	209
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	15-31	12-19
Time of possession	31:31	28:29

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Merrimack	Passing	Ayden Pereira	15/31, 176 yards, 1 TD
	Rushing	Ayden Pereira	19 carries, 103 yards
	Receiving	Seth Sweitzer	3 receptions, 59 yards, 1 TD
Kent State	Passing	Dru DeShields	6/10, 118 yards, 1 TD
	Rushing	Gavin Garcia	15 carries, 49 yards
	Receiving	Cade Wolford	2 receptions, 109 yards, 2 TDs

at No. 24 Texas Tech

See also: 2025 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team

Pregame line	Over/under	Pregame win probability
Texas Tech -48.5	60.5	1.8%

Kent State Golden Flashes (1–0) at No. 24 Texas Tech Red Raiders (1–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Flashes	0	0	0	14	14
No. 24 Red Raiders	21	27	7	7	62

at Jones AT&T Stadium • Lubbock, Texas

• Date: September 6
• Game time: 11:00 AM CDT
• Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 58 °F (14 °C)
• Game attendance: 60,229
• Referee: Tim Rich
• TV announcers (TNT): J.B. Long (play-by-play), Mike Golic Jr. (analyst), and Allie LaForce (sideline reporter)

Game information

First Quarter TTU – Reggie Virgil 35-yard pass from Behren Morton (Stone Harrington kick), 11:53. Red Raiders 7–0. Drive: 8 plays, 78 yards, 3:07. TTU – Cameron Dickey 2-yard run (Upton Bellenfant kick), 9:57. Red Raiders 14–0. Drive: 3 plays, 12 yards, 1:00. TTU – Coy Eakin 42-yard pass from Behren Morton (Stone Harrington kick), 6:31. Red Raiders 21–0. Drive: 4 plays, 76 yards, 0:58. Second Quarter TTU – Upton Bellenfant 23-yard field goal, 14:19. Red Raiders 24–0. Drive: 8 plays, 32 yards, 1:42. TTU – Cameron Dickey 1-yard run (Stone Harrington kick), 10:24. Red Raiders 31–0. Drive: 7 plays, 46 yards, 2:51. TTU – Skyler Gill-Howard 55-yard interception return (Upton Bellenfant kick), 8:35. Red Raiders 38–0. TTU – Stone Harrington 47-yard field goal, 1:48. Red Raiders 41–0. Drive: 9 plays, 16 yards, 3:10. TTU – Reggie Virgil 3-yard pass from Behren Morton (Upton Bellenfant kick), 0:12. Red Raiders 48–0. Drive: 4 plays, 60 yards, 0:31. Third Quarter TTU – Bryson Jones 38-yard pass from Will Hammond (Stone Harrington kick), 5:06. Red Raiders 55–0. Drive: 4 plays, 57 yards, 1:16. Fourth Quarter KENT – Dru DeShields 10-yard run (Will Hryszko kick), 12:11. Red Raiders 55–7. Drive: 7 plays, 83 yards, 3:43. KENT – Cade Wolford 16-yard pass from Dru DeShields (Will Hryszko kick), 10:20. Red Raiders 55–14. Drive: 3 plays, 31 yards, 1:27. TTU – Will Hammond 13-yard run (Upton Bellenfant kick), 6:49. Red Raiders 62–14. Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:31.

Statistics	KENT	TTU
First downs	10	27
Total yards	229	601
Rushing yards	64	230
Passing yards	165	371
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	11–25–1	27–38–0
Time of possession	29:57	30:03

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Kent State	Passing	Dru DeShields	7/15, 116 yards, TD
	Rushing	Gavin Garcia	12 carries, 25 yards
	Receiving	Ardell Banks	2 receptions, 49 yards
Texas Tech	Passing	Behren Morton	18/26, 258 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	Adam Hill	16 carries, 127 yards
	Receiving	Coy Eakin	3 receptions, 59 yards, TD

Buffalo

See also: 2025 Buffalo Bulls football team

Pregame line	Over/under	Pregame win probability
Buffalo -24.5	47.5	13.7%

Buffalo Bulls (1–1) at Kent State Golden Flashes (1–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulls	0	10	14	7	31
Golden Flashes	7	7	7	7	28

at Dix Stadium • Kent, Ohio

• Date: September 13
• Game time: 12:00 PM EDT
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 76 °F (24 °C) • Wind: N at 1 mile per hour (1.6 km/h)
• Game attendance: 11,833
• Referee: Chris La Mange
• TV announcers (CBSSN): Jordan Kent (play-by-play) and Randy Cross (analyst)

Game information

First Quarter (8:54) KENT – Maurice Stephens 31-yard run, Will Hryszko kick (Drive: 3 plays, 61 yards, 1:29; KENT 7-0) Second Quarter (2:33) KENT – Cade Wolford 41-yard pass from Dru DeShields, Will Hryszko kick (Drive: 4 Plays, 71 yards, 1:49; KENT 14-0) (1:12) BUFF – Nik McMillan 38-yard pass from Ta'Quan Roberson, Jack Howes kick (Drive: 7 plays, 92 yards, 1:18; KENT 14-7) (0:00) BUFF – Jack Howes 28-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 50 yards, 0:49; KENT 14-10) Third Quarter (9:28) BUFF – Chance Morrow 21-yard pass from Ta'Quan Roberson, Jack Howes kick (Drive: 4 plays, 51 yards, 1:01; BUFF 17-14) (5:18) BUFF – Al-Jay Henderson 38-yard run, Jack Howes kick (Drive: 6 plays, 85 yards, 2:16; BUFF 24-14) (2:58) KENT – Terik Mulder 50-yard pass from Dru DeShields, Will Hryszko kick (Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 2:17; BUFF 24-21) Fourth Quarter (2:38) KENT – Dru DeShields 3-yard run, Will Hryszko kick (Drive: 21 plays, 93 yards, 12:15; KENT 28-24) (1:03) BUFF – Victor Snow 22-yard pass from Ta'Quan Roberson, Jack Howes kick (Drive: 8 plays, 76 yards, 1:29; BUFF 31-28)

Statistics	BUFF	KENT
First downs	23	20
Total yards	457	423
Rushing yards	139	144
Passing yards	318	279
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	28–40–1	22-33–0
Time of possession	22:38	37:22

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Buffalo	Passing	Ta'Quan Roberson	28/40, 318 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
	Rushing	Al-Jay Henderson	15 carries, 75 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Nik McMillan	7 receptions, 117 yards, 1 TD
Kent State	Passing	Dru DeShields	22/33, 279 yards, 2 TDs
	Rushing	Gavin Garcia	18 carries, 61 yards
	Receiving	Cade Wolford	3 receptions, 95 yards, 1 TD

at No. 7 Florida State

See also: 2025 Florida State Seminoles football team

Kent State Golden Flashes (1–2) vs. No. 7 Florida State Seminoles (2–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Flashes	7	0	0	3	10
No. 7 Seminoles	35	10	14	7	66

at Doak Campbell Stadium • Tallahassee, Florida

• Date: September 20
• Game time: 3:30 PM EDT
• TV announcers (ACCN): Jorge Sedano (play-by-play), Rodney McLeod (analyst), and Victoria Arlen (sideline reporter)

Statistics	KENT	FSU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Kent State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Florida State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Oklahoma

See also: 2025 Oklahoma Sooners football team

Kent State Golden Flashes (1–3) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (4–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Flashes	-	-	-	-	0
Sooners	-	-	-	-	0

at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium • Norman, Oklahoma

• Date: October 4
• Game time: 3:00 PM CDT
• TV: SECN

Statistics	KENT	OU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Kent State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Oklahoma	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

UMass

See also: 2025 UMass Minutemen football team

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Minutemen	-	-	-	-	0
Golden Flashes	-	-	-	-	0

at Dix Stadium • Kent, Ohio

• Date: October 11

Statistics	MASS	KENT
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UMass	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Kent State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Toledo

See also: 2025 Toledo Rockets football team

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Flashes	-	-	-	-	0
Rockets	-	-	-	-	0

at Glass Bowl • Toledo, Ohio

• Date: October 18

Statistics	KENT	TOL
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Kent State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Toledo	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Bowling Green (Anniversary Award)

See also: 2025 Bowling Green Falcons football team and Anniversary Award

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Falcons	-	-	-	-	0
Golden Flashes	-	-	-	-	0

at Dix Stadium • Kent, Ohio

• Date: October 25

Statistics	BGSU	KENT
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Bowling Green	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Kent State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Ball State

See also: 2025 Ball State Cardinals football team

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Flashes	-	-	-	-	0
Cardinals	-	-	-	-	0

at Scheumann Stadium • Muncie, Indiana

• Date: November 5

Statistics	KENT	BALL
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Kent State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Ball State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Akron (Wagon Wheel)

See also: 2025 Akron Zips football team and Wagon Wheel (trophy)

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Flashes	-	-	-	-	0
Zips	-	-	-	-	0

at InfoCision Stadium–Summa Field • Akron, Ohio

• Date: November 11
• Game time: 7:30 PM EST

Statistics	KENT	AKR
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Kent State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Akron	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Central Michigan

See also: 2025 Central Michigan Chippewas football team

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Chippewas	-	-	-	-	0
Golden Flashes	-	-	-	-	0

at Dix Stadium • Kent, Ohio

• Date: November 19
• Game time: 7:00 PM EST

Statistics	CMU	KENT
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Central Michigan	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Kent State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Northern Illinois

See also: 2025 Northern Illinois Huskies football team

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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Flashes	-	-	-	-	0
Huskies	-	-	-	-	0

at Huskie Stadium • DeKalb, Illinois

• Date: November 28
• Game time: 11:00 AM CST

Statistics	KENT	NIU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Kent State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Northern Illinois	Passing
	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.